Training Squadron Six Welcomes New CO
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS081224-07
Release Date: 12/24/2008 9:51:00 AM
By Jay Cope, Naval Air Station Whiting Field Public Affairs
MILTON, Fla. (NNS) -- Training Squadron (VT) 6 welcomed a new commanding officer during a ceremony at to Lt. Col. Javier Ball, Dec. 19 at Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Milton, Fla.
Cmdr. John Considine turned over command to Lt. Col. Javier Ball. Ball assumes the top spot of the squadron as the 48th commanding officer.
Under Considine's guidance, VT-6 flew more than 47,000 flight hours, completed more than 23,000 student training sorties, graduated more than 400 aviators, and passed the 2007 Training Standardization and Safety Evaluation with a top grade of "outstanding."
Considine received the Meritorious Service Medal for his ability to build "a cohesive command climate while maintaining high morale throughout his squadron and was unwavering in his commitment to the squadron's mission," according to the award citation.
Training Air Wing-5 commanding officer, Col. Scott Walsh cited the squadron's leadership in training efficiencies. VT-6 currently has the lowest training time, the most students graduated and the most flight hours of any of the Chief of Naval Air Training Command squadrons for first two months of fiscal year 2009.
"VT-6 is leading the way," he said. "What a great legacy to be leaving. They [Considine and Ball] are doing a great job developing warriors and leaders."
Considine teamed with Ball for 15 months as the leadership of the squadron, and also gives him much of the credit for the squadron's success.
"Thanks for everything. You have helped to make my tour so much easier," Considine said. You've been a great XO [executive officer].
Considine read his orders and presented the squadron's flag to Ball, symbolically passing command of the squadron to him in front of the full house at Whiting Field's auditorium.
Considine will transfers to USS Wasp (LHD-1) as the air operations officer. This will be a reunion of sorts, as he deployed aboard Wasp as a member of Helicopter Combat Support Squadron-8 in 2001 as well as being the aircraft handling officer and V-1 division officer previously.
Considine also served as the aide de camp to deputy commander United States Joint Forces Command,; a member of Helicopter Combat Support Squadron-3; and Helicopter Combat Support Squadron-6. He has accumulated more than 2,500 flight hours in the CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter during his 17 year career.
Ball takes over the top spot after serving as the squadron's executive officer since September 2007. His military career began as a tank battalion officer serving with the 2nd Tank Battalion at Camp Lejeune, N.C. He served with the battalion during Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield.
Ball was selected for accession to the aviation field and began training in June 1992 at NAS Pensacola. He qualified for F/A-18A training and served with VFA-106 at Cecil Field, Fla. Since then he has also been assigned to VMFA-115 at Marine Corp Air Station Beaufort, S.C.; USAF Air Command and Staff College Maxwell AFB; VMFA (AW)-332; Marine Air Group-31 and as part of the Multi-National Force-West/Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Camp Fallujah, Iraq.
Cmdr. Sean Maybee will succeed Ball as executive officer.
"I have been truly blessed for the opportunity to command such an outstanding squadron," said Considine. "They say command is the Navy's most precious asset and I would trade this award and all the kind words for another year in command here…None of this [our accomplishments] could have happened without you all. I am proud to have served with such a great group of professionals. I will miss you all."
For more news from Naval Air Station Whiting Field, visit www.navy.mil/local/naswf/.
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