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HSM 71 Earned First EAWS Pennant

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090418-06
Release Date: 4/18/2009 5:42:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Steve Owsley, USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs

PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- The "Raptors" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71 earned their first Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist (EAWS) pennant April 16.

Commander Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 Capt. Christopher Murray presented the EAWS pennant during a ceremony aboard the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74).

In order to earn the EAWS pennant every enlisted "Raptor," E-5 and above, had to earn their initial EAWS qualification within 18 months of reporting to the command. Squadron members that earned their EAWS qualification at a previous command had to re-qualify within one year.

According to HSM 71 EAWS Coordinator Naval Air Crewman (Romeo) 1st Class (AW) Stanley Cox, more than 100 Raptors have earned or re-qualified EAWS since the squadron was commissioned on Oct. 4, 2007.

EAWS qualification requires Sailors to complete a common core and specific Personnel Qualification Standards, complete a walk-through and pass a written test and an oral board to demonstrate their air warfare knowledge. Before they can even begin the process they must complete several prerequisites.

"It's broken up by rate, so they might have to be qualified as a plane captain if they work in a maintenance rating. They also have to complete general qualifications like CPR, AMRs [Aviation Maintenance Ratings] and aircraft firefighting," said Cox. "We don't want them to leave their shop and start working on EAWS. We use those prerequisites so they are proactive in their shops before they start working on their wings."

HSM 71 is on its maiden deployment and is the first squadron to deploy with the MH-60R Sea Hawk Helicopter. Since deployment began, 19 "Raptors" have earned their EAWS qualification.

"It really came across all ranks. There was a large ground swell of junior Sailors who wanted to achieve this qualification. It was backed up by our command master chief who made this a real strong point and centerpiece of what he was trying to do," said HSM 71 Commanding Officer Jeff Dodge. "Then we had a fantastic team of EAWS coordinators who led classes, held boards; who monitored progress, and really brought it all home."

For more news from USS John C. Stennis, visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn74/.