By Staff
special to The Star
Nov. 21, 2003
There will be a Naval aviator designation ceremony today, at 3:30 p.m., in the chapel at Naval Air Station Meridian.
The Naval aviator designation ceremony is not required by regulations, but has emerged as a U.S. Navy tradition.
It marks the culmination of nearly two years of specialized training, which has prepared these officers for the aerial combat and carrier operations earning each the title of "Naval aviator" and the right to wear the coveted "Wings of Gold."
The guest speaker will be Capt. John Pruitt Jr., commanding officer of Naval Air Station Pensacola.
Twenty U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aviators will get their wings.
The class carrier-qualified Oct. 22-24 in the T-45C "Goshawk" on board the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) and earned Navy "E for Excellence" designations for bombing accuracy during Advanced Strike Training.
1st Lt. Michael Anderson, USMCR, who earned one Navy "E";
1st Lt. Nicholas Bezanson, USMC, who was named to the commodore's list during Primary Flight Training. He earned one Navy "E";
Lt. j.g. Jason Boles, USNR, who earned four Navy "E's";
Lt. j.g. Adam Bruce, USNR, who earned one Navy "E";
Lt. j.g. James Carver, USNR, who earned three Navy "E's";
Lt. j.g. Alan Greer, USNR, who earned two Navy "E's";
Lt. j.g. Nicholas Hampton, USNR, who was named to the commodore's list during Primary Flight Training. He earned four Navy "E's";
Lt. j.g. Chad Heirigs, USNR, who earned two Navy "E's" and was named "Best at the Boat" for
his carrier qualification evolution;
Lt. j.g. John Hilburn, USNR, who earned one Navy "E";
Lt. j.g. Andrew Kingsbury, USMCR, who earned three Navy "E's";
Lt. j.g. Robert Littman, USNR, who earned three Navy "E's";
1st Lt. Derek Oliver, USMC, who earned one Navy "E";
Lt. j.g. Adam Poth, USNR, who was designated a CNATRA Distinguished Graduate during Primary Flight Training;
Lt. j.g. Charles Schwarze, USNR, who earned six Navy "E's";
Lt. j.g. Mark Thomann II, USNR, who earned three Navy "E's";
Lt. j.g. Henry Thomason, USNR, who earned two Navy "E's";
Lt. j.g. Kevin Tritch, USNR, who earned four Navy "E's";
Lt. j.g. Jon VanBragt, USNR, who was named to the commodore's list during Primary Flight Training and earned six Navy "E's";
1st Lt. Mark Weinrich, USMCR, who was named to the commodore's list during Primary Flight Training and earned one Navy "E"; and
Lt. j.g. Bradley Whittington, USNR, who earned four Navy "E's."