By Staff
special to The Star
March 12, 2004
There will be a Naval aviator designation ceremony today, at 3 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 Col. David L. Barraclough, U.S. Marine Corps, commanding officer of Marine Aviation Training Support 21.
Ten U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aviators and one Spanish navy pilot will get their wings.
The class carrier-qualified in the T-45C "Goshawk" on Dec. 12 aboard the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), and March 3-4 aboard the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), and earned Navy "E for Excellence" designations for bombing accuracy during Advanced Strike Training.
1st Lt. Zachariah Anthony, USMCR, who earned three Navy "E's";
Lt. j.g. Jake Huber, USNR, who was named to the Commodore's List during Primary Flight Training. He was VT-9's Student of the Month for August 2003, and earned three Navy "E's";
Lt. j.g. Louis Catalina IV, USNR, who earned five Navy "E's" and was named "Best of the Boat" for that carrier qualification evolution;
Lt. j.g. Matthew Hopkins, USNR, who was named to the Commodore's List during Intermediate Flight Training. He was VT-9's Student of the Month for March 2003, and earned one Navy "E";
Lt. j.g. Dallas Jamison II, USNR, who was named to Commodore's List during Intermediate Flight Training. He was VT-7's Student of the Month for October 2003, and earned five Navy "E's";
Lt. Matias Urrea-Corvalan, Spanish navy, who served aboard the FFG Canarias (F-76) as the first lieutenant prior to commencing flight training;
Lt. j.g. Lucas Mixon, USNR, who earned two Navy "E's";
Lt. j.g. Jeremy Newton, USNR, who earned four Navy "E's";
Lt. j.g. Dennis Rippy II, USNR, who earned two Navy "E's";
Lt. j.g. Christopher Tappen, USNR, who earned two Navy "E's"; and
Lt. j.g. Scott Young, USNR, who earned three Navy "E's."