NAVAL AIR STATION FALLON, Nev. – Three Sailors aboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Fallon became the first on the base to receive their Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist (EAWS) designation, Dec. 6.
Master at Arms 1st Class Allen Cady, Master at Arms 1st Class Adam Molatore and Master at Arms 2nd Class Danielle Dingwall didn’t hesitate to take advantage of the newly offered opportunity.
“Master at Arms military working dog handlers do not have many opportunities to obtain a warfare device, so I decided to take full advantage of this program since it was offered to me,” said Dingwall.
The qualification process to obtain the insignia begins with the Enlisted Aviation Personal Qualification Standards, also known as PQS. There are two PQS for the Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist designation. The first is the Common Core which consists of concepts, policies, and tasks that are common throughout Naval aviation and provide a foundation for the sailor's knowledge. The second is a unit-specific PQS which consists of several training tasks and practical experience on-the-job exercises relevant to the particular aviation community the sailor is currently serving in.
With the help of the Sailors at the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC), they were able to receive their unit specific training.
“Without the assistance of NAWDC, none of this would have been possible,” said Cady. “Being an MA, with the schedule we keep, it is hard to always be available for training at the same time as others. With NAWDC's assistance we were able to receive the extensive training required over the line items pertaining to the F-18 on a schedule that worked for us. The aviation ordnance shop was more than just willing to assist us; they would go out of their way and even stay late after their normal working hours to ensure we received the training required.”
“Obtaining a warfare device that is not specific to your job can be very challenging, and requires a high level of dedication and commitment to obtain,” said Dingwall.
The Sailors agreed that the long hours of training were worth it, as they are setting themselves up for success down the line. Also, they have the opportunity to mentor the 36 Sailors currently in the program, and the future Sailors that will join the program after them.
“For Sailors in rates that aren’t normally able to get their EAWS qualification, when they go up for boards or promotions or against people in special programs, having their EAWS qualification makes them much more competitive than they would have been without it,” said NAS Fallon’s EAWS coordinator, Chief Air Traffic Controller David McKeehen.
Along with the pride of being the first to receive their EAWS designation is the pride of joining the EAWS community.
“It is a great feeling knowing that we are EAWS Sailors. Like any accomplishment, it is a sense of pride. Being out of rate and obtaining this achievement is an even sweeter accomplishment,” said Cady. “Receiving the warfare designation and extensive training will assist in further rounding our abilities as Sailors to mentor the ones following. We are just the first in many that have the desire to make this achievement. With the training we received, we can pass this knowledge and give others the opportunity to succeed in the same fashion we were able to.”
| Date Taken: | 12.06.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 12.14.2018 16:22 |
| Story ID: | 303729 |
| Location: | FALLON, NEVADA, US |
| Web Views: | 246 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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