THIS Is What We Call An Incentive!
Re-enlistments in the Navy Reserves are memorable occasions as a
Sailor passes a milestone in his or her career and looks forward to
the road ahead. But when Aviation Boatswain's Mate Fuels Chief
Thomas E. Wharton raised his right hand and repeated his service
oath almost one year ago, little did he know that this important
milestone would eventually be celebrated at more than 300 knots in
the back seat of a F/A-18 Super Hornet jet.
The flight took place recently at the Naval Air Station Patuxent
River here courtesy of VX-23, the Naval Air Systems Command's
(NAVAIR) largest flight test organization. Cmdr. J.E. Pagannelli,
VX-23's executive officer, was the pilot for the 1 1/2 hour trip
that was part of the squadron's regularly scheduled flight test
program. The preparatory qualifications for the flight were
scheduled over time, but it was worth the wait and one of the most
memorable experiences in the Sailor's 20-year active and reserve
Navy career.
"For me one of the most memorable parts of the flight was
feeling the power, maneuverability, ease, and grace of flying in
the Navy's most elite fighter attack aircraft and knowing that my
reserve unit is part of its support network," Wharton said.
Currently, Wharton is a member of the NAVAIR Reserve Program and
drills with Naval Test Squadron 0195 (NR NTS 0195) at the Patuxent
River Naval Air Station.
The mission of NR NTS 0195 is to provide engineering consulting
and technical support to NAVAIR's Engineering and Research
competency, AIR 4.0, and Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft
Division to provide on-site maintenance support for the F/A-18 E/F
Super Hornet.
Wharton, who is among a team of 24 officers and enlisted
personnel, provides support in the areas of avionics, ordnance,
support equipment, supply, aviation maintenance administration,
engines, and aviation structures and electrical maintenance. At
VX-23, NR NTS 0195 provides technical maintenance for the F/A-18
E/F Super Hornet aircraft contributing to the increased mission
capable readiness of VX-23. Instead of conducting drills at a
reserve center, unit members provide operational fleet support to
VX-23 on a monthly basis.
In civilian life, Wharton works for L-3 Communication as a
simulation engineer where he helps train Navy, Air Force, and
Marine Corp fighter pilots after these air craft receive
upgrades.
"Training is a vital part of cost-wise readiness. I'm grateful
to wear the uniform of the nation and that I'm able to use my
civilian skills to contribute to making sure that the Navy's
aircraft are ready for tasking," Wharton said.