NAS Lemoore, California I joined the USNSCC (United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps) a little over four years ago after my tenth birthday. It was just after my discovery flight at the local flight school, and I was hooked on aviation. I joined the Sea Cadets to meet other people who were interested in flying and becoming pilots too. The Sea Cadets offer all different types of training around the country. I’ve attended several other aviation training sessions that have taught me valuable information and shared experiences that I will never forget. I heard about the training at NAS (Naval Air Station) Lemoore from a shipmate that knew I was into aviation and suggested I sign up for it. I waited all year for the summer training schedule to be released and there it was, Basic Airman-Aviation, NAS Lemoore, CA. A fourteen-day, in person aviation training at one of three Naval Master Jet Bases. Commissioned in 1961, NAS Lemoore now hosts the entire West Coast fighter/attack capability. It is also home to Strike Fighter Wing Pacific. Its primary aircraft being the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and more recently receiving the first F-35C Pacific training squadron. NAS Lemoore is home to five different Carrier Air Wings: 2, 5, 9, 11 & 17. I spent my entire time with VFA 122, the “Flying Eagles”. VFA 122 is the West Coast FRS (Fleet Replacement Squadron) which has approximately 225 officers, 400 enlisted personnel and operates over 60 aircraft. I arrived at the gates of NAS Lemoore midday during the Summer of 2022, and the MAA (Master-at-arms) verified our paperwork and allowed us to enter the base. We were escorted to the Navy Lodge and met the COTC (Commanding Officer-Training Contingent), XO (Executive Officer) and the rest of the Sea Cadet volunteer staff and fellow cadets. We were assigned our rooms and unpacked our sea bags, ready for the adventure. The first night was really fun and getting to meet my roommates was exciting. My roommates came from all over the country to experience this training and take their knowledge back to their home units to share what they have learned.
20
By Ava Rian Shelly
I worked at the VFA-122 hangar every day from 0800-1400, assisting active-duty Navy personnel. There are a total of seven shops to rotate through at the hanger. The seat shop, airframes, power plants, electricians, avionics, paraloft and ordinance. The seat shop is run by the AMEs. (Aviation Structural Mechanic-Safety Equipment) The duties performed by AMEs include: maintaining the various aircraft systems such as seat and canopy ejection (egress), gaseous and liquid oxygen, life raft ejection, fire extinguishing, air conditioning, cabin and cockpit heat, pressurization, ventilation; remove and install oxygen system valves, gauges, converters and regulators; inspecting, removing, installing and rigging ejection seats, shoulder harnesses, lap belts and face-curtain mechanisms; performing daily, preflight, post-flight and other periodic aircraft inspections. With the help of the AMEs, my battle buddy and I both got our PQS (Personal Qualification Standard) for ejection seats and are now qualified to work in, on and around the Mk14 ejection seat. This was truly an amazing and fun shop. The airframe shop is run by the AMs. (Aviation Structural Mechanics) The AMs maintain and repair all aircraft structural components, from the cockpit controls panels to the landing gear and everything in between. Some of their duties include: maintaining and repairing onboard systems, wings, fuselage, all types of hydraulic systems and assembling metal components to make necessary repairs to aircrafts. When I was with AMs, we removed one the Super Hornets left vertical stabilizer for routine maintenance in the morning and got to put it back on in the afternoon! We got to sit on the ‘stab’ so the Airframers could whack the bolts out with “big red” (their big hammer) and check the inside for corrosion and other potential damage. The powerplant shop is run by the ADs (Aviation Machinist Mate). The ADs are aircraft engine mechanics. They have an important job of maintaining and preparing aircraft for flight by inspecting, repairing, and overhauling aircraft engines and propellers. ADs get to function as Aircrew in certain types of aircraft as well. ADs deploy with the air wing and keep all the aircraft functioning safely. We worked with them on the flight line and did the