VF-14 and
CVW-8 move aboard
U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) This March, CVW-8 and VF-14
returned to the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt
(CVN-71). Here's the story as released by the
ship's Public Affairs Office. You can also check
these links for more information on :
Carrier
Airwing Eight Returns to TR
By JO3 David Hites
Release #98-15
Key people in each
squadron from Carrier Airwing Eight visited USS
Theodore Roosevelt recently to get a first hand
look at the ship and get caught up to speed on
the ship’s schedule in the coming months,
including qualifications, work-ups and a six
month deployment.
The airwing was
TR’s first, which changed to Carrier Airwing
Three. Now the old airwing is coming back for
more.
After TR’s
Commanding Officer Capt. Architzel briefed the
group on the ship’s progress in the
shipyard, they split up into smaller groups to
tour what will be their spaces. After the tour,
they rounded out their visit with lunch in the
wardroom, courtesy of S-5 division.
They met several members
of the crew while they were here and were
enthusiastic about what they saw. "I could
see a lot of hospitality and a lot of hard work
going on by the crew on TR," said VAQ 141
Commanding Officer Cmdr. Dennis Watson. Capt.
Architzel was also pleased with the crew’s
effort to make a good impression and told them so
in his weekly televised address, "The Bully
Big Stick Show."
"You only get one
chance to make a good (first) impression, and you
did that," he said. "My goal was that
they see the hard work that’s gone into
their spaces and the ship, and believe me, they
came away knowing that," Capt. Architzel
said with confidence.
The crew and Newport
News Shipbuilding have been working around the
clock to get TR ready to go back out to sea by
the end of June. It’s a lot of hard work and
long hours for some of the crew, but they are
getting the job done. That dedication was not
lost on Airwing Eight.
"I’m
absolutely thrilled with the ship," said
VQ-6 Maintenance Material Control Officer Chief
Warrant Officer Velva Human. "I did a tour
on the Nimitz (CVN 68) and we went through the
yards while I was there. I know what it’s
like and I feel the pain of the people who are
working here, but I’m really impressed with
the cleanliness of the ship and the attitude of
the crew. It’s so good at this stage (of the
shipyard period,)" she added. TR’s next
cruise will be her second, and she is
"tickled to death" to be going.
"We’re always
ready to go to sea, that’s what it’s
all about. We live for that," said HS-3
Maintenance Material Control Officer Ensign
Thomas Rae. Making the move is old hat for Rae.
He’s used to it. "I’ve been doing
this a long time on a lot of different
ships," he said. "There’s a little
heartache when you first come on board and get
your spaces squared away, but we’ll be ready
to go."
The gathering was a huge
success and the general feeling is optimistic for
both ship’s company and the airwing.
It’s going to take teamwork, patience and
long hours to get everyone up to speed and ready
for deployment, but if Carrier Airwing
Eight’s visit was any indication, it will be
smooth sailing.
related
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