| Operations Department |
|
| Operations Department |
|
 GOALThe VF-14 TOPHATTERS Operations Department is responsible for planning and conducting the day-to-day flight operations of the squadron. The goal of our squadron is combat readiness. That means being prepared for instantaneous combat anywhere in the world whenever called upon. The idea is each pilot and radar intercept officer (RIO) is fully capable of employing all of the combat capabilities of the F-14 TOMCAT to maximize destruction of enemy forces while preserving US and friendly forces. Accomplishing this noble goal means constant training for all of the 16 pilots and 16 RIOs currently assigned to the squadron. * * * The missions that we may be called upon to perform include: air-to-air missions which can be either offensive or defensive, air-to-ground strike missions against virtually any target, anti-surface reconnaissance, attacking surface ships, and support of ground troops in a close-air-support role. The weapons that we employ to accomplish these missions include; the AIM-54C Phoenix missile, the AIM-7 Sparrow missile, the AIM-9 Sidewinder missile, 500, 1000 and 2000 pound conventional bombs, 5 inch Zuni rockets, Mk-20 Rockeye cluster bombs, the Paveway II series of Laser Guided Bombs (LGBs), and the GBU-24 Paveway III hard target penetrator laser guided bomb. The squadron's capabilities were recently upgraded with the addition of Night Vision Goggle configured cockpits to better allow us to employ our weapons effectively at night, and the Lantirn Targeting System to allow us to designate a target for a Laser Guided Weapon. These new capabilities have vastly improved the precision strike capability of the F-14 TOMCAT but have also placed ever increasing demands on our aircrew to be fully trained for all mission areas using all of the weapon systems capabilities. These missions are further complicated by the fact that our normal operating location is the deck of an aircraft carrier, currently the USS John F. Kennedy. We must not only be proficient in the many assigned missions but must be capable of safely launching from and recovering to the ship in virtually any kind of weather. This means that the aircrew must be fully trained in the extremely demanding carrier landing environment. * * *
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Job Title |
Responsibilities |
| Operations Officer | Responsible for all operations in the squadron. |
| Assistant Operations Officer | Responsible for the administration within the department, and long term planning of operations. |
| Tactics/Training Officer | Plans and executes specific training missions and provides ground training for all aircrew. |
| Schedules Officer | Writes the daily flight schedule. |
| Assistant Schedules Officer | Assists in writing the daily flight schedule, tracks flight time and flight statistics for all aircrew. |
| Pilot Training Officer | Provides all of ground training in the employment of the F14 from the front seat. Plans and executes specific training missions. |
| RIO Training Officer | Provides all of the ground training in the employment of the F14 from the back seat. Plans and executes specific training missions. |
| Precision Strike Officer | Provides all of the ground training in employing the precision strike capabilities of the 14, including the Lantirn Targeting System and Night Vision Goggles. Plans and executes specific training missions. |
| Intelligence Office | Provides up to date intelligence information required for accomplishing any assigned missions. |
| Landing Signals Officer | Responsible for the safe and expeditious recovery of squadron aircraft aboard ship. Provides all required training to aircrew in the highly demanding shipboard landing environment. |
| Operations Yeoman | Provides all administrative support required within the operations department. |
* * *
CONTACTFor more informations on the Operations Department you can contact
Operations Officer : LCDR Moyer 757-433-4868
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