CAI-NJ March 2017

SPOTLIGHT ON SERVICE

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T h a n k Y o u f o r Y o u r S e r v i c e

OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE ONE MISSION, MANY NATIONS By Kari Valentine, CMCA, AMS Associa Mid-Atlantic

I ’m borrowing the mission name the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower deployed under as it speaks to why I’m so very proud of my son’s, Airman William T. Kogan (Wil), Naval service. The USS Eisenhower deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, which is a coalition led by the U.S. to degrade and defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL - more commonly known as ISIS). The group deployed to the U.S. 5th (Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean) and 6th (The Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea) Fleet areas of responsibility and provided maritime security, conducting combat missions and launching F/A-18 strikes against ISIL in Syria and Iraq. The Navy considered the strike group’s support of Operation Inherent Resolve, Operation Odyssey Resolve and Operation Oaken Steel integral to each mis- sion’s success. Acres in the World When aircraft carriers are operating, regardless of world events, they are considered the most dangerous 4 1/2 acres of real estate in the world. Flight deck mistakes are not tolerated. At most they cost lives at least they cost tens, or hundreds, of millions of dollars. Flight deck operations are controlled chaos. There are times when you know there are multiple inbound anti-ship cruise missiles heading your The Most Dangerous 4 1 / 2

way, and you are counting on the surrounding ships to destroy them while you do your job. It takes precision and complete concentration amid chaos not to make a mistake. The mission of everyone on that carrier is putting missiles or bombs loaded onto the aircraft and getting that aircraft launched. Professionalism must be on display all times every day. Everyone on the flight and hangar decks needs

to survey their surroundings con- tinually. You let your mind drift, and you will get hurt or killed. Each different colored shirt on the flight deck has a different job of its own. Blue moves aircraft, purple delivers fuel, red loads bombs and missiles, green works catapults and wires, brown handles maintenance and inspections, white ensures safe operations, and yellow con- trols the chaos. Wil wore the blue shirt and moved helicop- ters and planes on the flight deck in temperatures that topped 167 degrees wear- ing long pants, long-sleeved

Airman William T. Kogan

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