Commander, Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center (NSAWC) Rear Adm. Mark Fox and Rear Adm. Jim Miller sat down to a special hail and farewell luncheon hosted by the NSAWC Chief Petty Officers mess in the CPO club on board Naval Air Station Fallon 21 April. 

The luncheon was organized to honour Fox and greet Miller prior to NSAWC’s change of command ceremony on 23 April, when Miller will relieve Fox as the 9th two-star admiral to command NSAWC since 1996.

“I’ve been pleased by the cohesiveness and the leadership that’s been demonstrated here by the Chief’s Mess. “said Fox  in praise to the dedication shown by the NSAWC CPO’s during his tenure. 

In his opening remarks to the Chiefs, Miller stated that he is proud to be the incoming commander of NSAWC.   “Your reputation precedes you and that is across the spectrum at NSAWC, both in terms of your professionalism and your ability to get the job done right, at the right pace.”

RADM Fox has been nominated for appointment to the rank of Vice Admiral and assignment as Command, U.S. Naval Forces, Central Command and Commander, Fifth Fleet in Bahrain.

The Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center is the center of excellence for naval training and tactics development and provides service to aircrews, squadrons and air wings throughout the United States Navy through flight training, academic instructional classes and direct operational and intelligence support.

More than 80 Naval Air Station Fallon sailors came together on Friday to contribute to the community in support of Earth Day.

Sailors picked up trash along more than two miles of U.S. Highway 95 and surrounding areas, planted a community garden for the children at the base's Child Development Center, and made improvements at the Memorial Veterans Park, among other activities.

BU2(SCW) John Durkee was one of more than 30 volunteers from Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit (CBMU) 303, who helped out at the Memorial Veterans Park in support of Earth Day. There, sailors raked and picked up tumble weeds, laid mulch, fixed a BBQ grill, built horse shoe pits and built and stained picnic tables for the community's enjoyment.

“It's all about community,” said Durkee. “And working together for the good of the community builds camaraderie, and unit cohesion.”

ABFC(AW) Jason O'Dell also helped out at the renovation of Memorial Veterans Park.

“When this (Memorial Veterans Park) is done, the community will have a great place to enjoy the outdoors, and appreciate nature,” he said. “And if we have an appreciation for nature, we're going to make sure to take care of the earth, so we can enjoy it for years to come.”

O'Dell said another reason he volunteered for Earth Day is to represent the Navy in a positive light.

“It's important to make a positive impression on the community,” said O'Dell. “Not only within the boundaries of NAS Fallon but out in town.”

O'Dell said he gets a personal satisfaction out of knowing that he's contributed, and possibly made a difference in sailor's lives, and in the Fallon community.

In the spirit of Earth Day, the base also held a recycling contest for the ongoing Captain's Cup competition. Weapons came in first place with 80 pounds of cans, bottles and other recyclables. SFWD and NSAWC came in second and third, each with 23 pounds. Collaboratively, the base picked up and recycled an estimated 1,500 pounds of garbage and recyclables.

Civilians take a ride on 'Fat Albert'

The most exhilarating nine minutes of my life took place on Friday at the Fallon Air Show.

I was invited for a ride in Fat Albert, the C-130T Hercules cargo plane assigned to the Blue Angels for crew and equipment support.

Other lucky civilian passengers included Jane Anderson, Churchill County Junior High School principal; Kevin Lords, Churchill County High School principal, and Kim Lamb, LVN photographer.

Joining us were about two dozen Naval personnel — Search and Rescue crewmen in orange flightsuits, a few aviators in tan flightsuits and other enlisted personnel. (I was too nervous to take notes. I apologize for being vague.)

In the SAR Ready Room at Hangar Seven, Kevin and Jane waited with us until it was time for the pre-flight brief. On the tarmac, the nerves really hit as we milled around for a few minutes.

Capt. Edward Jorge quickly gave a crew briefing, rattling off the sequence of maneuvers using a string of numbers sprinkled with a few words. I caught enough to realize we would take off at a 45-degree angle and land at a 25-degree angle. Gulp.

Turning to us civilians, he explained the plane would accelerate to about 150 miles per hour and then rocket to 250 mph for the steep take off. I heard the words “weightless,” “stall,” “360 miles per hour,” and “smoke from the tires.” Eyes wide.

Capt. Edward said since Jane and Kevin were guests of honor, they would get special seating. Unable to control her excitement, Anderson bounced to the front of the crowd. Because of her enthusiasm (I'm pretty sure), she was granted a seat in the cockpit directly behind the pilots. Kevin and Kim both got seats near windows for the view.

From my seat, I could see out a small round window across from me and from one over my shoulder. I cinched my seat belt as tight as it would go — uncomfortably so. The crew handed out vomit bags to all passengers with the instruction that what you bring on the plane you carry off.

The takeoff was indescribable — it was like being launched from a sling-shot. The immediate intensity of the speed threw us all to the right — and heeding Jorge's words that he feeds off our excitement — we all hollered and yelled with enthusiasm.

I can't tell you how long we accelerated at that 45-degree angle, but it was the biggest rush of my life. I couldn't see outside, but I felt the plane reach its stall level and then the nose of the C-130 rolled toward the earth.

Weightlessness! Cameras, legs and long seat belt extensions all flew up near our heads. Amazingly, the Fat Albert crewmen weren't strapped in any seats. Instead, they hung onto a ladder secured to the plane and I saw their feet raise above their heads.

From there it was a series of turns, dives, climbs and Lord knows what else. My view out the windows was literally a blur of desert, green fields or the runways. At one point, the pressure on our bodies made us feel twice our body weights. I felt my head being pushed into my shoulders, and the Navy guys had fun struggling to lift their feet.

Kim said during one of these moments when we pulled two Gs, his camera started taking pictures on its own, that's how much extra pressure we felt. He also said the plane skirted the earth about 60 feet from the deck once. I'm almost thankful I couldn't see that.

The landing was just as intense as the takeoff. I think the all-Marine Corps crew of Fat Albert prides themselves on being just as extreme as the Blue Angels. Jorge told us beforehand that he picks his landing spot, and the landing could be soft or firm. Oh, and the nose of the plane would bounce afterward too.

I hung on for dear life, said my prayers, and we hit the runway harder than any plane should be required. The cargo hatch of the plane opened as it raced down the runway. At this point we all let out a collective sigh of relief, and while we were all sweating bullets, each one of us grinned from ear to ear.

Climbing from the plane with rubber-band legs was a chore, and I longed to just lay down on terra firma. We all had pictures taken with the flight crew, courtesy of Fat Albert logistics man SK1 Steve Lipscomb. We also received commemorative prints of Fat Albert signed by the crew.

Steve said before the flight, he bet on a couple specific passengers getting sick during the flight. Although he denied it, I'm fairly certain I was one of those two. And for the record, God answered ALL my prayers that day, and I wasn't “the girl who got sick.” I held my own, thank you very much (and watched an enlisted man almost lose his lunch). Ha!

I can't thank the Fat Albert crew enough (and my friend Zip Upham, NAS Fallon public affairs officer, who made it possible). Although I felt the effects of that nine-minute extreme roller coaster ride for the remainder of the day, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience I'll never forget.

 

 

FALLON, Nevada (June 26,2009) – Rear Adm. Mark I. “MRT” Fox assumed command of Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center (NSAWC) relieving  Rear Adm. Mark T. “Waldo” Emerson during a change of command ceremony on board Naval Air Station Fallon June 26.

 

 

Military and civilian dignitaries, NSAWC personnel, family and friends were on present to bid farewell to Emerson and welcome Fox and his family to NAS Fallon and the Fallon community. Fox is the 8th 2-star admiral to command NSAWC since its inception in 1996.

 

The events guest speaker was Vice Adm. Thomas J. Kilcline Jr., commander, Naval Air Forces and presented the Distinguished Service Medal to Emerson for his exceptional meritorious service in improving naval aviation training, doctrine and combat effectiveness while serving as NSAWC commander.

 

“I’ve worked and flown with both of these men and feel very strongly about their leadership of our center for Strike and Air Warfare” said Kilcline about the outgoing and incoming NSAWC commanders. “Because of Waldo and leaders like him, NSAWC has seen a tremendous change, and with “MRT” I know it will continue to evolve, ensuring that naval aviation remains the premier combat ready air force in the world.”