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58-612: Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile is an air base of the United States Coast Guard located at Mobile, Alabama , where it shares an airfield with the Mobile Regional Airport . The Alabama Army National Guard 's 1st Battalion, 131st Aviation Regiment 's "B" Company is also located at the airfield. The base is also home to the Coast Guard National Strike Force's Gulf Strike Team. It

116-1533: A civil enclave for commercial passenger flights, e.g. Beijing Nanyuan Airport (China), Chandigarh Airport (India), Ibaraki Airport (Japan), Burlington International Airport (USA), Sheikh Ul-Alam International Airport Srinagar (India), Taipei Songshan Airport (Taiwan), Eindhoven airport (The Netherlands). Likewise, the opposite also occurs; large civilian airports may contain a smaller military airbase within their environs, such as Royal Brunei Air Force Base, Rimba (located within Brunei International Airport ). Some airbases have dispersed aircraft parking, revetments , hardened aircraft shelters , or even underground hangars , to protect aircraft from enemy attack. Combat aircraft require secure protected storage of aircraft ordnance and munitions. Other facilities may also include technical buildings for servicing and support of survival equipment (including flying helmets and personal liquid oxygen), flight simulator for synthetic training, servicing facilities for all aircraft systems (airframes, propulsion, avionics, weapons systems) and associated ground support systems (including mechanical transport). All military airbases will have buildings for military administration (station headquarters, squadron briefing and operations), and larger bases will also include medical and dental facilities for military personnel (and sometimes their dependents), along with dining ( mess , informally known as

174-555: A nation can move about at will", which allows greater flexibility in diplomacy as well as military affairs. Aircraft carriers may also used in disaster relief . United States Naval Aviator A naval aviator is a commissioned officer or warrant officer qualified as a crewed aircraft pilot in the United States Navy or United States Marine Corps . United States Coast Guard crewed aircraft pilots are officially designated as "Coast Guard aviators", although they complete

232-657: A pair of wings. Between January 1927 and October 1929, the design of naval aviation observer wings was the same as naval aviator wings, except the observer wings were silver. Observer wings after that were of a distinct design. Upon completion of flight training, a final selection process takes place in which the student naval aviators are assigned a particular fleet aircraft community (e.g., F/A-18C/D/E/F, EA-18G, AV-8B or F-35B/C for strike; E-2/C-2 for carrier AEW and COD; SH-60, HH-60, MH-60, MH-65, AH-1Z, UH-1Y, CH-53E/K, MH-53, CMV-22, or MV-22 for rotary-wing, P-8, E-6, EP-3, KC-130, HC-130, HC-144 for maritime, etc.). This selection

290-569: A squadron of four aircraft aboard their respective aircraft carrier. The VRC squadrons are based at either NS Norfolk, or NAS North Island, and deploy in detachments of two aircraft aboard their respective aircraft carrier. Student pilots selected for helicopter training report to NAS Whiting Field , Florida, and complete advanced training in the TH-57 Sea Ranger or the TH-73A Thrasher. Students receive over 100 hours of instruction learning

348-484: A week learning physiology and water survival and egress before graduating and heading to primary flight training. Following NIFE graduation, SNAs are assigned to Training Air Wing Five at NAS Whiting Field , Florida or Training Air Wing Four at NAS Corpus Christi , Texas , where they learn to fly the Beechcraft T-6B Texan II ( JPATS ). Primary teaches the basics of flying in approximately six months and

406-641: Is a multi-mission unit, for the Coast Guard's aviation and capabilities development center. Training is conducted to qualify pilots in the MH-60 Jayhawk , MH-65 Dolphin , and HC-144 Ocean Sentry . All pilots initially train at ATC, and will return once a year for a one-week proficiency course in their assigned airframes. Officer cadets from the United States Coast Guard Academy who are pursuing aviation careers also train at ATC. Serving within

464-737: Is also based upon the needs of the service and performance. Newly designated naval aviators (no longer referred to as "students") are then assigned to a USN or USMC fleet replacement squadron or other similar training organization under the cognizance of the US Coast Guard or the US Air Force, for training on their specific aircraft type. Currently, approximately up to 1,000 pilots are designated each year, and between 1910 and 1995 more than 153,000 naval aviators earned their "wings of gold". Student naval aviators incur an eight year active duty service commitment that begins after they receive designation as

522-465: Is an airfield that is used for the purpose of dispersing air units in the event of conflict, so to minimise the vulnerability of aircraft and its supporting units whilst on the ground. Dispersal airbases are not necessarily ordinarily operational in peace time, and may only be activated when needed. Airfields used as dispersal bases can either be auxiliary military airfields, civilian airports, or highway strips . Examples of uses of dispersal bases are

580-407: Is divided into the following stages: Upon successful completion of primary flight training, SNAs are selected for one of five advanced flight training paths: Strike, E-2/C-2 (Navy only), multi-engine, rotary, or tilt-rotor. Selection is based on the needs of the military service, an SNA's performance, and an SNA's preference. Previously, students were given the option to select tailhook and trained in

638-426: Is identical for all three branches, as are the similar naval astronaut and naval flight officer badges. Naval aviation pilots were awarded the naval aviation pilot badge which, while considered a separate award, was identical in design to the naval aviator badge. The badge was designed by John H. Towers c.  1917 and consists of a single fouled anchor , surmounted by a shield with 13 stripes, centered on

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696-595: Is part of the USCG's Deployable Specialized Forces (formerly known as the Deployable Operations Group). The Gulf Strike team can deploy anywhere across the globe, but their primary area of responsibility includes the Coast Guard's 7th District (except Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands), the southern portion of the 8th District, parts of the 5th District, Central and South America, and

754-542: Is the E-2 or C-2A pipeline, averaging over three years from initial pre-flight training to designation as a naval aviator. All pipelines include ground and flight training at numerous locations. Following designation as a naval aviator, all newly designated aviators report to a designated Navy or Marine Corps fleet replacement squadron (FRS), the Coast Guard Aviation Training Center at Mobile, Alabama. IFS

812-442: Is the first step to becoming a naval aviator. After passing a medical screening, all new flight school students are enrolled in one of five civilian flight schools near NAS Pensacola . For those students requiring IFS, they will complete 2 weeks of ground training and around 14 hours of flight training in single-engined general aviation aircraft. Coast Guard students complete 25 hours of flight training. A student must solo and pass

870-627: Is the perfect lead-in trainer for the digital / glass cockpit of the P-8A Poseidon, MV-22 Osprey, E6-B Mercury, and C-130J Hercules aircraft. High fidelity T-44C visual simulators will follow the upgrade which will enable the perfect mix of ground and air training. The naval aviator insignia is a warfare qualification of the United States military that is awarded to those aviators of the United States Navy , Marine Corps , and Coast Guard who have qualified as naval aviators. The naval aviator insignia

928-778: The AH-1Z Viper , UH-1Y Venom ; or VMMT-204 at MCAS New River for the MV-22 Osprey. Coast Guard helicopter pilots report to the Coast Guard Aviation Training Center in Mobile, Alabama for further training, or the "T-Course", on the MH-60T Jayhawk and MH-65D Dolphin. The Navy also trains pilots from several NATO and other allied nations as military and naval helicopter pilots. Maritime multi-engine students complete their advanced training at NAS Corpus Christi , flying

986-478: The Czech Republic . In the case of Finnish road airbases, the space needed for landing aircraft is reduced by means of an arrestor wire , similar to that used on some aircraft carriers ( Finnish Air Force uses F/A-18s , which were originally designed to land on aircraft carriers). An aircraft carrier is a type of naval ship which serves as a seaborne airbase, the development of which has greatly enhanced

1044-565: The HC-130 or HC-144 proceed directly to their assigned air station. As budget and time allow, the HC-130 pilots report to an Air Force C-130 formal training unit (FTU) at Little Rock Air Force Base , Arkansas or Dobbins Air Reserve Base , Georgia . As of 2012, VT-31 and VT-35 no longer train United States Air Force student pilots bound for C-130 duty. Coast Guard HC-144 pilots report to

1102-851: The MH-60R Seahawk or HSC-3 for the MH-60S Knighthawk (HSC) at NAS North Island; HSM-40 for the MH-60R Seahawk at NS Mayport ; HSC-2 for the MH-60S Knighthawk or HM-12 for the MH-53E Sea Dragon at Norfolk, or VRM-50 at NAS North Island for the CMV-22 Osprey. Marine Corps helicopter/tiltrotor pilots report to HMHT-302 at MCAS New River for the CH-53E/K Super/King Stallion; HMLAT-303 at MCB Camp Pendleton for

1160-572: The Swedish Bas 60 and Bas 90 systems, the British V-Bomber dispersal bases , and NATO's Dispersed Operating Bases in France . Road airbases are highways constructed to double as auxiliary airbases in the event of war. Countries known to utilise this strategy are India , Sweden , Finland , Germany (formerly), Singapore , Switzerland , South Korea , Turkey , Poland , Pakistan , and

1218-601: The T-44A with VT-31, followed by CQ in the T-45 Goshawk . Following winging, they proceed to the E-2/C-2 Fleet Replacement Squadron VAW-120, NS Norfolk for aircraft qualification before assignment to a carrier air wing (CVW) VAW (E-2C Hawkeye) or VRC (C-2A Greyhound) squadron. The VAW squadrons are home-ported at either NS Norfolk, Virginia, NAS Point Mugu , California, or NAF Atsugi , Japan, and deploy as

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1276-723: The T-44C Pegasus. Once all training is complete, the candidates earn their wings as Coast Guard aviators and will report to their unit. All MH-65 , MH-60 , and HC-144 training is conducted at ATC Mobile, as well as flight simulator training for the HC-27. However, those assigned to serve on the HC-130 Hercules will report to the Lockheed Martin Hercules Training Center followed by Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City for training. The Gulf Strike Team, one of

1334-652: The U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps . Introductory and pre-flight training is taught at Pensacola Naval Air Station, followed by primary training at Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Florida. The training is done in the T-6 Texan II . Aviators assigned to serve on rotary wing aircraft will stay at Whiting Field for advanced rotary wing training on the TH-57 Sea Ranger, while those assigned to serve on fixed wing aircraft will go to Corpus Christi Naval Air Station in Texas to train on

1392-585: The United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York ; Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) at a number of colleges and universities across the country; Navy Officer Candidate School at Naval Station Newport , Rhode Island; Marine Corps Officer Candidates School (to include the Platoon Leaders Class [PLC] program) at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia . A smaller number were previously commissioned via

1450-671: The Vietnam War and as a result, the amount of adequate space the Coast Guard needed for training became very limited. The Coast Guard formally commissioned the Aviation Training Center in 1966 on the 232-acre site located at the north end of Mobile Regional Airport (known as Bates Field or Mobile Municipal Airport at that time) that was left vacant when the 908th Tactical Airlift Group of the U.S. Air Force Reserve relocated to Brookley Air Force Base due to budget constraints. Normally, it takes about two full years to complete all

1508-483: The 'cook house'), accommodation (single living accommodation for junior ranks , Sergeants' and Officers' Mess for senior non-commissioned officers and commissioned officers), recreational facilities (club house for socialising), shopping facilities ( NAAFI shops, base exchange, commissary), and sports facilities (gymnasium, swimming pool, sports pitches). An airbase may be defended by anti-aircraft weapons and force protection troops. A dispersal (or dispersed) airbase

1566-511: The 3 strike teams that make up the USCG's National Strike Force, is also located at the Aviation Training Center. This specially trained unit was created in 1973 as a result of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, and is tasked with responding to natural and man-made pollution and hazard incidents such as oil discharge, hazardous materials released, weapons of mass destruction, and vessel salvage operations. The NSF

1624-494: The AV-8B Harrier (USMC). Advanced strike training previously produced pilots for the now-retired F-8 Crusader (to include RF-8 variants), F-4 Phantom II (to include RF-4 variants), F-14 Tomcat , A-3 Skywarrior , A-4 Skyhawk , A-6 Intruder , EA-6B Prowler , A-7 Corsair II , RA-5C Vigilante , and S-3 Viking . E-2/C-2 students go to NAS Corpus Christi to complete multi-crew and multi-engine training (approx. 16 weeks) in

1682-530: The Air Force transferred control of Hunter Air Force Base to the Army (thus becoming the present-day Hunter Army Airfield ) and the Army began to conduct helicopter training to supplement the training that was being conducted at Fort Rucker , as well as airborne assault training with units at nearby Fort Stewart ; the Army's training began to increase dramatically in preparation for deployment to Southeast Asia related to

1740-685: The Association of Naval Aviation, the Tailhook Association, the Maritime Patrol Association, and the Naval Helicopter Association (the pilot wings worn by NAPs were identical in design to the naval aviator insignia worn by commissioned officers. The silver eagle title was a reflection that the rating badge on their uniform had a silver eagle). The U.S. Navy still has an unknown number of senior officers on active duty in

1798-637: The Caribbean. The GST also covers the Environmental Protection Agency ’s 4th & 6th Districts. Some of the more high-profile missions the GST has been involved in include responses to Hurricane Katrina , Hurricane Rita and Hurricane Ivan ; search and recovery efforts in the wake of the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster ; the 2010 Haiti earthquake ; the 2011 Mississippi River floods ; and

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1856-703: The Coast Guard aviation training center (ATC) in Mobile, Alabama for a transition course after reporting to their assigned air station. Similarly, Navy E-6 Mercury TACAMO pilots complete advanced training in the T-44C Pegasus at NAS Corpus Christi, TX. TACAMO-bound students no longer train on the T-1A Jayhawk , a militarized version of the Beechcraft 400, at the Air Force's 32nd Flying Training Squadron at Vance Air Force Base , Oklahoma as of 2012. Training Air Wing FOUR has converted analog T-44As to digital T-44Cs which

1914-547: The Coast Guard's Force Readiness Command's Training Division (FC-T), the center is responsible for certifying all Coast Guard pilots are using their equipment and tactics to meet all mission requirements. The operations department, flies the HC-144B Ocean Sentry, which is a segment within the ATC command that conducts search and rescue, homeland security, and environmental protection missions. The operations department operates under

1972-513: The Coast Guard's surface cutter fleet. Until 1981, the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps also had a small number of senior enlisted personnel trained as pilots. The last U.S. Coast Guard aviation pilot retired in 1979. Such individuals were referred to as "naval aviation pilots", colloquially "NAPs" or "APs". The since retired NAPs also continue to have a professional organization known as the "Silver Eagles", which remains informally aligned with other naval aviation professional organizations such as

2030-953: The FAA private pilot knowledge test. IFS screens a student's flight aptitude prior to beginning the Navy training syllabus and is waived for students reporting to NAS Pensacola with a private pilot's certificate or better, or those United States Naval Academy midshipmen who have completed the powered flight program. All SNAs start at the "Cradle of Naval Aviation", NAS Pensacola , Florida . API classes consist of Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard SNAs, student naval flight officers , flight surgeons , and foreign exchange military pilots. Students receive four weeks of classroom instruction in aerodynamics , aircraft engines and systems, meteorology , air navigation , and flight rules and regulations. Following academics, students spend two weeks learning land survival, first aid, physiology, and water survival and egress. Following

2088-497: The NAVCAD program in 1992, and the program was finally cancelled on October 1, 1993. Except for an extremely small number of enlisted personnel selected to attend flight school subsequent to completing the STA-21, OCS, USMMA, USNA, or USCGA programs, all student naval aviators (SNAs) must first obtain an officer commission. To become a naval aviator, non-prior service personnel must be between

2146-541: The Navy's limited duty officer or chief warrant officer programs, but this track has since been discontinued. Coast Guard officers receive their commissions either from the United States Coast Guard Academy or Coast Guard Officer Candidate School , both located in New London, Connecticut ; or via the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY. Graduates of these programs are commissioned as ensigns in

2204-527: The T-45 Goshawk. The syllabus covers bombing, air combat maneuvering (ACM), advanced instruments, low-level navigation, tactical formation flying (TACFORM), and carrier qualification (CQ) (see Modern US Navy carrier operations ). Graduates of advanced strike fly the F/A-18C/D Hornet (USMC), F/A-18E/F Super Hornet (USN), EA-18G Growler (USN), F-35B Lightning II (USMC), F-35C Lightning II (USN and USMC), and

2262-577: The T-45C before learning if they would continue in either strike or E-2/C-2. Student naval aviators selected for strike training are assigned to NAS Kingsville , Texas or NAS Meridian , Mississippi, flying the T-45C. The intermediate syllabus incorporates basic instrument flying, formation, night familiarization, and airway navigation over approximately 58 graded flights lasting approximately 27 weeks. Advanced strike students continue with approximately 67 additional graded flights lasting approximately 23 weeks in

2320-417: The U.S. Marine Corps does not have restricted line officers or staff corps officers, as does the U.S. Navy. All current USMC naval aviators and naval flight officers are unrestricted line officers, analogous to the Navy's URLs. The U.S. Coast Guard categorizes all of its officers generally, with its Coast Guard aviators also being considered "operational" officers in the same manner as its cutterman officers in

2378-617: The U.S. Navy or U.S. Coast Guard, or as second lieutenants in the Marine Corps. All individuals must pass an aeronautical screening, to include successful completion of the USN/USMC/USCG Aviation Selection Test Battery and be selected for pilot training prior to being designated as student naval aviators. Student naval aviators progress through a significant training syllabus—typically 18 to 24 months for initial winging (designation) as naval aviators via either

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2436-524: The academic portion and Flight Suit Friday, SNAs will begin the IFS portion of the course, conducted with civilian flight schools at either Pensacola Regional Airport or Jack Edwards Airport in Orange Beach, Alabama. Students will complete approximately 10 hours of basic flying and will mimic the expectations needed to succeed in primary flight training. Upon completion of a check ride by a CFI, students will spend

2494-472: The advanced strike pipeline for those destined for fixed-wing aircraft such as fighter/bomber jets; the maritime pipeline for those en route to multi-engine, land and sea-based aircraft (with a slightly modified pipeline for prospective E-2 Advanced Hawkeye or C-2A Greyhound pilots); and the rotary wing pipeline for those who will fly helicopters or tilt rotor aircraft (with a slightly modified pipeline for MV-22 Osprey pilots). The longest of these "pipelines"

2552-510: The ages of 19 and 32 when entering flight training. Adjustments (waivers) can be made up to 24 months for those with prior service, and up to 48 months for those already in the military at the time of application or for Marine Corps platoon leader's course applicants with prior enlisted service. Navy and Marine Corps officers are currently commissioned through five sources - the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis , Maryland;

2610-742: The bachelor's degree normally required for entry into the flight training program) and were accessed only through the now-defunct Aviation Officer Candidate School (AOCS) program. Upon completion of AOCS, NAVCADS would enter into flight training and upon successful completion of training and designation as a naval aviator would be commissioned as officers with a reserve commission in an active-duty status. After completion of their initial operational flying tours, they would receive an assignment to complete their bachelor's degree. NAVCADs who failed to successfully complete flight training were contractually obligated to enter fleet service as undesignated enlisted personnel. The last civilian applicants were accepted into

2668-556: The capabilities of modern air forces and naval aviation . In many countries, they are now a key part of the military, allowing for their military aircraft to be staged much nearer the area of conflict. Aircraft carriers were vital to the United States during World War II , Korea and the Vietnam War , and to the United Kingdom in the 1982 Falklands War . They retain modern roles as well as "several acres of sovereign territory

2726-510: The end of academic instruction, API students hold a social event known as Flight Suit Friday at the Mustin Beach officers club. From that point onward, the students are authorized the wear of flight suits (with service-specific garrison cap) as their daily uniform instead of Navy service khakis, Marine service Charlies or Coast Guard tropical blue. Prior to its disestablishment, Aviation Officer Candidate School (AOCS) at NAS Pensacola incorporated

2784-586: The entire API syllabus into the nominally 15-week AOCS curriculum. AOCS students were commissioned only after they completed API requirements. In November 2020, The Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) combined IFS and API into a singular program. As of today, NIFE is the new first step to becoming a naval aviator. All prospective SNAs begin the course with the API academic instruction, involving aerodynamics, flight rules and regulations, meteorology, navigation, and aircraft engines and systems. Following successful completion of

2842-651: The explosion and resulting oil spill that occurred with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster. Air base An airbase typically has some facilities similar to a civilian airport ; for example, air traffic control and firefighting . Some military aerodromes have passenger facilities; for example, RAF Brize Norton in England has a terminal used by passengers for the Royal Air Force 's passenger transport flights. A number of military airbases may also have

2900-551: The medical corps, or an even smaller percentage of "dual designator" naval flight surgeons who are selected to be student naval aviators (SNAs) and underwent pilot training as medical corps officers. The vast majority of naval flight surgeons, although they are on flight status, are not dual designated and are not naval aviators. All U.S. Marine Corps officers are line officers, either unrestricted line, limited duty, or warrant officers, eligible to command MAGTF units commensurate with their grade, designation, and occupational specialty;

2958-472: The regular navy or serving in the navy reserve who were originally accessed as naval aviation cadets (NAVCADs). These individuals entered service via the NAVCAD program during the mid-to-late 1980s and early 1990s when the program was reinstated following a hiatus of over 20 years. NAVCADs were non-commissioned cadets who were required to have a minimum of 60 college credit hours to enter flight training (rather than

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3016-719: The requirements to become a USCG aviator. For a Coast Guardsman to be considered for a position, they must first be commissioned , either through Coast Guard Officer Candidate School , the United States Coast Guard Academy , or a college ROTC program. If the applicant is accepted, they are assigned to Pensacola Naval Air Station , Florida, where the Coast Guard Aviation Liaison Officer coordinates their training. This includes academics, physical fitness, medical exams and physicals, and housing. Coast Guard aviation candidates follow an almost identical training pipeline as their United States Naval Aviator brethren from

3074-626: The same undergraduate flight training as Navy and Marine Corps crewed aircraft pilots, and are awarded the same aviation breast insignia. In the U.S. Navy, most naval aviators are unrestricted line officers (URLs), eligible for command at sea, but a small number of former senior enlisted personnel subsequently commissioned as line limited duty officers and chief warrant officers in the aviation operations technician specialty have also been trained as naval aviators and naval flight officers . A small number of URL officers trained as naval aviators and naval flight officers who hold technical degrees at

3132-612: The tactical control of the Eighth Coast Guard District and has an area of responsibility that extends from the Louisiana / Texas border to the eastern edge of the Florida panhandle . In the 1960s, Coast Guard leaders recognized the need for their own "stand alone" aviation training base. Fixed-wing aviation training was conducted at Coast Guard Air Station Biloxi, Mississippi, which was garrisoned at Keesler Air Force Base at

3190-554: The time, using the HU-16 for flight training. The Coast Guard was forced to look at another location after military leaders had thoughts on drastically reducing, or eliminating, the flight activities at Keesler. Meanwhile, Coast Guard Air Station Savannah , Georgia, garrisoned at Hunter Air Force Base, was conducting its rotary-wing training with the HH-52 . The Coast Guard looked at expanding its training facilities, but this begin to change when

3248-696: The twin-engine T-44A/C Pegasus . Particular emphasis is placed on single-engine flight in varying conditions and instrument flying. Upon receiving their wings of gold, Navy pilots report to VP-30, the P-8 Poseidon FRS, for further training in the P-8A. Marine Corps pilots report to the Lockheed KC-130 FRD at either MCAS Cherry Point or MCAS Miramar . Previously VMGRT-253 served as the KC-130 FRS until its deactivation in 2006. Coast Guard pilots destined for

3306-571: The undergraduate and/or postgraduate level may also opt to laterally transfer to the restricted-line (RL) as aerospace engineering duty officers (AEDOs). AEDOs are frequently test pilot school graduates and retain their flying status, with most of their billets being in the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIRSYSCOM). An even smaller number of naval aviators are in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps , primarily as naval flight surgeons . These are either former URL officers previously designated as naval aviators who later attended medical school and transferred to

3364-590: The unique characteristics and tactics of rotary-wing aviation. Students progress through several phases of training including basic helicopter familiarization, tactics, basic and radio instruments, visual, instrument, and low-level navigation, formation, night familiarization (including use of night vision goggles ), and search and rescue. Upon completion, students will receive their wings of gold and are designated naval aviators. Once they receive their wings of gold, Navy helicopter pilots report to their respective fleet replacement squadron (FRS) for training: HSM-41 for

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