Big E Continues Carrier Qualifications

US Navy,

USS ENTERPRISE, At Sea: The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) (Big E), returned to sea April 30 for a cycle of carrier qualifications, following a four-week in port period for Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) preparations and inspections.

Enterprise was last at sea March 19 through April 1 to conduct carrier qualifications with training squadrons from Naval Air Training, headquartered at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas.

For approximately two weeks, Enterprise will be home to a few new squadrons as the pilots of the fleet replenishment squadrons train for carrier landings at sea.

As the Navy’s surge carrier, Big E continues to remain ready at all times to deploy at a moment’s notice. Constant training keeps Sailors and Marines stationed aboard the 45-year-old carrier and the embarked squadrons primed to fight any battle, whether against enemy aircraft in the sky or supporting ground troops in the global war on terrorism.

“Our enemies are persistent and relentless, and in order to win the fight against terrorism, we must be persistent and relentless as well,” said Capt. Larry Rice, Enterprise commanding officer. “We must keep our minds sharp and focused on the mission.”

“As Sailors and Marines, we are obligated to carry out our duties by the oaths we took at our enlistments and commissionings,” said Capt. O.P. Honors, executive officer. “A few years ago, ships’ schedules were built around a predictable six-month deployment every two years. However, as we move into the future, we must be prepared for anything that comes our way.”

During this current underway, Big E will be joined by two F/A-18 Super Hornet squadrons, the “Flying Eagles” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 122 stationed at Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore, Calif., and the “Gladiators” of VFA-106 stationed at NAS Oceana, Va.; an SH-60 Seahawk squadron, the “Tridents” of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 3 stationed at NAS Jacksonville, Fla.; and a C-2A Greyhound squardron, the “Rawhides” of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40 from Naval Station Norfolk.

Big E is the centerpiece of the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group, which also includes the guided-missile destroyers USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51), USS Stout (DDG 55), USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98) and USS James E. Williams (DDG 95); the guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64), the fast-attack submarine USS
Philadelphia (SSN 690) and the fast combat supply ship USNS Supply (T-AOE 6).

In addition to being the flagship of the strike group, Enterprise is also the home to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1.