George Washington (CVN 73) - Naval Cruise Book

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tf'n 1999. Lt. Ken Pierce earned his • y pilot’s wings. On January 31.2000, he landed on an aircraft carrier flight deck for the first time. But it wasn't until the tailored ship's training assessment in November 2001 when that the young officer assigned to Early Airborne Warning Squadron ONE TWO FIVE became a member of an extended family - Carrier Air Wing SEVENTEEN. Pierce was one of the many “nuggets” (a term given to new air wing pilots) aboard USS George Washington gaining experience with takeoffs and landings aboard an aircraft carrier as CVW-17 team members. He and his fellow junior pilots are also getting used to life at sea and taking the opportunity to use what they’ve spent their naval careers learning: to be the finest naval aviators in the world. “It feels like you're finally part of the team, Pierce, 26, said. “It's good to see how the guys in the [other squadrons] do their jobs. It's cool to be aboard. So how did these pilots get their name? “A gold nugget has no shape or form when you first find it. explained Strike Fighter Squadron 83's veteran pilot Lt. Larry Delong. “It's basically raw gold. But give it time and some heat and that gold turns into something more valuable.” Pierce and the rest of the new pilots became solid gold after earning their carrier qualifications and becoming official members of the air wing. But the honor belonged to them. “I couldn’t imagine doing anything else now that I've seen carrier aviation,” Pierce said. I believe anything else would be boring now.