Naval Flight Officers earn their wings Published Aug. 27, 2009 By Lt. Derrick M. Berrens Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron SEVEN Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The "Roughnecks" of Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron SEVEN held a Naval Flight Officer Winging Ceremony Aug. 20 at the Tinker Club. Four student NFOs received their Navy "Wings of Gold" from Cmdr. Mark Mayerske, VQ-7 commander. By earning their wings, Lt. Jonah Westcott, Lt. j.g. John Anhalt, Ensign Kayla Tawoda and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Cory Fahrenkamp completed nearly two years of flight and navigation training, including six months of advanced communications training with VQ-7, the training squadron for the Take Charge and Move Out community. The newly winged officers will now accept orders and transfer to one of the community's two operational squadrons, VQ-3 or VQ-4. Naval Flight Officers referred to as Airborne Communications Officers in the TACAMO community, are responsible for leading a communications crew as well as controlling complex electronics and weapons systems aboard the E-6B 'Mercury'. The guest speaker for the ceremony was Rear Adm. David 'Deke' Philman, Air Warfare Division Director on the staff of the deputy chief of Naval Operations for Integration of Capabilities and Resources. A native of Bell, Fla., he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a bachelor of science degree in Operations Analysis in June 1978 and became an A-7E pilot and F/A-18 Hornet transition pilot. Admiral Philman directly addressed the room filled with friends and family supporting the graduates. "Flying is not just a job," said Admiral Philman. "It is the passion, friendships, and camaraderie that make flying special." He illustrated how, even though aviators spend a relatively short time together during their careers, it is the tough times they help each other through that forge bonds for life. Next, Admiral Philman pointed out the great accomplishment that the graduates had just achieved. "The best is yet to come. You have passed through the gates and will join the amazing group of peers that are waiting for you," he said. "Remember that you are warriors. What you do is important to the nation and the best community to be in is the E6-B community you are now a part of."