‘Roughnecks’ Hold Winging Ceremony

  • Published
  • By Lt. Matthias Wells
  • Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron SEVEN Public Affairs
The "Roughnecks" of Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron SEVEN recently held their seventh Naval Flight Officer Winging Ceremony at Tinker Air Force Base. The ceremony marked the end of nearly two years of flight training for the aviators, who will now move on to their operational squadrons where they will assume their role as fleet airborne communications officers.

Naval Flight Officers, referred to as airborne communications officers in the Take Charge and Move Out Community, are indispensable members of their squadron. They are responsible for coordinating missions, communications, navigation, as well as controlling complex electronics and deploying weapons systems from aboard their aircraft.

At the event, Ens. Colin Raunig, Ens. Bradley J. La Fontaine and Ens. Joseph Ballard capped off six months of advanced training with VQ-7, the training squadron for the TACAMO community.

The guest speaker for the ceremony was Navy Capt. Brian D. Costello, Strategic Communications Wing ONE and Task Force 124 commander. He addressed the graduates in front of a crowd filled room of friends, family and fellow aviators.

"We will soon witness a simple thing, pinning wings on a Navy uniform. It's simple, but the meaning of this act is enormous. Today is the day that you leave the ranks of student aviator and become a full-fledged, card carrying NFO," said Captain Costello. "You've got the best job in the world. It comes with enormous responsibility and you will find camaraderie unlike anywhere else."

Captain Costello concluded his speech with advice on leadership as well as touched on the impact that they will each have on the global war on terror. "Make no mistake, this war is real and terrorism is a real threat to our freedoms. I believe it is imperative that we do everything in our power to fully defeat this insipient enemy. You are now a part of that effort."

The personal importance of the ceremony to the three, soon to be aviators, was not lost on Cmdr. Steven E. Dradzynski, VQ-7's commanding officer.

"Today is your day," said Commander Dradzynski. "You are joining a professional team with no equal. You invested the hard work necessary to reach this moment, and we are all here to recognize your achievement and celebrate this career milestone with you."

During his remarks, Commander Dradzynski touched on the total team effort required from the VQ-7 staff and support team to move aviators and aircrew through the training syllabus, and praised the commitment of flight and aircrew instructors and support personnel.

"It's a great team," he said. "At VQ-7 we make TACAMO pilots, flight officers, engineers, in-flight technicians, airborne communicators, and reel operators. It is truly an all hands effort. They are extremely dedicated to our mission."