By Petty Officer 3rd
Class Jamal McNeill, Navy Office of Community Outreach
NORFOLK, Va. – A 2012 Breckinridge County High School
graduate and Hardinsburg, Kentucky native is serving in the U.S. Navy with
Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 126.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Jordan Fergison works with the E-2D
Advanced Hawkeye Squadron, VAW 126, also known as “Seahawks”, operating out of
Norfolk, Virginia.
He is responsible for personal protection, good conduct,
order and security for the entire command.
“My job is great because I get to work with people from all
around the world,” said Fergison. “It allows me to experience things that I
wouldn’t get to outside of the Navy.”
The primary mission of VAW-126 is to provide mission-ready
and combat-ready E-2D aircraft and capable aircrew wherever needed, on time,
and safely.
As the newest variant of the E-2 aircraft platform, the E-2D
Advanced Hawkeye serves as the most advanced command and control aircraft in
the Navy and features a state-of the-art radar with more capabilities and
upgraded aircraft systems that improves the combat effectiveness of a carrier
air wing and carrier strike group..
In addition to airborne early warning mission, the E-2D
provides a variety of capabilities to the carrier strike group, including
search and rescue operations, data link, communications relay, strike control,
close air support coordination, and drug interdiction.
”The sailors of VAW-126 are integral to
the successful employment of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye,” said Cmdr. Scott
Wastak, Commanding Officer VAW-126. “Without their meticulous attention to
detail and dedication to the mission, the Hawkeye would be unable to perform
its mission and meet our nation’s call to duty.
Our sailors are truly our most valuable assets!”
With a crew of nearly 150 sailors, jobs
are highly specialized and designed to keep each part of the Hawkeye running
smoothly. Whether training new aviators,
maintaining airframes and engines, processing paperwork, or handling and flying
the aircraft, the key to success is teamwork.
“This command is a tight knit group,” said Fergison. “It is
a more relaxed environment to work in and has a family oriented work
atmosphere.”
“The way I was raised, we take pride in being Americans,”
added Fergison. “My father was military and instilled in me that everyone should
do our part in protecting this great nation. I’m just doing my part.”
The Seahawks of VAW-126 are assigned to Carrier Air Wing
ONE.