By Petty Officer 2nd Class(SW) Brian T. Glunt,
Navy Office of Community Outreach
NORFOLK, Va. – A 1988 Lamesa High School graduate and Lamesa, Texas native
is serving in the U.S. Navy as the command
master chief of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 126.
Command Master Chief
Priscilla Kirsh works with the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Squadron, VAW 126,
also known as “Seahawks”, operating out of Norfolk, Virginia.
As the command master chief, she is responsible for
leading the 150 enlisted sailors in the squadron and ensuring they have
everything they need, both personally and professionally, to perform the
squadron’s mission.
“The average age of my sailors is 20 years old and the
amount of responsibility we place on them, is incredible,” said Kirsh. “They
maintain and prepare for flight, multi-million dollar aircraft, often in a very
dangerous environment. When their families are taken care of, and they
have the right tools and training for the job, their potential has no
limits. It is my job to make sure they are successful.”
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.
“There
is nothing more rewarding than seeing the young men and women who volunteer to
serve their country, succeed at what they do,” said Kirsh. “Every sailor
has an important job in maintaining our airplanes and to watch them come
together as a team is the highlight of every day. They are talented,
motivated and eager to perform the mission.”
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 of 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
asset!”
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.
“We have a saying here that ‘Seahawks take care of
Seahawks,’” said Kirsh. “That isn't just our motto, it's what we do and how we
live our daily lives. We are a very diverse group of people who come from
a variety of cultures and environments all over the world, but once you walk
through our doors and join our team, you are family. The camaraderie here
is amazing and that is what keeps me in uniform serving my country. I
love the sailors here as if they were my own family.”
“I left
for the Navy at the age of 17, right after graduating high school,” added Kirsh. “I wasn't ready for college, so I
thought it would be a good transition into adult life for me. I had never
spent much time outside of Lamesa so it was definitely something unique. I had no idea I would still be here serving, 28 years later. I love the
Navy and it's been an awesome career for me. I've been all over the
world, and have had life experiences that I never would have had otherwise. Even
after all these years, I'm still very proud to be a small town girl from
Lamesa, Texas. The support I've received from family and friends back
home has never wavered since the day I got on the bus and left in 1988. The Navy is the only life I've ever known outside of Lamesa, and it's
definitely been much easier to serve, because of the love and support from my
hometown.”
The Seahawks of VAW-126 are assigned to Carrier Air Wing
ONE.