By Kayla Good,
Navy Office of Community Outreach
NORFOLK, Va. – A 2007 Dorman High School
graduate and Spartanburg, South Carolina native is serving in the
U.S. Navy with Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 126.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Wyatt works with the E-2D Advanced
Hawkeye Squadron, VAW 126, also known as “Seahawks”, operating out of Norfolk,
Virginia.
He
is responsible for physical security and ensuring good order and conduct
are maintained.
“I like coming to work at this command every day,” said
Wyatt. “This job is new to me so I am still learning a lot. I like to come to
work and mentor and motivate other sailors.”
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 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.
“I like how the command is proficient and professional
with all the work we do,” said Wyatt. “There
is a lot of good people in this squadron.”
“Serving
in the Navy is rewarding ad gives me a sense of
pride,” added Wyatt. “When I was a builder I did a lot of consstruction work
for a lot of other countries and was able to see how others lived. The Navy is
also a good way to set up for retirement.”
The Seahawks of VAW-126 are assigned to Carrier Air Wing
ONE.