MILTON, Fla. - A Minot High School graduate and Minot, North Dakota, native completed naval flight school to receive the flight officer insignia known as “Wings of Gold" at a Winging Ceremony at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whiting Field in Milton, Florida, on November 9.
1st Lt. Matthew Nilson, an aviator, received his “Wings of Gold” serving with Helicopter Training (HT) Squadron 18, the “Vigilant Eagles," a command with Training Air Wing Five (TW-5). This insignia is awarded to aviators who have qualified as flight officers based on successful flight training.
HT-18`s primary mission is to transition student aviators through basic and advanced rotary wing pilot training. Basic training introduces and develops student skills in helicopter flight maneuvers as well as training in visual navigation and tactics. Advanced training completes an intensive curriculum of basic and radio instruments, advanced tactics, and shipboard landings.
NAS Whiting Field is where the future of Naval Aviation begins. Their mission is to train the military’s best “Aviation Warfighter.” As the host of 21 tenant activities, they produce 1,200 pilots a year.