KINGSVILLE, Texas - A 2010 Iowa-Grant High School graduate and Dodgeville, Wisconsin, native is participating in a rigorous training process that transforms officers into U.S. naval aviators.
Lt. j.g. Levi Loschen is a student pilot with the “Golden Eagles” of Training Squadron (VT) 22, based in Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas. The squadron flies T-45C Goshawk aircraft.
A Navy student pilot is responsible for learning safety procedures, flight mechanics and tactics for naval aircraft.
“I love operating a machine to it's maximum capacity,” Loschen said.
Loschen credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned growing up in Dodgeville.
“I've learned to lean on the aviation community for help," Loschen said. "We are all in this together and can help each other out,” Loschen said.
The T-45C Goshawk is a tandem-seat, jet trainer aircraft powered by a twin-spool non-afterburn turbofan engine with 5,527 pounds of thrust and airspeed of 645 mph.
VT-22’s primary mission is to train future naval aviators to fly as well as instill leadership and officer values, Navy officials explained. Students must complete many phases of flight training in order to graduate, including aviation pre-flight indoctrination, primary flight training, and advanced flight training. After successfully completing the rigorous program, naval aviators earn their coveted “Wings of Gold.”
After graduation, pilots continue their training to learn how to fly a specific aircraft, such as the Navy’s F/A-18 Hornet fighter attack jet aircraft or the F-35 Lightning joint strike fighter jet. They are later assigned to a ship or land-based squadron.
A key element of the Navy the nation needs is tied to the fact that America is a maritime nation, and that the nation’s prosperity is tied to the ability to operate freely on the world’s oceans. More than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water; 80 percent of the world’s population lives close to a coast; and 90 percent of all global trade by volume travels by sea.
Loschen plays an important role in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of National Defense Strategy.
“Our priorities center on people, capabilities and processes, and will be achieved by our focus on speed, value, results and partnerships,” said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. “Readiness, lethality and modernization are the requirements driving these priorities.”
Though there are many ways for sailors to earn distinction in their command, community and career, Loschen is most proud of making the commodore's list out of primary flight school and finishing top 10 in his class.
“I strived to be at the top of my game and being recognized for it was great,” Loschen said.
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Loschen and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“Serving in the Navy means pride,” Loschen said. “I enjoy being part of an organization with so much history, heritage and tradition.”
A Navy student pilot is responsible for learning safety procedures, flight mechanics and tactics for naval aircraft.
“I love operating a machine to it's maximum capacity,” Loschen said.
Loschen credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned growing up in Dodgeville.
“I've learned to lean on the aviation community for help," Loschen said. "We are all in this together and can help each other out,” Loschen said.
The T-45C Goshawk is a tandem-seat, jet trainer aircraft powered by a twin-spool non-afterburn turbofan engine with 5,527 pounds of thrust and airspeed of 645 mph.
VT-22’s primary mission is to train future naval aviators to fly as well as instill leadership and officer values, Navy officials explained. Students must complete many phases of flight training in order to graduate, including aviation pre-flight indoctrination, primary flight training, and advanced flight training. After successfully completing the rigorous program, naval aviators earn their coveted “Wings of Gold.”
After graduation, pilots continue their training to learn how to fly a specific aircraft, such as the Navy’s F/A-18 Hornet fighter attack jet aircraft or the F-35 Lightning joint strike fighter jet. They are later assigned to a ship or land-based squadron.
A key element of the Navy the nation needs is tied to the fact that America is a maritime nation, and that the nation’s prosperity is tied to the ability to operate freely on the world’s oceans. More than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water; 80 percent of the world’s population lives close to a coast; and 90 percent of all global trade by volume travels by sea.
Loschen plays an important role in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of National Defense Strategy.
“Our priorities center on people, capabilities and processes, and will be achieved by our focus on speed, value, results and partnerships,” said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. “Readiness, lethality and modernization are the requirements driving these priorities.”
Though there are many ways for sailors to earn distinction in their command, community and career, Loschen is most proud of making the commodore's list out of primary flight school and finishing top 10 in his class.
“I strived to be at the top of my game and being recognized for it was great,” Loschen said.
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Loschen and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“Serving in the Navy means pride,” Loschen said. “I enjoy being part of an organization with so much history, heritage and tradition.”