CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A 2013 Wakefield High School graduate and Raleigh, North Carolina, native is participating in a rigorous training process that transforms officers into U.S. naval aviators.
Ensign Wesley Neal is a student pilot with the “Rangers” of Training Squadron (VT) 28, based in Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas. The squadron flies the T-6B Texan II aircraft.
A Navy student pilot is responsible for learning the basics of naval aviation and how to safely and efficiently fly the T-6B training aircraft.
“There are many days that begin early in the morning however, the feeling of being in control of an aircraft as capable as the T6B amongst the clouds, is unmatched,” Neal said.
Neal credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned growing up in Raleigh.
“The main thing that sticks out from growing up, is playing sports and learning how to work as part of a team,” Neal said. “While most of our events are individual, there is a lot of team work required in flight school for everyone to get through.”
The T-6B Texan II is a training aircraft that is powered by a 1,100 shaft horsepower, free-turbine, turboprop single-engine, four-bladed propeller, with a cruising speed of 320 mph.
VT-28’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 four 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, the P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft or the SH-60 Seahawk helicopter. 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.
Neal 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, Neal is most proud of graduating from officer candidate school.
“This school includes 12 weeks of intense training,” Neal said. “The first six weeks are both mentally and physically challenging but at the end, you have a great sense of accomplishment commissioning as an officer.”
Serving in the Navy is a continuing tradition of military service for Neal, who has military ties with family members who have previously served. Neal is honored to carry on the family tradition.
“My grandfather served in both the Army and North Carolina Army National Guard,” Neal said. “I remember going to Army events with my grandfather and it is very gratifying to be able to serve and be part of events like the ones I used to attend wth him.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Neal 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 serving my country and being a part of something bigger than myself,” Neal said. “Regardless, of the aircraft I get to fly it will be an honor to serve as an aviator in the Navy.”
A Navy student pilot is responsible for learning the basics of naval aviation and how to safely and efficiently fly the T-6B training aircraft.
“There are many days that begin early in the morning however, the feeling of being in control of an aircraft as capable as the T6B amongst the clouds, is unmatched,” Neal said.
Neal credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned growing up in Raleigh.
“The main thing that sticks out from growing up, is playing sports and learning how to work as part of a team,” Neal said. “While most of our events are individual, there is a lot of team work required in flight school for everyone to get through.”
The T-6B Texan II is a training aircraft that is powered by a 1,100 shaft horsepower, free-turbine, turboprop single-engine, four-bladed propeller, with a cruising speed of 320 mph.
VT-28’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 four 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, the P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft or the SH-60 Seahawk helicopter. 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.
Neal 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, Neal is most proud of graduating from officer candidate school.
“This school includes 12 weeks of intense training,” Neal said. “The first six weeks are both mentally and physically challenging but at the end, you have a great sense of accomplishment commissioning as an officer.”
Serving in the Navy is a continuing tradition of military service for Neal, who has military ties with family members who have previously served. Neal is honored to carry on the family tradition.
“My grandfather served in both the Army and North Carolina Army National Guard,” Neal said. “I remember going to Army events with my grandfather and it is very gratifying to be able to serve and be part of events like the ones I used to attend wth him.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Neal 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 serving my country and being a part of something bigger than myself,” Neal said. “Regardless, of the aircraft I get to fly it will be an honor to serve as an aviator in the Navy.”