By Mass
Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jamal McNeill, Navy Office of
Community Outreach
(CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas) – A 2011 Clear Lake High School
graduate and Clear Lake, Texas native is participating in the lengthy and
rigorous training process that transforms U.S. Navy officers into Navy pilots.
Ensign Maddie Buck is a student pilot with the “Wise Owls”
Training Squadron (VT-31), based in Corpus, Christi, Texas, that operates the
T-44A Pegasus aircraft. As a student, Buck is responsible for training to
become fully trained in Navy standards to fly aircraft and complete missions in
support of the Navy's operational goals.
“Being a pilot provides a challenging and rewarding,” said
Buck. “It's very interesting to experience something that most people don’t
get to and share that experience with a tight knit crew.”
The T-44A is a twin-engine,
pressurized, fixed-wing monoplane used for advanced turboprop radar aircraft
training using two 550 shaft horse-powered engines, with a cruising
airspeed of 281 mph.
VT-31’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 strike fighter
jet, the P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft or the SH-60 Seahawk helicopter.
They are later assigned to a ship or land-based squadron.
Many of the pilots will fly aircraft which take off from and
land aboard aircraft carriers, a unique capability which allows the Navy to
operate anywhere on the world’s oceans. Recently, Navy attack aircraft
operating from aircraft carriers sailing in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and
from Middle East waters have launched hundreds of strike missions against
terrorist targets in Iraq and Syria.
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s squadrons with the
newest aircraft platforms, Buck said she and other VT-31 sailors are proud to
be part of a war-fighting team that readily defends America at all times.
“I enjoy this command because excitement of interacting with
the instructors and building a bond with the other students is great,” said
Buck.
Jobs are highly varied at VT-31, according to Navy officials.
Approximately 69 men and women officers and
15 civilian employees make up and keep all parts of the squadron running
smoothly -- this includes everything from maintaining airframes and engines, to
processing paperwork, handling weaponry, and flying the aircraft.
“Every day I feel an extraordinary amount of
pride to serve alongside our great Nation’s most inspiring men and women,” said
Cmdr. Samuel D. Gage, commanding officer of VT-31. “Our team is filled with
hardworking and highly qualified professionals who hold uncommon levels of responsibility
and accountability in support of our mission: to maintain, fly, and train
future naval aviators. Their work ethic, commitment, enthusiasm, and esprit de
corps are second to none!"
Serving in the Navy, Buck is learning about being a more responsible
leader, Sailor and person through handling numerous responsibilities.
“The Navy standards has been instilled in my day to day
life,” said Buck. “The values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment is something
that I try to live by and it's great knowing I am part of something that is
bigger than myself.”