by Ricky Burke, Navy Office of Community Outreach
(CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas) – A 2006
Wellington High School graduate and West Palm Beach, Florida native is participating in the lengthy and rigorous
training process that transforms U.S. Navy officers into Navy pilots.
Ensign Bryan Goodman
is a student naval aviator with the
“Wise Owls” Training Squadron (VT-31), based in Corpus, Christi, Texas, that
operates the T-44A Pegasus aircraft. As a student,
Goodman is responsible for learning to fly multi-engine and land based aircraft
to become one of the finest naval aviators in the world.
“I love flying and although the
training is very challenging now, I know in the end the dividends will definitely pay off in the long run.
The T-44A is a twin-engine,
pressurized, fixed-wing monoplane used for advanced turboprop radar aircraft
training using two 550 shaft horsepowered 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, Goodman said he and other VT-31 sailors are proud to be part
of a warfighting team that readily defends America at all times.
“This command has an incredible
group of instructors and the camaraderie that is shared amongst them and the
students, definitely makes everyone feel that we are all one family looking out
for each both on and off duty,” said Goodman.
Jobs are highly varied at VT-31, according to Navy officials.
Approximately 69 officers and 19 enlisted
men and women 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, Goodman
is learning about being a more responsible leader, Sailor and person through
handling numerous responsibilities.
“The Navy has given me the
incredible opportunity to accomplish so many goals both professionally and
personally,” said Goodman.