Guest Speaker - Captain Mark Sickert, USN

by Mel Locke, GPS PAO

Nearly one hundred members of the Grampaw Pettibone Squadron (GPS) welcomed Captain Mark Sickert, USN. His topic was "CVN-74 Action in Afghanistan."

Captain Sickert is the Executive Officer aboard the USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74).
He has a B.S. in metallurgical engineering from Michigan Technological University and a M.A. in strategic studies from the Naval War College, and is also a graduate of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion program. He is a 22 year veteran of naval aviation and has flown 3000 hours in helicopters.

When the catastrophe of 9-11 occurred, CVN-74 was at sea for pilot carrier qualification. The preparation time for deployment to Afghanistan was compressed from six months to two months. In the waters off Afghanistan, dual carriers were on station from Navy Air Wing 14. Planes from one carrier flew during the daylight hours, while the planes from the other carrier flew during hours of darkness. Combat missions were of five to six hours duration, with one refueling inbound to targets and one refueling outbound from targets. While on station there was continued coordination of navigation operations, logistics and no-fly days for maintenance of the ship and aircraft.

The Afghanistan deployment lasted 116 days at sea with 108 fly days. There were 8,808 sorties flown and 10,000 traps (arrested landings). During this time 200 people completed college courses and 16 received their GED (General Educational Development) certificates in lieu of high school diplomas.

The forecasted life of the CVN-74 John Stennis is fifty years; it was commissioned in 1995. The carrier will be placed in dry dock in 2005 for overhaul and updating of technological developments. During the Afghanistan tour of duty, Vice-President Dick Chaney and news analyst Tom Brokaw visited CVN-74. They talked and mingled with the nuclear carrier personnel. Administrative steps were taken to keep the morale high. This was accomplished by scheduling special activities which included swim calls, steel beach picnics, movies on the flight deck, beer days (two bottles each), and WOG day when crossing the equator.

A video was shown at the GPS meeting of an F-14 Tomcat at night on the final approach to the carrier. When the tailhook engaged the arresting cable, the tailhook snapped off the aircraft. The pilot added full throttle, took off from the carrier and climbed straight up. At a safe altitude the two crew members ejected from the aircraft and were later rescued.

The motto of CVN-74 John C. Stennis is "Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of all who threaten it."

From time to time, your Ops-O has the opportunity to present a really memorable program for our squadron-mates and guests. Well, November is one of those times. We all remember the United States Marine Corps, don't we??? 10 November is the birthday of the Corps and as such, it is only proper and fitting that we honor the Marines with a birthday celebration.

Our squadron's luncheon on 13 November (sorry, the second Thursday doesn't correspond well to the tenth) will feature MajGen James Amos, USMC, the Commanding General of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing stationed at MCAS Miramar. Additionally, we will have the Commandant's Message (a Corps tradition) on video for all hands, a cake cutting ceremony, a Marine Corps Jr. ROTC color guard from Orange High School and a brass quintet playing the National Anthem and the Marine Corps hymn.

If you know of any former, retired or active duty Marines, please invite them to attend, just make darn sure that you call in your reservations!!!!!…….and show up!!!

Our December program is still up in the air as we have 2 different speakers that are standing by! We'll know for sure next month.

A Happy 228th Birthday, Marines!!! Semper Fi! Danny Musselman

Quite a presentation by the USS John C. Stennis Executive Officer, CAPT. Mark Sickert. Look for PAO Mel Locke's report in this issue. Suffice to say, the Captain had everyone's attention.

Thought I might review Tailhook for you. The Nugget Hotel was nearly completely booked by Tailhookers. There were over three thousand in attendance. It was an exceptional convention, interesting panels of discussion, lots of exhibits, and included simulators of both the F/A 18 Hornet, and the F-35. Bud Yount proved that once a Marine Fighter pilot, always a Marine Fighter pilot as he checked out both. Results? A one-wire trap with the Hornet. You gotta ask Bud about the F-35. He did say it was "just a little more complicated than the Corsair." There was also a mock-up of the engine the Marines will be using in their "35" variant. Big sucker!

The Banquet speaker was none other than General Mike Hagee, Commandant of the Marine Corps. A very captivating speaker who spoke on a number of subjects. He stressed the future cooperation that will be the hallmark of Navy and Marine Aviation. He spoke of future operations, including the increased use of UCAV's. He also surprised some by stating that about half of the future aviators will be in helicopters.
OK! HEADS UP!! This month's luncheon is a special event for all Marines. Their Birthday. Look for a special program put together by Ops-O Danny Musselman. The speaker is none other than the 3d MAW Commanding Officer, MajGen. James Amos, MCAS Miramar. What with a band, Color Guard, cake cutting ceremony, the Commandant's message, and all the Marines who will be there, we are advising, MAKE RESERVATIONS! If you come late and haven't done this, you might be setting in the bar eating a hamburger!

December's Luncheon speaker will be RADM Steve Briggs, USN (Ret), of Northrup/Grumman. His subject will be the UCAV's I spoke of earlier in this column. Ought to be interesting, given what General Hagee had to say at Tailhook.

Finally, congratulations to all the new officers for Gramps next year. They were voted in at last months luncheon. The skipper will be Jim Menees, who so ably filled in for me when I was laid up earlier this year. Mel Locke will be the Executive Officer, and Operations will be under the tutelage of Andy Gilcrest. With Mel moving from PAO to XO, and Chuck Howe desperately needing relief as Op-Plan Distribution, we are two positions down on the staff. If you wish to volunteer, or have a suggestion, please contact any of the current, or future, staff . Get an inside look on how this Op-Plan comes together and out to the membership.

That's it! Talk with you later. Bud