Wings of Gold-The Best Friday the 13th Ever!

I finally received my wings of gold on January 13th, 2006. I was overjoyed. It was Friday the 13th--my lucky day. I selected the EA-6B Prowler. Click on that to learn more. We found out the day before the winging ceremony. I was pretty surprised to select the Prowler. They only give out one a month, and it usually goes to the person with the best boat grades and a high overall flight school grade. But I got it anyway! A lot of what the Prowler does is top secret. It is a national asset and we do a lot of work for the Air Force, the Army, and of course the Navy and Marines. The primary mission of the Prowler is electronic warfare which means: radar jamming, radio communications interception, escort for all bombers and fighters, and a lot of other things I can't talk about because I don't have the top secret clearance yet and so they cannot tell me. So when I do find out, I won't be talking about it much because if I did, I would have to kill you!!!!! But I am excited about the Jet and the job I will be doing. I still can't believe they pay me for this.

Mandy and I are very excited. We get to move to one of the best duty stations in all the military, Whidbey Island in Washington state. We already found a place to live in Anacortes, which is located on Fidalgo Island. We're going to be Island folk! After about a year to a year and a half we will be moving to Cherry Point, North Carolina. We have some really close friends there and look forward to buying a home. We should be leaving Meridian within a few weeks. Mississippi will never look as good as it will in my rearview mirror!

The winging ceremony was nice. I am not one for getting all dressed up and participating in ceremonies but I didn't mind this one. It was worth it. Mandy pinned on my wings and we had about a million pictures taken. Thanks Mom!

This is just after Mandy pinned on my wings. That smile on my face didn't leave for about a week.


Prior to the winging ceremony we (me and the other pilot that winged with me) received some awards from our Commanding Officer.

We were able to go over to the simulator building and everybody got to try out the world's greatest video game. Steve is doing aerobatics here.

This is me and my buddy in front of the T-45C we fly, just before the winging ceremony. My Squadron's logo is on the right in the background.

This is the Commodore of Training Air Wing One. Doesn't he look like the perfect Naval Aviator? If you were going to cast someone for a fighter pilot movie you would base the character on this guy.

Right after Mandy pinned on my wings the Commodore and guest speaker presented me with more certificates and awards for my "I love me wall".

Mandy pinning on my wings.

Shaking hands.

This was the whole winging class. Five Marines in all (we're the ones in the good looking uniforms) and four Navy.

Posing for more pictures. Mandy is holding an award she received as well. It reads: United States Navy, Naval Air Training Command. To all who shall see these presents greetings: Amanda Jones, While attached to and serving as the neglected spouse of a student at the Naval Air Training Command, was duly and fully indoctrinated in the varied and incomprehensible subjects of Naval Aviation. Having served faithfully, and with devotion, in spite of harrassments, fits of temper and endless complaints of overwork is hereby awarded this Certificate of Apprection.

Steve, Bubba, Mandy and Me.

Mom and Dad!

Dad and Maryanne with Mandy and me.

The night of the winging we all went out to a steak house in Meridian.

We took the Wathens and Mom on a tour of the Natchez trace to take in some real life Mississippi swamp land.

Mandy, talking with her hands. "Don't take that picture, I'm not ready!"