The Chief of Naval Air Training presented the Training Air Wing FIVE staff with a Meritorious Unit Commendation for their efforts during the T-34 to T-6 aircraft transition.
The award is presented based on exceptionally meritorious conduct in providing an outstanding service to the military, and is signed by the Chief of Naval Operations for the Secretary of the Navy.
Rear Adm. Roy Kelley reminded the staff of the difficulties involved in the transition between the two aircraft due to the perpetual flight schedules at the training command.
“When we do a transition, we do it in stride. Other units doing transitions get taken out of their rotations,” Kelley emphasized. “There was a lot of coordination and effort on your parts. Thank you for that.”
Kelley presented the citation to Commodore, TRAWING-5 Col. Gary Kling who accepted on behalf of the staff. Kling stressed to the assembled TRAWING-5 team that the transition to the T-6 marked a radical change in the way the squadrons operated from a safety, training, supply and administrative standpoint, and involved an increase in surge capacity.
“You made this happen!” he said. “It was an example of pure teamwork, and that is what this award represents.”
Throughout the almost three-year transition, TRAWING-5 continued to meet or exceed Chief of Naval Aviation Training Command mission goals. The three fixed-wing, training squadrons flew 387,791 flight hours which resulted in the safe completion of almost 1,200 fixed-wing student Naval aviators. They accomplished this mission while balancing instructor qualifications in the new aircraft and surging flight capabilities to compensate for weather cancellations.
“You were all pioneers to help us address the issues we did not foresee,” Kelley concluded. “We could have had challenges, but your thoroughness and foresight allowed us to be successful and safe. Congratulations on this award.”
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: TRAWING-5 receives Meritorious Unit Commendation