New Pilot Was A Rescue Swimmer Who "Wanted To Change
Seats"
Fourteen Sailors were selected in
2006 to become the Navy's first "Flying Chief Warrant Officers,"
and more than three years later, the "Flying 14" are still making
history.
When Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) Michael Adams, from Coalinga,
California, reported to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22,
and embarked aboard the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS
Bataan (LHD 5) in June, he became the first CWO helicopter pilot to
complete his training and begin living his dream as a pilot in an
operational environment.
Adams was no stranger to rotary aircraft, spending nearly nine
years as an aviation warfare systems operator before his
commissioning in December 2006.
"I was a rescue swimmer flying in H60F/H's, and I wanted to
change seats," said Adams. "This program was the perfect
opportunity for me to do that."
For Adams, the timing to switch seats could not have been
better. According to the first NAVADMIN soliciting applications,
the Navy was looking to supplement the current officer aviation
force by placing qualified CWOs in the cockpit as pilots and naval
flight officers (NFOs). The requirements specified candidates must
be between paygrades E-5 and E-7, young enough to be commissioned
by their 27th birthday (29 for NFOs) and must already possess an
associate's degree. Adams met every requirement.
"My wife and I were so excited when the message came back," said
Adams. "It was surreal."
The new officer didn't have much time to look back on the hard
work that earned him a selection. He spent the next two years
attending various officer indoctrination courses, pre-flight
schools and piloting schools before completing his training at
Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 2.
(HSC)22 MH-60S Seahawks U.S. Navy
Photo
Adams has now settled in with his new squadron embarked aboard
Bataan where he serves as the detachment's assistant operations
officer and flight schedule writer, but he never misses an
opportunity to step into the cockpit.
"His flying abilities are equal to any unrestricted line officer
pilot that I've seen," said Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 2nd
Class (NAC) Aaron Gardner, from Benson, N.C. "Plus, his prior
enlisted background gives him an understanding of the crew, which
makes him a more approachable leader."
With 12 years of service under his belt, Adams has plenty of
flight hours ahead of him, both in and out of uniform.
"This is an opportunity that will certainly carry me into
retirement many years from now," said Adams. "When I've retired, I
hope to be flying helicopters somewhere on the West Coast."
ANN Salutes Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Stephen
Oleksiak, USS Bataan Public Affairs