Photo By Lt. PAO VAW-120 | Pictured are the 2013 Chief Pinning Ceremony VAW/VRC Community Chiefs during the...... read more read more
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By Lt. Joey Giordano
NORFOLK, Va. - On Sept. 13, 2013, the VAW-120 Greyhawks hosted 23 chief petty officer selectees. The 23 selectees represented the Hawkeye/Greyhound Commands in Norfolk, Va.; VAW-120, VAW-121, VAW-123, VAW-124, VRC-40 and the Fleet Replacement Center.
The guest speaker for the ceremony was retired Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy William H. Plackett. Master Chief Plackett grew up in Paxton, Ill. and enlisted in the Navy, Oct. 18, 1956. Following graduation from boot camp, Plackett attended Radioman “A” school in Norfolk, Va. He earned the title of chief petty officer in just 11 short years. He served onboard the USS Mount McKinley (LCC-7) and the USS Forrestal (CV-59).
Following his second tour onboard the USS Forrestal, he was selected for master chief petty officer and assigned as the director of Communications School in Norfolk, Va. In 1979, he was named command master chief for Commander, Training Command, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Headquarters and subsequently was selected as the first Force master chief of the Atlantic Fleet Training Command in July 1981.
In July 1982, Master Chief Plackett was selected as fleet master chief, Commander in Chief U.S. Atlantic Fleet where he served until his selection in July 1985 as the sixth master chief petty officer of the Navy.
As the guest speaker for the Chief’s pinning ceremony, he spoke about what each selectee should expect as a Navy chief, including the leadership standards they should uphold. He also directed portions of his speech to the 80-100 family members in the audience, thanking them for their dedication and support for their loved one, helping them to achieve the prestigious title of “chief.”
The VAW-120 Greyhawks are the Fleet Replacement Squadron that trains pilots, naval flight officers, and aircrewmen to fly and operate the E-2 Hawkeye and C-2 Greyhound.
The squadron produces more than 95 aviators and last year, flew 2,300 sorties, flying more than 5,300 hours, winning the 2012 Commander Theodore G. Ellison Aviator Production Excellence Award.
The Greyhawks have also started training and transitioning Naval Aviators and fleet squadrons to fly and operate the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye. The E-2 Hawkeye is an all-weather carrier-based early warning and Command and Control fixed wing aircraft. The C-2 Greyhound is a carrier-based fleet logistical fixed wing aircraft.
| Date Taken: | 09.13.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 10.21.2013 17:21 |
| Story ID: | 115493 |
| Location: | NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, US |
| Hometown: | PAXTON, ILLINOIS, US |
| Web Views: | 314 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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