The Lancers of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 131 picked up their first CVW Two Golden Wrench award during
Air Wing quarters on USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72).
The award recognizes maintenance excellence during the first line period of their 2008 Western Pacific/Arabian
Gulf combat deployment. 
The line period started on March 22 when Lincoln and her strike group left the southern California coast and ended
on May 23, a day before pulling into a port visit in the Arabian Gulf for some much-deserved liberty. This award is
a huge honor for the squadron for they have set the precedent for others to follow.  The CVW-2 staff utilized many
criteria to break out who, among the eight squadrons on board Lincoln, was most deserving of this inaugural maintenance
excellence award. Among factors were accuracy in reporting, aircraft material condition, ready-for-tasking aircraft
and teamwork/coordination. 
“Accuracy in reporting” includes all maintenance reports, such as spot sheets, status reports and material control reporting.
How well these reports reflect the actual condition of squadron aircraft is very important in planning and setting up the aircrew
and squadron for success.
“Aircraft material condition” is the criterion that takes into consideration general aircraft appearance and cleanliness, both
on the flight deck and the hangar bay.  Also included in aircraft material condition is how well the squadron conducts
preventive maintenance.
“Ready-for-tasking aircraft” takes into account the number of available full-mission-capable aircraft, mission accomplishment
and performance and weapon systems reliability. Without FMC aircraft, aviators do not have the tools and weapons they need to
complete their mission.
Finally, the last major criteria is “teamwork and coordination” within the squadron and how well each squadron’s maintenance
department liaises with the ship’s Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Detachment and CVW-2 Maintenance.
Even before the grading and evaluation began, the Lancers were at a disadvantage as they own the oldest jets in the air wing.
This shows outstanding teamwork and coordination within the Lancer maintenance department. During this first line period,
the Lancers had a 100 percent mission completion rate and met every CVW-2 tasking.
Lt. Lloyd Planty, Lancers Maintenance Material Control Officer, has worked on Prowlers much of his 27-year Navy career. “I have
never seen one Prowler squadron take the Golden Wrench for both COMVAQWINGPAC and their carrier air wing,” he said. “Bottom
line is, we do business right every day without looking for recognition and we produce the best airplanes that get the job done
day in and day out.”