The VAQ-130 Zappers have again returned to USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). The first at-sea sustainment period will allow the squadron and its Carrier Air Wing Three brethren to work with the ship’s crew for eight days.

The main goal of this sustainment period is to achieve day and night carrier qualifications for all pilots and to conduct strike training missions keeping the Air Wing surge capable in accordance with the Navy’s new Fleet Readiness Program.

While most Prowler squadrons have six pilots, the Zappers will have to qualify eight. Seven pilots are assigned to the squadron and one more, Cmdr. Phil Waddingham, Carrier Strike Group 10 Air Operations Officer, has joined them to regain day currency.

Many Zappers will continue their Prowler Weapons Tactics Program flights as well. Once carrier qualifications are complete, the Air Wing will plan one strike mission each day aboard the ship. The Zappers play an integral part in these planning sessions, developing the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses portion. The squadron will fly at least seven PWTP flights.

Another goal of the detachment is to re-orient the squadron to carrier life. The vast majority of VAQ-130 personnel are cruise-experienced veterans, thanks to their recent six-month deployment to the Arabian Gulf, however returning to “the boat” is always a dangerous evolution.

The squadron held a safety stand-down before they joined Truman in order to touch upon these hazards.

About 25 Zappers are aboard a carrier for the first time. They are quickly getting acclimated to ship life, thanks to their more worldly shipmates. The typical “new guy” jokes abound such as, “Go bring me three feet of flight line!” and “The Skipper needs the keys to Aircraft 500. Go find them!” Numerous new Zappers are actively searching for the elusive bowling alley located in the depths of the ship.

However they spend their days, the Zappers are earning qualifications and increasing their work-related knowledge during this sustainment period.