LSO — Landing Signal Officer, also known as “Paddles.”
Marshal — designated holding airspace prior to landing; also name of landing sequence controller.
Maverick — popular name for AGM-65 infra-red or laser guided air-to-ground missile
Military — Military Rated Thrust, the maximum engine power without selecting afterburner.
Mother — radio reference for the aircraft carrier
MOVLAS — Manually Operated Visual Landing Aid System — LSO depiction of pilot position on glideslope — typically used for pitching deck operations
NAVCENT — Central Command (CENTCOM) Naval component commander… three-star flag officer
NFO — Naval Flight Officer
Ninety-Nine — radio broadcast call used to gain attention; i.e. “listen up”
Nugget — first cruise pilot
NVGs — Night Vision Goggles
OPSO — Operations Officer
Plug — take fuel from tanker
Prowler — popular name for EA-6B Electronic Warfare Attack aircraft
RAS — Refueling at Sea, also known as Underway Replenishment, or UNREP
RWR — Radar Warning Receiver. Cockpit display of threat radars.
Rocket One — another term for Skipper in a tailhook squadron. Rocket Two is the XO, and so forth down to Rocket Last, the most junior pilot. A variation is the using the squadron callsign, such as Raven One.
ROE — Rules of Engagement
RPG — Rocket Propelled Grenade
SAM — Surface-to-air missile
SAR — Search and Rescue (CSAR is Combat Search and Rescue)
Seahawk — popular name for MH-60 series multi-mission helicopter
Sidewinder — popular name for AIM-9 infrared heat seeking air-to-air missile
SINS — Shipboard Inertial Navigation System
Strike — tactical airspace controller/coordinator in vicinity of ship
SUCAP — Surface Combat Air Patrol
Super Hornet — popular name for upgraded FA-18E/F single seat or two-place Strike Fighter with increased range and payload; also known as “Rhino”
Texaco — nickname for a tanker aircraft, typically S-3B
TLAM — Tomahawk Land Attack Missile; long range cruise missile launched from surface ships and submarines
TOPGUN — Navy Fighter Weapons School, Fallon, NV
Trap — arrested landing
VAQ — Fixed Wing Electronic Attack squadron
VAW — Fixed Wing Early Warning squadron
VFA — Fixed Wing Fighter Attack squadron
Viking — popular name for S-3B Sea Surveillance aircraft, also known as the Hoover
VMFA — Fixed Wing Marine Corps Fighter Attack squadron
VS — Fixed Wing Sea Control squadron (formerly Air-Antisubmarine squadron)
Winchester — out of ordnance
Wire — A 1.25” diameter steel cable stretched across carrier landing area to arrest tailhook aircraft, also known as “the cable” or “cross deck pendant.”
XO — Executive Officer
CVW-4 “Tomahawk” call letters AH “Alpha Hotel”
VFA-91 — Spartans — (side number 100) — “Spartan” — FA-18F — RR 8
VMFA-262 — Moonshadows — (side number 200) — “Red River” — FA-18C — RR 6
VFA-47 — Buccaneers — (side number 300) — “Cutlass” — FA-18C — RR 3
VFA-64 — Ravens — (side number 400) — “Raven” — FA-18C — RR 7
VAQ-146 — Sea Owls — (side number 500) — “Rickshaw” — EA-6B — RR 1
VAW-111 — Knight Riders — (side number 600) — “Knight” — E-2C — RR 2
VS-36 — Bloodhounds — (side number 700) — “Redeye” — S-3B — RR 5
HS-12 — Golden Angels — (side number 610) — “Switchblade” — SH-60F — RR 4
Strike-Fighter Squadron SIX FOUR (VFA-64) Officers
CDR Steve Lassiter — Commanding Officer — Cajun
CDR Bill Patrick — Executive Officer — Saint
LCDR Jim Wilson — Operations Officer — Flip
LCDR Mike Hopper — Maintenance Officer — Weed
LCDR Walt Morningstar — Administrative Officer — Clam
LCDR Ted Randall — Maint. Material Control Officer — Ted
LT Sam Cutter — Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor — Blade
LT Mike Van Booven — Safety Officer/LSO — Dutch
LT Kristin Teel — Training Officer — Olive
LT Zach Offenhausen — Quality Assurance Officer/LSO — Smoke
LT Nicholas Nguyen — AV/ARM Division Officer — Little Nicky
LT Ramer Howard — Airframe Division Officer — Prince
LT Tony Larocca — Line Division Officer — Guido
LT Melanie Hinton — Personnel Officer — Psycho
LTJG Josh Fagan — Schedules Officer — Nttty
LTJG Bob Jasper — NATOPS Officer/LSO — Sponge Bob
ENS Anita Jackson — Material Control Officer —
