June 19, 2012
Vol. 1 Issue 22
Sailors Get Help With EAWS Qualification Story and photos by MC3 Jacob Milner
Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) are now able to receive group training for enlisted aviation warfare specialist (EAWS) pins. The training provides not only necessary signatures in Sailors’ personal qualification standards (PQS) paperwork but also gives them hands on training to ensure the qualification is earned and information is retained. “This class is to help Sailors get further information on EAWS through training,” said Air-Traffic Controller 1st
Class Dimere Witherspoon, Operations Department EAWS coordinator and command EAWS class coordinator. “Every Monday and Wednesday a new department will come in and teach the class by going over both the study guide and any pertinent information that may not be covered by it.” Along with teaching from the study guide and signing PQS booklets the class also prepares Sailors for their eventual walk-through with each department. “For a space walk-through, Sailors will take their EAWS PQS and go with a qualified
Sailors listen to different instructors as they receive EAWS training to help complete their qualification.
Sailor in their space and go through their departments,” said Witherspoon. “They will go through the whole space so that they can have the visual training to go along with the studying they have done on that department.” Though the class is a helpful source of knowledge for EAWS qualifications, it goes hand in hand with self motivation, said Witherspoon. “The class is effective but only if Sailors both attend the classes and study on their own,” said Witherspoon. “As long as Sailors attend the classes and study the material, there should be no way that they shouldn’t pass their board to get pinned.” The class is not only for Sailors who are preparing to take their oral certification boards next week, it is also for those Sailors just starting on their qualifications. “I just started getting my books signed off,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Airman Markeba Harrison. “I didn’t know anything before going
Aviation Ordnanceman 3rd Class Magarbi Matthew takes notes during a command EAWS class.
in there but I learned a lot. I’m really glad they signed the books there because now I feel like I’m more prepared to go to the different spaces and know what is going on when I get there.” The EAWS class is being offered in the First Class Mess every Monday and Wednesday at 9 a.m. with a different department teaching every session. For more information see your departmental EAWS coordinator.