Aviation Ordnanceman Airman David Nguyen, from Anaheim, California (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Kenneth Abbate/Released)
YOKOSUKA, Japan (Dec. 22, 2016) – Aviation Ordnanceman Airman David Nguyen, from Anaheim, California, assigned to the Navy’s only forward aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), stands by with a mooring line in hand as the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Pasadena (SSN 752) prepares to moor at Fleet Activities Yokosuka for a port visit, in the photograph above.
U.S. Navy port visits represent an important opportunity to promote stability and security in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, demonstrate commitment to regional partners and foster relationships. Ronald Reagan, the flagship of CSG 5, provides a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interests of its allies and partners in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.
Aviation Ordnanceman was established as a rating in 1926. The Navy’s computerized personnel system associates the rating name with an alphanumeric Navy Occupational Specialty (NOS) code. For AO, the NOS is A420.
Aviation Ordnanceman are aircraft armament (weapons) specialists in charge of storing, servicing, inspecting and handling of all types of weapons and ammunition carried on Naval aircraft. Navy planes carry guns, bombs, torpedoes, rockets, and missiles to attack the enemy on the sea, under the sea, in the air, and on land.
Aviation Ordnanceman class “A” school is approximately nine weeks long. The school is located in Pensacola, Florida. The AO rating requires a 5 year minimum enlistment.
The USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) is a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarrier in the service of the United States Navy. The ninth ship of her class, she is named in honor of former President Ronald Reagan, President of the United States from 1981 to 1989. Upon her christening in 2001, she was the first ship to be named for a then-still living former president.
As of May 2012 the ship was operationally part of Carrier Strike Group Nine and administratively under the command of Commander, Naval Air Forces Pacific/Commander, Naval Air Forces. The two administrative titles actually refer to one command carrying out two functions. In October 2015, Ronald Reagan replaced the USS George Washington as the flagship of Carrier Strike Group Five, the only forward-based carrier strike group home-ported at Yokosuka, Japan, as part of the United States Seventh Fleet.