An aircraft carrier in the United States Navy plays a significant role in global operations. Behind the steel frame that encompasses the ship is a crew which executes the roles vital to the mission. The ship’s air department is distributed throughout five divisions and is an imperative asset to the crew.

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Shanterica Green promptly found out that it would be a completely different lifestyle than she expected when she checked aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike).

Her basic or “A-school” provided her with the fundamental knowledge to perform her job, however, the on-the-job training she has received since her arrival has been the critical hands-on experience necessary for her to excel.

“They taught us how to be an ABH on the flight deck, so coming to V-3 was a complete shock,” said Green. “I didn’t know what the hangar bay was, I didn’t know exactly what to do or what exactly my job was going to be.”

V-3 division’s responsibilities include keeping the hangar bay in good condition and maintaining the aircraft that are in it, along with moving them around and up to the flight deck on the aircraft elevator.

For Green, being an ABH in the hangar bay is the best of both worlds.

“We have enough free time to think and to study versus a lot of other people on the ship,” said Green. “At the same time, we get very exciting jobs like when we’re moving an aircraft in the middle of the hangar bay and the waves are out of control. That’s some real excitement.”

On the other hand, Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Shelby Falsetti who reported to the Ike two weeks before the ship’s last deployment in 2016, finds that the V-1 division is more her niche.

“I found out I was going to V-3 when I came to the boat,” said Falsetti, “but I really wanted to be on the flight deck.”

Falsetti did everything that she could to show her chain of command that the flight deck is where she wanted to be.

“I would work 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day and then I’d come up to the flight deck and I’d work night operations until they were over,” said Falsetti.

As an ABH in V-1, Falsetti plays a role in controlling the aircraft movement primarily on the flight deck. Knowing that billions of dollars worth of aircraft are in her hands is an enormous responsibility. Whether it be aircraft, catapults, or arresting gear, there are many different moving parts requiring her to keep her "head on a swivel". As a part of the crash and salvage team, she’s responsible for any type of firefighting evolution; rescue and salvage drill; and any casualty that occurs on the flight deck.

“It’s fast-paced. There’s always something going on, and the days go by a lot quicker because you’re always doing something,” said Falsetti. “I was in V-3 for a month and down there the majority of the work comes from when the flight deck is bringing aircraft down for maintenance, or if that "bird" is not operable at the moment for whatever reason.”

Green and Falsetti both agree that there’s a little competition between the ABHs in the V-1 and V-3 divisions.

“There’s a friendly rivalry between V-1 and V-3,” said Green. “It’s always been like that, it doesn’t matter who you ask.”

As Falsetti has worked in both V-1 and V-3, she has had a taste of both worlds.

“Our responsibility is to save lives and prevent further damage to aircraft, both jobs are important in different aspects,” said Falsetti. “It’s just cool to know that the job we do is such a vital asset to our Navy’s mission.”

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