For many, the idea of landing a jet onto the flight deck of an aircraft carrier in the middle of the ocean might seem daunting, almost impossible. For naval aviators, each trap (arrested landing) presents its own unique challenge and experience.

"I remember flying out to USS Forrestal (CV 59) for my first trap in an orange and white T-2 Buckeye," said Capt. Vorrice Burks, deputy commander of Carrier Air Wing EIGHT (DCAG). "Once I saw the ship, I remember asking myself, 'How is that thing going to catch me?' Of course it all worked out and I landed safely, but it was nerve racking."

Nine hundred ninety nine traps later, Burks joined an elite group of naval aviators when he made his 1,000th trap on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), Dec. 7.

When asked about this milestone, Burks looked off into the distance and a smile slowly spread across his face as he relived the moment.

"I got out of the cockpit thinking, 'Holy crap! That makes 1,000 traps!'," exclaimed Burks. "I was in disbelief and I was glad that I trapped on my first pass. It was a good path, and I was able to hit the number two wire; the target wire. It was an out-of-body experience. I walked across the flight deck realizing what had just happened."

Many aviators would admit that making 1,000 traps is not something they think about when they first come into the field, explained Burks.

But for Burks, who originally enlisted in the Navy as an electronics technician (nuclear), 1,000 traps isn't so much a dream come true as it is the culmination of Sailors coming together to make something happen that's bigger than themselves.

"This is a milestone that I didn't get alone," Burks stated. "This is a milestone that I just happened to be a part of. There are a lot of people that helped get me to this point."

Burks has been in the Navy for more than 30 years and he has been a pilot for 26 of them. He has trapped on seven aircraft carriers and is preparing for his seventh deployment. He has dedicated countless hours and committed all of his efforts to his successful career.

"I was fortunate to have the opportunity to make 1,000 traps. It wasn't all sunshine and apple pies," said Burks. "There was a lot of hard work and some long days that I had to put in to get me there. But at the end of the day I enjoyed it. It made me better... it built character."

Burks hopes that he can be a positive example of what the Navy has to offer. Burks is the first strike force African-American DCAG and only the third African-American DCAG in naval aviation history.

"If you had asked me when I joined the Navy as an E-3 if this is where I would have ended up, I would have not only laughed at you, I would have asked what you were smoking," Burks said jokingly.

Burks reiterated that he couldn't have achieved what he did by himself. He sites the importance of having mentors that you can trust and listen to.

"My parting words would be that I truly appreciate those that helped me get to this point because I would not have gotten here alone. There were probably 50 other people that helped make every one of those traps happen," said Burks.

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