The aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), nicknamed Ike, welcomed Carrier Air Wing 3 and its 10 squadrons of approximately 2,000 Sailors, Sept. 2.

The air wing moved aboard the day after the ship returned from completing sea trials.

CVW-3 was fully integrated with the ship's crew by the time they were underway Sept. 4. Such a task required great cooperation between ship's company and air wing, and during those crucial two days in port, more than 300 Ike Sailors lent a hand to ensure the air wing's transition ran smoothly.

"I am absolutely thrilled to have Carrier Air Wing 3 aboard Ike," said Capt. Stephen Koehler, the ship's commanding officer. "To see the crew and air wing already working so well together during the move aboard tells me that we are ready to be at sea together and take on our next challenges of flight deck certification and carrier qualifications. We are eager to begin launching and landing aircraft and to show the world we are ready to go when our nation calls."

Flight deck certification is a requirement for every aircraft carrier that has not been operational for more than six months. The Ike's last flight deck certification was in 2009.

"Ike Sailors are very excited to have aircraft aboard again," said Ike's Air Boss, Cmdr. Chadwick White. "The air wing and Air department are ready for flight deck certification. Our success during these work-ups will be a direct reflection of their hard work."

To complete the flight deck certification, Ike must accomplish 120 launch and recoveries during the day and 40 at night. The crew must also conduct several fire and barricade drills, as well as go through a training plan assessment.

While in the shipyard, Air department Sailors were sent to other aircraft carriers in Norfolk to learn the ropes, or, if they were seasoned, sharpen their skills.

Master Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate Robert Stumm said being able to work with other carriers was a huge advantage for his Sailors.

"The great thing about being an aviation boatswain's mate is that we can get qualified on any carrier and the skills transfer over," he said. "So, we were able to get some Sailors trained on another ship and now we'll watch them during the drills this week and, if they do well, certify them on the Ike."

After the completion of the flight deck certification, Ike will continue with carrier qualifications in preparation for its deployment next year.

"The Ike crew is more than ready to move through the training cycle towards deployment," Koehler said.

CVW-3 is comprised of the following squadrons: the Fighting Swordsmen of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 32, the Gunslingers of VFA-105, the Wildcats of VFA-131, the Sidewinders of VFA-86; the Zappers of Electronic Attack Squadron VAQ-130; the Screwtops of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 123, the Seahawks of VAW-126; the Dusty Dogs of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 7; and the Swamp Foxes of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 74; and the Rawhides of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40.

Ike and CVW-3 are part of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 10, the first CSG to implement the Optimized Fleet Response Plan, or OFRP.

For more news from USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), visit www.navy.mil/.