More than 50 Floyd E. Kellam High School students toured the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit (CNATTU) Oceana facilities, Feb. 27.

The visiting students are enrolled in a course specializing in automotive and mechanical repair. Students had the opportunity to ask questions and interact with CNATTU Oceana Sailors and Marines.

CNATTU Oceana Executive Officer Cmdr. Gary Shelly welcomed the group on behalf of the staff.

"It's always exciting having the local schools come through this facility for a tour because we get to demonstrate how we train some of the Navy's most valuable assets - its people," said Shelly. "I enjoy seeing the excitement on the faces of the young men and women in front of me who, very well, might become the Sailor or Marine of tomorrow."

CNATTU Oceana's training facilities provide instruction on various strike fighter aircraft systems. Aviation Structural Mechanic 1st Class Denis DeMichiel delivered a presentation on landing gear and arresting hook systems, providing a live demonstration using a Maintenance Training Suite (MTS). The MTS simulates a real-world scenario showcasing the complexity of the timing and rigging of more than 100 different aircraft components working together.

The visiting students observed CNATTU Oceana's newest type of trainer, the Interactive Virtual Electronic Maintenance Trainer (IVEMT). Aviation Electronics Technician 2nd Class Deidreann Dewar led the students through a hands-on experience, allowing them to sit in the trainer's seat for an authentic feel of a strike fighter control station. The IVEMT is a highly versatile trainer that simulates multiple systems and operations on an aircraft, allowing instructors to have an all-in-one training suite.

Dewar also used the IVEMT to display a visualization of the Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) camera system on the monitors of the trainer, showing the high schoolers the highly sophisticated night vision capability of the aircraft's weapon delivery system.

Students received a presentation on the basic operation of the strike fighter turbine jet engine and the in-flight refueling system from Aviation Machinist Mate 1st Class Scotty May, who explained the basics of a jet engine. Using the "Inlet, Compression, Combustion, Exhaust" method, he explained the importance of each section of the engine.

Aviation Structural Mechanic 1st Class Francis Obeya showed the students several different types of material used to maintain and make repairs to an aircraft's skin, explaining composite repair and the importance of structural integrity.

Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Michael Strickland ended the half-day tour at CNATTU Oceana's Paint and Final Finish Course where the students learned the importance of proper paint application in maintaining aircraft viability.

"Community outreach opportunities like this are an impactful way to represent how the Navy maintains the highest level of technical acumen among its maintainers," said Shelly. "But this also offers a mentorship opportunity for us to talk about what it's like to be a Sailor or Marine, and possibly create an interest in a future career or stepping stone for a younger generation."

CNATTU Oceana provides specialized technical training to aviation maintenance professionals for F/A-18 Hornets and automated test equipment in direct support of genuine and emerging fleet requirements.

CNATTU Oceana is part of the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training, which provides single site management for Navy and Marine Corps aviation technical training.

CNATTU is a technical training agent for the Naval Aviation Enterprise, an organization designed to advance and sustain naval aviation warfighting capabilities at an affordable cost under Naval Education and Training Command.

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