Eight students graduated from Training Air Wing 2, Sept. 8, and earned their wings of gold after completing the T-45 Goshawk training syllabus.

Friends and families made the trip out to Kingsville, Texas to congratulate the Navy's newest naval aviators, comprised of six Navy officers and two Marine officers. Many of the friends and family members participated in the ceremony by presenting the new pilots with their traditional aviator designation pin, or wings of gold.

Capt. Richard Rivera, commodore of Training Air Wing 2, noted the accomplishment in an address to the wing.

"It takes a team to accomplish the mission, and in this case, all hands came together and did what the Navy-Marine Corps team does: made it happen," said Rivera. "It was a long journey, but in the end we are turning out pilots without sacrificing quality or safety."

The aviators will go on to fly specific type aircraft at several Navy fleet replacement squadrons on the east and west coasts.

As students returned to strike training after T-45 reconfiguration, the goal for the Naval Air Training Command is to keep all aviators, both students and instructors, on track for their next career milestones while meeting mission requirements. Since his arrival in June, Rear Adm. Jay Bynum, the chief of naval air training (CNATRA), has concentrated on trust and open lines of communication.

"I know that for you to do your jobs you need confidence in your aircraft, in your training, and in your leadership," said Bynum to the students and instructor pilots of Training Air Wing 2 during a recent visit. "My pledge to you is to always tell you the truth, and that you will know what I know when it comes to your training. And I need you to tell me what you are thinking and feeling as well."

CNATRA remains focused on continued T-45 training in a measured manner by using the newly-configured aircraft.

"We are very proud of this group today," said Bynum. "Students need to keep studying and preparing, because more training flights and graduation dates are coming."

For more information, visit http://www.navy.mil, http://www.facebook.com/usnavy, or http://www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more information about the Chief of Naval Air Training, visit http://www.cnatra.navy.mil/, http://www.navy.mil/local/cnatra/ or http://www.facebook.com/CNATRA.