They began their Navy careers by enlisting, some even became chief petty officers, but their uniforms and collar devices are different now because they are commissioned officers. When enlisted Sailors become officers, they are affectionately known as Mustangs. A Mustang has no break in service and must have received one or more good conduct medals prior to commissioning.

The aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) has approximately 70 Mustangs assigned to the command, and many are part of the George Washington Mustang Association.

The association conducted an executive board change of command, March 14. The association selected Chief Warrant Officer 4 Carl Smith to president, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Aaron D. Gipson to vice president, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Gizette Lopez to secretary and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Shane D. Mott to treasurer.

"It's a great honor and privilege to be voted in as president of the GW Mustang Association," said Smith. "During my 12 years of commissioned service, I have actively participated in Mustang associations and my goal is to make this one the greatest. Just to see the togetherness and friendship while completing the ship mission is priceless. Grooming my replacements and seeing junior Sailors come up the ranks brings great pleasure to me."

The Mustang Association brings together a group of officers that offer a different perspective for a command.

"A good mustang group aboard the ship or at any command will be able to exert influence," said Cmdr. Don Wilson, George Washington's combat systems officer. "The thing that the mustangs bring to the table that other officers can't is that we have real life experience at the blue shirt level. We can bring that perspective because we lived it. So, we come together to collaborate and synergize to make sure everyone is on the same page in achieving the command's goal."

The new executive board plans on improving the association.

"As vice president of the Mustang Association, I want to get the association out into the public and shipboard's view, so people who are not familiar with the Mustangs can become more knowledgeable with the association," said Gipson. "Also, we want to bridge that gap between the military and civilians through community relation and volunteer relations. As a prior enlisted I received mentorship and as an officer I still receive mentorship, so as an association we need to offer that same guidance to our enlisted Sailors."

Mustangs pride themselves on offering their experience, guidance and leadership advice to other officers and enlisted Sailors.
"You have to make time for the things that are important," said Lopez. "I always have time to mentor my junior Sailors because that's what is important to me."

The executive board as a whole is looking to continue these beliefs and carry their motivation into the future.

"Looking forward, it is the intent of our Mustang community to use this in-port time to continue our specific shipboard mentorship and more frequently extend our involvement to the community, while our brothers and sisters are out at the tip of the spear," said Mott.

For more information on enlisted to officer programs, please see www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/career/careercounseling/Pages/CommissioningPrograms.aspx or OPNAVINST 1420.1B.

Join the conversation with GW online at www.facebook.com/USSGW and www.twitter.com/GW_CVN73.

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

For more news from USS George Washington (CVN 73), visit www.navy.mil/.