The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7 collectively earned the 2016 Ramage Award for carrier/air wing operational excellence.

The Navy-wide award, named for Rear Admiral James "Jig Dog" Ramage, a World War II ace, recognizes the top aircraft carrier/air wing team for best performance as an integrated unit and excellence in Navy aircraft carrier operations.

"The Ramage Award is a teamwork award that recognizes the coordination of the carrier and the air wing," said Master Chief Avionics Technician Eric Kinnaman, leading chief petty officer of Truman's aircraft intermediate maintenance department (AIMD).

"No other weapon system in existence or on the drawing board can deploy and redeploy with the responsiveness, the endurance, the multi-dimensional combat lethality as a full-sized, nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and its air wing," said Rear Admiral Bruce H. Lindsey, commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic. "It takes great communication, coordination and teamwork to be successful and I'm extremely proud of Truman and Carrier Air Wing 7 for the work they did and the unity that was put on display throughout their most recent deployment."

Truman and CVW-7 began their 241-day deployment in November 2015. During their coalition fight against ISIS, Truman sailed 57,832 nautical miles, completed 2,000 combat sorties, and delivered 1,500 pieces of ordnance, which led the ship to surpassing an operational milestone for delivering the most carrier-based ordnance and breaking the previous record set by USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) during their 2015 deployment. Following the completion of their eight and a half months in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility, Truman and CVW 7 were selected for the award over all other carrier and air wing teams Navy-wide.

"It's starting to complete the circle of recognition of all the great things that we did when we were out there at the tip of the spear," said Cmdr. William Palmer, Truman's Maintenance Officer.

CVW-7 is made up of the "Fist of the Fleet" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 25, the "Rampagers" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 83, the "Jolly Rogers" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 103, the "Pukin Dogs" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 143, the "Wallbangers" of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 117, the "Patriots" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 140, the "Rawhides" of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40, the "Nightdippers" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 5, and the "Proud Warriors" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 72.

"It just goes to show that all the hard work [Truman and CVW 7] did on deployment and all the hours that we spent away from home [are] worthwhile," said Kinnaman. "All the sacrifices that we make are getting recognized by the fleet."

This award follows Truman's receipt of a variety of command awards for performance in 2016, to include the Battle "E," Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Afloat Safety Award, Secretary of the Navy and CNO Environment Awards, and the Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department Capt. Virgil J. Lemmon Award.

Truman is currently undergoing a Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) at Norfolk Naval Shipyard for maintenance and refurbishment of shipboard systems to prepare for future operations.

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