Two Sailors aboard littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) received their enlisted aviation warfare specialist (EAWS) pins during a ceremony Nov. 17.

Petty Officer 1st Class Walter Holt and Petty Officer 1st Class Sean Patten are the first Sailors in the LCS program to receive the qualification while stationed aboard a littoral combat ship.

"The opportunity for Sailors to earn their EAWS qualification is just the latest example of the LCS program blazing new and exciting trails," explained Cmdr. Scott Larson, commanding officer of Coronado. "This opportunity significantly broadens Sailors' professional horizons, and that's just one of the many unique attributes of LCS. What we've implemented with respect to the EAWS qualification program reinforces that."

To qualify as an EAWS, Sailors must first learn about each aviation job by speaking to subject matter experts from Helicopter Combatant Squadron (HSC) 23, the aviation detachment deployed aboard Coronado. Once their performance qualification sheet is signed off, Sailors participate in an oral board where their shipboard aviation knowledge is tested by their superiors.

"At first it's gathering as much information as possible and getting to know the subject matter experts in each specific area outlined in the qualification requirements," explained Holt. "Then it comes down to studying. I was out there almost every night crawling on the aircraft until I could recognize and recite each item from memory."

Patten talked about the unique opportunity the EAWS qualification provides.

"This sets us apart from other Sailors," he said. "We've expanded our knowledge about different jobs in the Navy, and that will help us as we continue to advance in our careers. It also allows us to continue to lead by helping our shipmates [who are] working toward the same goal."

"I'm tremendously proud of these first two Sailors for aggressively obtaining their EAWS designations," said Larson. "I am confident that I will 'wing' several more crew members before this deployment is over."

Currently on a rotational deployment in support of the Asia-Pacific Rebalance, Coronado is a fast and agile warship tailor-made to patrol the region's littorals and work hull-to-hull with partner navies, providing 7th Fleet with the flexible capabilities it needs now and in the future.

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