VAQ-136 Petty officer aces EAWS exam

Aviation Electrician's Mate 3rd Class(AW) Ansuma Marbey hasn't been in the Navy very long, but he's already achieved something that even the oldest of salts can appreciate. When he recently took his Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist exam, Marbey was just hoping to pass the test, however he aced the written test.

As a Petty Officer 3rd Class, he was trying to become one of the growing numbers of Gauntlet E-4s to earn their "Silver Wings."

After months of studying, completing his Personnel Qualification Standards, and working toward his goal, Marbey was happy to learn he had passed the exam without missing a single question.

His oral board was scheduled soon after, and Marbey sailed through it. His name will be added to the VAQ-136 EAWS plaque hanging outside the squadron ready room.

"We are very proud of AE3(AW) Marbey, and of our EAWS program in general," Gauntlet Command Master Chief Phillip Massie said. "It used to be that only senior E-5s and E-6s would go for their warfare qualifications. But more and more, our junior Petty Officers are taking the bull by the horns and earning their warfare pins early on in their career."

Indeed, Marbey joins an outstanding cadre of Gauntlets who have earned their Silver Wings. In the past nine months alone, sixteen Ironclaw. Sailors have earned their EAWS qualification. Of those hard-chargers, 50% have been Petty Officers Third Class-proving that in this squadron, you don't have to be senior to be a leader.

Aviation Structural Mechanic S (Structures) 3rd Class Chad Willett, Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd Class Chad Knight, Aviation Storekeeper 3rd Class Michael Bruso, AT3 Brett Bastian, Yeoman 3rd Class Robert Barnard, AT3 Jeremy Voight, and AMS3 Kyle Dyson have all completed the demanding program before adding their second chevron.

"These guys are just outstanding," Aviation Machinist Mate 1st Class (AW) Jeffery Hollis, VAQ-136 EAWS Coordinator said. "You have to be impressed with the initiative being shown by these Sailors. To be a junior guy on your first tour, and earn your wings is just fantastic."

"Everybody knows earning a warfare qualification is essential to getting promoted in today's Navy," Hollis added. "We have a very aggressive program here at VAQ-136. About 98% of our Sailors are either warfare qualified or are currently enrolled in the EAWS program."

Marbey joined the Navy in August 1994, and has been assigned to the Gauntlets of VAQ-136 since January 1995. He works as an electrician, trouble-shooting aircraft systems, and performing electrical safety inspections in workspaces. He also serves as his shop's Publications Petty Officer, and is responsible for maintaining all of the work center's pubs and instructions. In addition, Marbey has completed several PACE courses and has set his sights on an Associates Degree.

"I started working towards my EAWS wings about a year ago. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication, and I almost quit on it a few months back. But my best advice for anybody hoping to earn their wings would be to keep striving, and don't give up," Marbey said. "It's definitely worth it."

Marbey is scheduled to leave the Gauntlets in August of this year. He's hoping for a set of orders to Bahrain, where his sister, Dental Technician 3rd Class Kimberly Combs, is currently stationed.

PHOTO: AE3(AW) Ansuma Marbey aced his EAWS written test.