General Mercier visits “VAW120”

General Denis Mercier, NATO Supreme Allied Commander for Transformation (SACT) recently visited “VAW120”, the US Navy squadron that flies and trains Naval Aviators, Naval Flight Officers, and Naval Aircrew to safely and effectively operate E-2C and C-2A aircraft, preparing them to join the fleet. VAW-120 is based out of Naval Air Station Jacksonville in Norfolk, Va.

This was the opportunity for him to be briefed on all capacities of the E-2 variants, during a visit to the squadron which was followed by a flight above the US East Coast. During the 2 hour flight, the crew showed SACT the forward alert and command and control capacities of the aircraft. Command and Control is indeed, one of Allied Command Transformation’s “Focus Areas” and it has great importance to the effectiveness of NATO, the only international organization with a permanent command and control structure.

The flight was also the occasion for Commander Evan L. Morrison, Skipper of “VAW120”, to reinforce the links between the military community of the biggest naval base in the World and the Headquarters responsible for the Transformation of NATO.

Source:NATO

By

L. J. De Rothschild

Senior Editor

NATO Section