Thanks to the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense organization, and the U.S. Navy Distinguished Visitors Program, Superior Court of Orange County‘s Public Information Officer Carole Levitzky and Manager of Court Reporter/Interpreter Services Tina Payne experienced 24 hours onboard a nuclear powered U.S. Navy aircraft carrier.

After a briefing at the Navy base in Coronado, we boarded a C-2 cargo plane for our 45-minute flight and thrilling “tailhook” landing on the carrier USS John C. Stennis, off the coast of California.  What an adrenaline rush when our plane, traveling at 150 mph, hooked onto one of four steel wires across the flight deck and came to a complete stop in less than two seconds and 400 feet. 

We were welcomed aboard by the ship’s captain, received a short briefing about safety precautions, and donned our gear to get a first-hand look at flight deck operations. The sight, sound, and smell of fighter jets taking off and landing were overpowering. Pilots were performing carrier qualifications that continued until 1:30 a.m.  Needless to say, we did not get much sleep.

Our stay included dinner with the ship’s executive officer, breakfast with enlistees, and a tour of vital centers on the ship, such as the combat center, hangar bay, ordnance depot, medical center, and most important, the ship’s bakery.

The flight home was as exciting as our arrival. The steam-driven catapult system rocketed our plane off the ship’s deck in less than two seconds.  Although the 16 members of our tour were tired when we returned to Coronado, it was a great experience that we will never forget. It was a privilege to get a rare first-hand look at life aboard a carrier and witness the pride and professionalism of the young men and women who serve at sea.