Spirit Lake woman trains to be Navy pilot

A 2011 Timberlake High School graduate and Spirit Lake native is participating in the lengthy and rigorous training process that transforms U.S. Navy officers into Navy pilots.

Ensign Devin Olmstead is a student naval aviator with the “Rangers” Training Squadron (VT-28), based in Corpus Christi, Texas, that operates the T-6B Texan II aircraft. As a student, Olmstead is responsible for learning to fly aircraft both effectively and efficiently in completing various missions and operations so she may become one of the finest naval aviators in the fleet.

“Flying is both challenging and rewarding,” said Olmstead. “I’m reaching one of my ultimate goals while serving my country.”

The T-6B Texan is a training aircraft powered by a 1,100 shaft horsepower, free-turbine, turboprop single-engine, four-bladed propeller, with a cruising speed of 310 mph.

VT-28’s primary mission is to train future naval aviators to fly as well as instill leadership and officer values, Navy officials explained. Students must complete four phases of flight training in order to graduate, including aviation pre-flight indoctrination, primary flight training and advanced flight training. After successfully completing the rigorous program, naval aviators earn their coveted “Wings of Gold.”

After graduation, pilots continue their training to learn how to fly a specific aircraft, such as the Navy’s F/A-18 Hornet strike fighter jet, the P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft or the SH-60 Seahawk helicopter. They are later assigned to a ship or land-based squadron.

Many of the pilots will fly aircraft which take off from and land aboard aircraft carriers, a unique capability which allows the Navy to operate anywhere on the world’s oceans. Recently, Navy attack aircraft operating from aircraft carriers sailing in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and from Middle East waters have launched hundreds of strike missions against terrorist targets in Iraq and Syria.

As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s squadrons with the newest aircraft platforms, Olmstead said she and other VT-28 sailors are proud to be part of a warfighting team that readily defends America at all times.

“I love the camaraderie that I share amongst my fellow classmates and instructors,” said Olmstead. “Every instructor who has went through the same training as we are now, they know the mental and physical stress we may experience from time to time however, they are always encouraging and continue to positively push us to limits that we never imagined possible overcoming on a daily basis.

Jobs are highly varied at VT-28, according to Navy officials. Approximately 69 men and women officers and 15 civilian employees make up and keep all parts of the squadron running smoothly — this includes everything from training the new aviators, maintaining airframes and engines, processing paperwork, along with handling and flying the aircraft.

“Leading this extraordinary team of Naval Officers and civilians is an honor,” said Cmdr. James T. Sultenfuss, commanding officer of VT-28.

Serving in the Navy, Olmstead is learning about being a more responsible leader, sailor and person through handling numerous responsibilities.

“The Navy has expanded my world view and its given me the needed discipline and work ethic to succeed both professionally and personally,” said Olmstead.

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Ricky Burke works for the Navy Office of Community Outreach.