By Vicky Falcón
NAVAIR Public Affairs

The insignia for the U.S. Navy's Aviation Boatswain's Mate is a pair of crossed anchors with wings.

That insignia represents more than 50 years of gallant, productive and dedicated service - and more than a little bit of pride.

"We are the most tight-knit naval rating there is," said Dominick Riggs, ABECS, aircraft launch and recovery maintenance officer at NAVAIR Patuxent River, Md. "Part of what keeps the men and women of the AB rate so close is their job and the danger associated with carrying out those tasks."

ABs perform all basic flight deck operations onboard a navy vessel - handling and directing aircraft, fueling, and operating launch and recovery equipment. Throughout their history many AB's have given their limbs (and in too many cases their lives), performing the feats of the flight deck.

But ABs are also able to keep in contact with old friends and co-workers through a well-organized Aviation Boatswain's Mates Association (ABMA).

"This is an organization of fleet guys that get together to discuss fleet issues on a regular basis," said Riggs, who is the president of the newly formed Patuxent River Chapter of the Aviation Boatswain's Mates Association, which meets monthly.

Each year the ABMA also holds a symposium attended by shipboard fleet and shore-based personnel along with system command level technical specialists, in-service engineering agents, manpower management directors, AB retirees and dependents.

"This is an excellent opportunity for us to communicate across the chain of command," said Riggs, who explained that attendees to the symposium wear civilian clothing so junior guys are not intimidated.

According to Lt. Scott Dancer, PMA-251, the symposium is also an excellent opportunity for fleet personnel to get a first-hand look at the operations at NAVAIR headquarters and NAVAIR Patuxent River.

"With our local chapter hosting the 2003 symposium," Dancer said, "ABs will get to come into our backyard to see what we have going on at NAVAIR, to support them in the fleet. It also means more NAVAIR people can attend (the symposium) and sit and listen first-hand to the concerns from the fleet."

According to Riggs the workshops have resulted in changes to the way naval aviation business is done on carriers because the symposium results are forwarded directly to the office of the Chief of Naval Operations for review.

"A lot of our issues are supply issues," said Riggs, "but we'll discuss anything from clothing to parts."

Clothing is just one example of how effective the symposium can be. Concern a few years ago about the quality of deck clothes ABs were wearing were brought to the symposium as an agenda item. Those concerns were addressed and today there is a protective clothing board to oversee those issues.

Though this year's symposium is yet to come (August 5-9 at Naval Base Bremerton, Wa.), our local chapter is already involved in planning next year's event, which will be hosted by personnel from NAVAIR and held at the Holiday Inn Select, Solomons Maryland, July 28 - Aug. 1, 2003.

For more information about the association, go to www.abma-usn.org. For information about the Patuxent River meeting, contact [email protected].

Photo by Vicky Falcón
Note: For a high resolution copy of the photo, please call 301-757-5116

Caption: While the anchor is a heavy device used to secure a boat to a specific spot in water, it also represents the Aviation Boatswain's Mate securing his watch, as seen on the sleeve insignia on Lewis L. Thompson, ABE3. Two anchors signify the ABs' dependence on each other, and the wings represent the strong backs and determination needed to get the job done.