It’s a small world for a pair of Kentlake High graduates.
Periodically sailors find themselves having moments that make them say, “It’s a small Navy.”
The story of Aviation Electricians Mate Airman Andrew Parsons and Aviation Electronics Technician Airman Brett Hagreen makes the world, and the Navy, seem that much smaller.
Parsons checked into VFA-113 about a month prior to meeting his squadron-mate Hagreen.
He knew Hagreen looked familiar, but assumed he had seen him before while training at Naval Air Station Pensacola.
After a few days though, they got to talking and realized they were not only both from Covington but had attended Kentlake High and both graduated in 2007.
Their squadron, Strike Fighter Squadron 113 (VFA-113), is comprised of 10 FA-18C Hornet Strike Fighter aircraft.
When a new sailor checks in to a Navy Hornet squadron it is common for the sailor to become a plane captain or PC. A plane captain’s daily responsibilities include assuring his or her assigned aircraft is ready and safe for launch, recover the aircraft after flight and maintain the overall exterior aircraft appearance.
In addition, they are charged with combating any emergency situation involving the aircraft while it is on the ground before or after flight. It takes the average sailor about six months to earn their PC qualification.
One reward for earning that qualification is the opportunity to get your name and hometown painted on the side of a squadron aircraft.
Both Parsons and Hagreen earned their plane captain qualification around the same time, and Hagreen brought up an awesome idea.
“We could have our names on the same jet, with both sides saying Covington…,” Hagreen said. “It would be the only aircraft with the same town on both sides.”
Parsons immediately agreed and they mentioned the idea to their maintenance superiors and they got their wish.
VFA-113’s aircraft with side number “310” proudly displays “Covington, WA” on both sides. They’ve also decided to name Stinger aircraft 310 the “Covington Jet.”
Their squadron is currently deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson.
“We can’t wait to come back to Covington. It is a blessing to be reminded every day where we come from and that people back home are the reason we are out here on deployment,” Hagreen said.
Parsons said to those back home that he “can’t wait to see everyone after his return.”
There is not a day that goes by in the middle of the ocean that they don’t think about home and remind everyone that Kentlake is easily the best high school in the state.
