THE TENSION: Combat Camera: Aboard USS Ronald Reagan; March 23, 2009

PACIFIC OCEAN (March 18, 2009) An F/A-18E Super Hornet, assigned to the "Eagles" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 115, prepares for an arrested recovery aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Ronald Reagan's arresting gear is unique to other carries as it only consists of three arresting wires, instead of four. Ronald Reagan is underway conducting a sustainment exercise in the Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Torrey William Lee.)

PACIFIC OCEAN (March 19, 2009) Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class John Dawson and Chief Explosive Ordnance Disposal Brian Lehtinen, assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 11 Platoon 0-2, man a fast-rope attached to an HH-60H Sea Hawk helicopter from the "Black Nights" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 4 as the helicopter lands aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Ronald Reagan and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 14 are underway conducting a sustainment exercise in the Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gary A. Prill.)

PACIFIC OCEAN (March 19, 2009) Operations Specialist 2nd Class Carlos Warren logs the Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) status of aircraft while standing strike watch aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). The IFF system identifies all aircraft leaving and returning to the ship. Ronald Reagan and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 14 are conducting a sustainment exercise in the Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Briana Brotzman.)

PACIFIC OCEAN (March 19, 2009) Sailors assigned to the Landing Signal Officer (LSO) platform aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) watch as an F/A-18E strike fighter assigned to the "Eagles" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 115 makes an arrested landing. The LSO platform is comprised of aviators and air department crew who advise the pilot on landing safety. Ronald Reagan is conducting sustainment exercises in the Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Torrey W. Lee.)

PACIFIC OCEAN (March 18, 2009) Aviation Machinist's Mate Airman Jonathan Biles, assigned to the "Fighting Redcocks" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 22, helps reassemble an air refueling store in the hangar bay of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Maintenance personnel assigned to the power plants work center are responsible for maintenance on the air refueling store, a feature of the F/A-18F Super Hornet that allows it to refuel other aircraft in mid-flight. Ronald Reagan and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 14 are underway conducting a sustainment exercise in the Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Briana Brotzman.)

PACIFIC OCEAN (March 19, 2009) A group of distinguished visitors observe an EA-6B Prowler assigned to the "Cougars" of Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (VAQ) 139 make an arrested landing aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Ronald Reagan is conducting sustainment exercises in the Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Torrey W. Lee.)

PACIFIC OCEAN (March 19, 2009) A member of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unit 11, Platoon 0-2, rappels from an HH-60H Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the "Black Knights" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 4 during a fast-rope exercise aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Ronald Reagan is conducting sustainment exercises in the Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Torrey W. Lee.)

PACIFIC OCEAN (March 18, 2009) Chief Aviation Ordnanceman Travey Layson, assigned to the "Stingers" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 113, uses a hoisting bar to onload ordnance onto the wing of an F/A18C Hornet strike fighter. Ronald Reagan is underway conducting a sustainment exercise in the Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Torrey William Lee.)

PACIFIC OCEAN (March 17, 2009) The firefighting team from repair locker 7F goes against a class Alpha fire during a general quarters drill aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). The training helps prepare Sailors in the event of a real fire by having them act out a scenario. Ronald Reagan and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 14 are underway conducting a sustainment exercise in the Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Rosalie Garcia.)

PACIFIC OCEAN (March 17, 2009) Phone talkers wait for departments to call Damage Control Central to report the setting of material condition Zebra aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Ronald Reagan and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 14 are underway conducting a sustainment exercise in the Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Rosalie Garcia.)

PACIFIC OCEAN (March 17, 2009) Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class Jeffery Thompson reaches for his second magazine of ammunition during a live-fire exercise aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). The Ronald Reagan weapons department is trained in a variety of weapons including 9mm pistols, grenades, and .50 caliber machine guns. Ronald Reagan is underway conducting sustainment exercises in the Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Torrey William Lee.)

PACIFIC OCEAN (March 16, 2009) An F/A-18C Hornet assigned to the "Fist of the Fleet" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 25 launches from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Ronald Reagan and CVW 14 are performing a sustainment exercise in the Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Briana C. Brotzman.)

PACIFIC OCEAN (March 16, 2009) Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Equipment) 3rd Class Cameron Owens gets to his position after completing launch bar checks on an F/A-18C Hornet assigned to the "Fist of the Fleet" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 25 before it launches from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Ronald Reagan and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 14 are performing a sustainment exercise in the Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Briana C. Brotzman.)

PACIFIC OCEAN (March 14, 2009) Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 2nd Class Chad Yarbrough directs an F/A-18C Hornet onto a bow catapult during a launch cycle aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Aircraft Handlers are in charge of maintaining a smooth flow of aircraft traffic while on the flight deck. Ronald Reagan and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 14 are underway conducting sustainment exercise in the Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gary A. Prill.)

PACIFIC OCEAN (March 13, 2009) Aviation Ordananceman 1st Class Timothy Horth fires a shot line to the Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oilier USNS Guadalupe (T-AO 200) from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Ronald Reagan and Carrier air Wing (CVW) 14 are performing a sustainment exercise in the Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gary A. Prill.)

PACIFIC OCEAN (March 14, 2009) Aviation Electrician's Mate 1st Class George Cooper performs an after flight check on an SH-60F Sea Hawk helicopter from the "Black Knights"of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 4 on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN) 76. Ronald Reagan and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 14 are conducting a sustainment exercise in the Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Rosalie Garcia.)