Washington National Guard and USCG helicopters land on John C. Stennis

USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) Sailors conducted deck landing qualifications (DLQ) Dec. 18 with the Washington National Guard and the U.S. Coast Guard.

A National Guard CH-47 Chinook and a U.S. Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin performed DLQs on the flight deck of John C. Stennis while the ship transited the Puget Sound.

“This was a great opportunity to work with both our Washington National Guard and U.S. Coast Guard counterparts,” said Cmdr. Joseph Huffine, John C. Stennis’ assistant air officer. “The abilities demonstrated here by both the air crews and deck crews demonstrate that both are true professionals and can safely conduct flight operations when landing onboard an aircraft carrier. I am proud of all the Sailors who made this evolution a success.”

According to Capt. Joseph Siemandel, state public affairs officer for the Washington National Guard, this marked the first time in the history of the Washington National Guard that they have landed a Chinook as part of a DLQ off the coast of Washington state.