PHANTOM GOES FOR
WINGS OF GOLD
Second
Lieutenant Tina Mosqueda is hoping to hit the mother lode in her aviation
career: the golden wings of a Naval Aviator.
Mosqueda, a 2012 graduate of Utah Valley University, is a member of the
Phantom Cadet Squadron in Provo. She
recently was selected as one of 125 people nation-wide for a Naval Aviation
Cadet position in the United States Navy.
“I
am really excited about this chance to serve my country as a Naval Aviator,”
Mosqueda said. She was honored by the
Phantom Squadron at her induction ceremony on May 23, 2013, which was held at
the UVU Fire Academy, where the squadron meets weekly. “I have been interested in flying ever since
I was a teen. When I talked to my dad
about my interest, he took me to the local airport the next weekend. The flying bug bit hard and has been with me
ever since,” she said.
2Lt
Mosqueda still has a few challenges ahead.
First, she has to complete the eight-week Navy Officer Candidate School
at Newport, Rhode Island. Then it is off
to famous NAS Pensacola in Florida to begin her transition to being a Navy
pilot. Mosqueda has a leg up on her
peers however because she already holds a commercial pilot certificate from the
FAA, and has been exposed to military structure through her experiences in
Civil Air Patrol. Mosqueda qualified as
a Mission Scanner and a Mission Observer during her tenure with the Phantoms,
and was preparing for a CAP Form 5 evaluation to become a Transport Mission
Pilot when she was notified of her selection for the Navy program. She served as the Assistant Aerospace
Education Officer for the Phantoms.
Her
passion for flight and tenacity in pursuing her goals is a hallmark which will
stand her in good stead. Her father,
Tony Mosqueda, said “When Tina sets her mind to something, just get out of the
way. She won’t give up. I am really proud of her.” 1Lt Tom Hopkins, the Deputy Commander for Seniors
in the Phantom Squadron, and a retired Navy Chief Petty Officer,
commented, “The Phantom’s loss is
certainly is the Navy’s gain because Tina is an awesome officer. She has worked well in AE, and is a great
role model for our Cadets. Our wishes
for fair skies and smooth seas go with her to OCS and beyond.”
