The plane took a few laps before falling off and blowing my heart: I’ve always been a lover of roller coasters, but that was something totally different. Few moments, a signal from the sailors aboard and an incredible force attached me on the seat. Much less violent as I supposed, but equally surreal: 2 seconds and I was arrested!

The back cargo ramp opened and….I was immersed in the United States of America!

The first thing I felt was a warm air filled with fuel scent, then I looked around and I was surrounded by Hornet and Super Hornet fighter jets. It’s trivial, but the connection with the “Top Gun” movie was inevitable.

Same sailors accompanied me to the inside of the ship where I met Bobby and Katie, the PAO officers, they assigned me the cabin where to spend the night and introduced me in the frantic board life.

The interior of the carrier was essential: a labyrinth of corridors and iron stairs lead to bridges, dining areas, gym, hospital, squadron rooms, flight deck and maintenance hangar. Signspots on every wall showed a series of numbers means level, floor, department, side of the carrier and destination task of that section.

Takeoffs and recoveries continued without stop, the roar of the engines was all around and powerfull, I began to try to capture some memorable moments. Everything tremble when the engines were in full a/b and the catapulte gave the boost for takeoff. It was really a visceral feeling. Sunset and sunrise offered an unforgettable scenary: it was like a movie, but it is a reality formed by people who are months apart from their familiy, home and loved ones, to defend their Nation and Allies.

I asked my first questions to Katie, maybe for empathy, maybe for curiosity. She is a 28-year-old girl who is married and who doesn’t see her husband since January. How can she lives so long apart from her partner? (I thounght).

I started a friendly conversation with her and I found out that everything started when she chose college: the Navy paid her studies for 4 years of service according to a national standard regulation. She agreed: military life has always fascinated her.

Katie setted her-year ‘debit’, but in love with this world, she decided to stay and continue her working life with the Navy.

You are a very determined girl, but still a girl; the first spontaneous question is: how do you live your femininity life in a non-privacy life aboard?

“Sometimes it is difficult to have no own spaces, but you do the habit, so when you come home after so many months aboard, it seems strange to be alone in the bathroom!” (she smiles)

You live here everyday for months, pilots operate in missions; Have you ever been afraid of an enemy attack in response during hostile times?

“Honestly no. We are protected so well to think to be afraid. There are five ships constantly around us (I have worked on those also and I know what they do and how) and there are a lots of Hornet and Superhornet ready to start from the flight deck. I feel very calm and safe.”

Any episode that you feel afraid?

“Yes, but not for an attack received. When I was on the other ship a boat came against us by mistake. There I was afraid something bad could happen but fortunately everything went well.”

Do you have children?

“No, not yet, but I want to. I want to wait to became a PAO in a base on the mainland to have normal timetables. I can’t embark with a child at home and a husband in the navy.”

For a woman like me, it is difficult to think about this life, but the dedication I read in her eyes was really exhaustive.
Written by Simona Zanetti
Photo credits: Simona Zanetti