Honoring those who serve: Nick Baldwin
December 2, 2021 at 5:31 p.m.
Honoring those who serve: Nick Baldwin
By Cyrus Johnson -
Aviation Ordnancemen are aircraft armament specialists in charge of storing, servicing, inspecting, and handling all types of weapons and ammunition carried on Naval aircraft.
Shipping off from the Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, on deployments, Nick worked on the flight deck of the U.S.S. Dwight D. Eisenhower. He gathered assembled ammunitions from the AOs below and attached them to the fighter jets ready to go on missions over Iraq and Afghanistan. "There was a loadout for each day and you pick what bombs you need and how much 20 mm ammo, then load up the jet and send them out," he described.
Nick is a lifelong Union County resident and the son of Steve and Dana Baldwin. He graduated from UCHS in 2008, worked a couple of odd jobs for the new few months, then found his purpose by joining the Navy. He signed up through the military's Delayed Entry Program in late 2008. Nick explained his mindset at the time, "I knew I wanted to serve my country, plus I wanted to see as much of the world as possible. I thought the Navy was the best bet for that - and it paid off big time."
By Aug. 2009, he was shipped off to boot camp at the Naval Station Great Lakes, located near North Chicago. Naval Station Great Lakes is the largest military installation in Illinois and the most extensive training station in the Navy. Around 40,000 recruits pass through annually, with an estimated 7,000 recruits on board the facility at any time. The base has been active for over 100 years.
After seven weeks of training in Naval Division 338, Nick finished basic in Oct. 2009. His graduation ceremony was attended by his close family and wife (then girlfriend), Emily. "I was what they call a grad and go," he said. "The day I graduated was the day I left to go to "A" School... I left on a plane four hours after graduation." Most recruits get a couple of days to spend with their families. This gives them time to enjoy the city and relish in the achievement, but Baldwin wasn't so lucky. According to Nick, during Operation Enduring Freedom, the military needed people fast, so this rushed training was a common procedure for those years.
He then shipped to the Naval Air Station in Pensacola for Ascension training. Baldwin’s "A" schooling lasted for six months. During which, the sailors are taught basic aviation theory and skills, along with job-skills and troubleshooting. When asked about his experience, Nick described, "We learned how to build the bombs, how to put them together. What it took to make the missiles and rockets fly... We learned about the guns, what's in the F18 - the big 20 mm gun."
Next, Nick continued with advanced "C" training for two months at the Naval Air Station Lemoore, located in the California Central Valley. From here, the sailors would have even more in-depth training as they learned all the moving parts of naval armaments.
"This is where things got a lot more hands-on. Most of all, we focused on the technical side of the job. We started to do things that we would be doing out in the fleet," Nick said.
Navy "C" School graduation is very particular. Sailors are ranked in the order of how they graduate in the class. From that rank, each person chooses their orders on a first-come, first-serve basis. Nick finished second in his class. With a mountain of assignments to pick from, he chose BFA 83 Strike Fighter Squadron. Nick laughed at the thought as he said, "People thought I was crazy for picking the F18 squadron... It's a lot of work, probably 12-13 hours a day on the flight deck in the absolute hottest environment you can think of - it's pretty much just go, go, go and there's no stopping."
However, Nick was ready for the demanding job. He picked BFA 83 specifically to work with the fighter jets. He proudly recounted servicing Legacy F18s, aircraft 30-40-years-old still flying missions over the Middle East. "These were some of the oldest jets the Navy has ever used. They tend to break down often, but that's why they have us, to keep them going," he chuckled. "The pilots would always say, 'If it's not leaking, then there's something wrong with it, and I'm not flying,' seriously."
"C" School would be the end of his formal training; next, Nick was sent to the Naval Air Station Oceana (NASO). This would act as home base for the remainder of his service. Oceana is home to 17 strike fighter squadrons of F/A-18 Hornets and F/A-18 Super Hornets. The base is the sole East Coast Master Jet Base and home to all the east coast strike-fighter units.
When deployed from NASO, Nick would serve on the USS Eisenhower, aka "Ike." This vessel is a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the second of ten commissioned in the Nimitz-class (nuclear). Since commissioned in 1977, Ike has participated in deployments during the Iran hostage crisis in 1980 and the Gulf War in the 1990s. More recently, with Nick on board, supporting U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The carrier currently serves as the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 2.
Once they had him trained, the Navy kept Nick extra busy. He was ordered on four deployments in three years, serving on Ike and deploying from NASO as his home base. A majority of his time was hard work at sea, but eventually, the carrier would port and the sailors would have a couple of days to themselves. Thanks to the Navy, Baldwin was able to see 13 different countries over his three years at sea.
"Most of the deployments I would do were in the Red Sea. We would do deployments in the Mediterranean," Nick said. One of his favorite experiences was cruising through the Suez Canal that connects the two seas. He described how the canal was barely wide enough to fit the 1000-foot wide aircraft carrier.
Nick described the importance of Ike when they would go on deployments, "We were in the middle of the strike group. We were kind of the epi-center, and everything revolved around what we were doing. The other ships had their own missions, but the main mission was supporting the Eisenhower and making sure it stayed safe."
When asked the highlights of his time overseas, he recounted seeing Rome and Egypt. Nick said he got to visit the Colosseum and other Roman sites, something he has always wanted to do. In Egypt, he was able to walk through the great pyramids. Truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience for any young man, especially one from our humble abode.
Nick served alongside Union County's Nathan Irrgang, who was in a helicopter squadron attached to the same carrier. Nathan was a part of all Nick's deployments. "Different squadrons, but it was the same ship. It was neat to have a close friend on board," he added. "We never got to hang out much outside of the ship. But, it was just nice to be able to chat and see a familiar face." Irrgang is currently serving in the Navy.
In Dec. 2012, Baldwin earned the rank of Petty Officer 3rd Class; he considers this his most significant military achievement. "You put in the all the hard work and it’s nice the other people notice it, and you get acknowledged for it. It was nice to make rank," he explained.
On July 3, 2013, his last deployment on the USS Eisenhower came to a close. He spent his last month at Oceana before ending his service in August. Nick felt like it was time to move on. He decided it was time to come back home and start a family. He explained that he didn't want to raise his kids overseas, that he wanted to be around for all the good things.
Nick and Emily Baldwin have joyfully known each other since 5th grade. They have been together for 14 years and have been married for 11. They tied the knot on July 31, 2010, in Centerville. It was three days after Nick had gotten off his first deployment and luckily, he made it back a few days before the wedding. He was forced to rush home after his time at sea was unknowingly extended. Looking back, he gave his wife all the credit for organizing everything. "All I had to do was show up in my uniform and that was it. She did it all, she was amazing, really!"
The Baldwins are the proud parents of three daughters, Charlotte(7), Lenora (5), Lucinda (3); the family currently resides in Billingsville. Nick works for Indiana Eastern Railroad and is a volunteer at the West College Corner Fire Department. Emily has worked at McCullough-Hyde Hospital for the past eight years. Their girls attend Ccollege Corner Elementary.
The Liberty Herald staff would like to say, "Thank you U.S. Navy Petty 3rd Class Aviation Ordnanceman Nick Baldwin, for your hard work in protecting our country. Thank you for your continued service with the fire department back home. From Brookville Lake to the Great Pyramids, we are glad you returned safely. We wish the best of luck for the Baldwin family with all their future endeavors."
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Aviation Ordnancemen are aircraft armament specialists in charge of storing, servicing, inspecting, and handling all types of weapons and ammunition carried on Naval aircraft.
Shipping off from the Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, on deployments, Nick worked on the flight deck of the U.S.S. Dwight D. Eisenhower. He gathered assembled ammunitions from the AOs below and attached them to the fighter jets ready to go on missions over Iraq and Afghanistan. "There was a loadout for each day and you pick what bombs you need and how much 20 mm ammo, then load up the jet and send them out," he described.
Nick is a lifelong Union County resident and the son of Steve and Dana Baldwin. He graduated from UCHS in 2008, worked a couple of odd jobs for the new few months, then found his purpose by joining the Navy. He signed up through the military's Delayed Entry Program in late 2008. Nick explained his mindset at the time, "I knew I wanted to serve my country, plus I wanted to see as much of the world as possible. I thought the Navy was the best bet for that - and it paid off big time."
By Aug. 2009, he was shipped off to boot camp at the Naval Station Great Lakes, located near North Chicago. Naval Station Great Lakes is the largest military installation in Illinois and the most extensive training station in the Navy. Around 40,000 recruits pass through annually, with an estimated 7,000 recruits on board the facility at any time. The base has been active for over 100 years.
After seven weeks of training in Naval Division 338, Nick finished basic in Oct. 2009. His graduation ceremony was attended by his close family and wife (then girlfriend), Emily. "I was what they call a grad and go," he said. "The day I graduated was the day I left to go to "A" School... I left on a plane four hours after graduation." Most recruits get a couple of days to spend with their families. This gives them time to enjoy the city and relish in the achievement, but Baldwin wasn't so lucky. According to Nick, during Operation Enduring Freedom, the military needed people fast, so this rushed training was a common procedure for those years.
He then shipped to the Naval Air Station in Pensacola for Ascension training. Baldwin’s "A" schooling lasted for six months. During which, the sailors are taught basic aviation theory and skills, along with job-skills and troubleshooting. When asked about his experience, Nick described, "We learned how to build the bombs, how to put them together. What it took to make the missiles and rockets fly... We learned about the guns, what's in the F18 - the big 20 mm gun."
Next, Nick continued with advanced "C" training for two months at the Naval Air Station Lemoore, located in the California Central Valley. From here, the sailors would have even more in-depth training as they learned all the moving parts of naval armaments.
"This is where things got a lot more hands-on. Most of all, we focused on the technical side of the job. We started to do things that we would be doing out in the fleet," Nick said.
Navy "C" School graduation is very particular. Sailors are ranked in the order of how they graduate in the class. From that rank, each person chooses their orders on a first-come, first-serve basis. Nick finished second in his class. With a mountain of assignments to pick from, he chose BFA 83 Strike Fighter Squadron. Nick laughed at the thought as he said, "People thought I was crazy for picking the F18 squadron... It's a lot of work, probably 12-13 hours a day on the flight deck in the absolute hottest environment you can think of - it's pretty much just go, go, go and there's no stopping."
However, Nick was ready for the demanding job. He picked BFA 83 specifically to work with the fighter jets. He proudly recounted servicing Legacy F18s, aircraft 30-40-years-old still flying missions over the Middle East. "These were some of the oldest jets the Navy has ever used. They tend to break down often, but that's why they have us, to keep them going," he chuckled. "The pilots would always say, 'If it's not leaking, then there's something wrong with it, and I'm not flying,' seriously."
"C" School would be the end of his formal training; next, Nick was sent to the Naval Air Station Oceana (NASO). This would act as home base for the remainder of his service. Oceana is home to 17 strike fighter squadrons of F/A-18 Hornets and F/A-18 Super Hornets. The base is the sole East Coast Master Jet Base and home to all the east coast strike-fighter units.
When deployed from NASO, Nick would serve on the USS Eisenhower, aka "Ike." This vessel is a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the second of ten commissioned in the Nimitz-class (nuclear). Since commissioned in 1977, Ike has participated in deployments during the Iran hostage crisis in 1980 and the Gulf War in the 1990s. More recently, with Nick on board, supporting U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The carrier currently serves as the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 2.
Once they had him trained, the Navy kept Nick extra busy. He was ordered on four deployments in three years, serving on Ike and deploying from NASO as his home base. A majority of his time was hard work at sea, but eventually, the carrier would port and the sailors would have a couple of days to themselves. Thanks to the Navy, Baldwin was able to see 13 different countries over his three years at sea.
"Most of the deployments I would do were in the Red Sea. We would do deployments in the Mediterranean," Nick said. One of his favorite experiences was cruising through the Suez Canal that connects the two seas. He described how the canal was barely wide enough to fit the 1000-foot wide aircraft carrier.
Nick described the importance of Ike when they would go on deployments, "We were in the middle of the strike group. We were kind of the epi-center, and everything revolved around what we were doing. The other ships had their own missions, but the main mission was supporting the Eisenhower and making sure it stayed safe."
When asked the highlights of his time overseas, he recounted seeing Rome and Egypt. Nick said he got to visit the Colosseum and other Roman sites, something he has always wanted to do. In Egypt, he was able to walk through the great pyramids. Truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience for any young man, especially one from our humble abode.
Nick served alongside Union County's Nathan Irrgang, who was in a helicopter squadron attached to the same carrier. Nathan was a part of all Nick's deployments. "Different squadrons, but it was the same ship. It was neat to have a close friend on board," he added. "We never got to hang out much outside of the ship. But, it was just nice to be able to chat and see a familiar face." Irrgang is currently serving in the Navy.
In Dec. 2012, Baldwin earned the rank of Petty Officer 3rd Class; he considers this his most significant military achievement. "You put in the all the hard work and it’s nice the other people notice it, and you get acknowledged for it. It was nice to make rank," he explained.
On July 3, 2013, his last deployment on the USS Eisenhower came to a close. He spent his last month at Oceana before ending his service in August. Nick felt like it was time to move on. He decided it was time to come back home and start a family. He explained that he didn't want to raise his kids overseas, that he wanted to be around for all the good things.
Nick and Emily Baldwin have joyfully known each other since 5th grade. They have been together for 14 years and have been married for 11. They tied the knot on July 31, 2010, in Centerville. It was three days after Nick had gotten off his first deployment and luckily, he made it back a few days before the wedding. He was forced to rush home after his time at sea was unknowingly extended. Looking back, he gave his wife all the credit for organizing everything. "All I had to do was show up in my uniform and that was it. She did it all, she was amazing, really!"
The Baldwins are the proud parents of three daughters, Charlotte(7), Lenora (5), Lucinda (3); the family currently resides in Billingsville. Nick works for Indiana Eastern Railroad and is a volunteer at the West College Corner Fire Department. Emily has worked at McCullough-Hyde Hospital for the past eight years. Their girls attend Ccollege Corner Elementary.
The Liberty Herald staff would like to say, "Thank you U.S. Navy Petty 3rd Class Aviation Ordnanceman Nick Baldwin, for your hard work in protecting our country. Thank you for your continued service with the fire department back home. From Brookville Lake to the Great Pyramids, we are glad you returned safely. We wish the best of luck for the Baldwin family with all their future endeavors."
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