VAW-116

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 116


caption= VAW-116 Insignia
dates= 20 April, 1967 - Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= United States Navy
type= Airborne Early Warning (VAW)
role= Airborne Early Warning; Airborne Battle Management; Command and Control
size= approximately 180
command_structure= Carrier Air Wing 2
current_commander= CDR Herbert E. Carmen
garrison= Naval Base Ventura County
Command Master Chief= Command Master Chief James P. Barnes
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= "Sun Kings"
patron=
motto=
colors= Maroon and Gold
march=
mascot= Elvis Presley
battles= Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom
anniversaries=

VAW-116 [http://www.cacclw.navy.mil/vaw116/index.html] is a US Navy Command and Control Squadron that deploys aboard USS "Abraham Lincoln" as part of Carrier Air Wing Two [http://www.csfwp.navy.mil/cvw-2/cvw2squadrons.htm] . VAW-116 flies the E-2C Hawkeye 2000 aircraft. The VAW-116 Commanding Officer is Commander Herbert E. Carmen [http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=38343] [http://www.cacclw.navy.mil/vaw116/bio_co.html] . The "Sun Kings" of VAW-116 are stationed at Naval Base Ventura County Point Mugu [ [https://www.cnic.navy.mil/ventura/index.htm Naval Base Ventura County] ] , California. VAW-116 is under the cognizance of Commander, Airborne Command Control and Logistics Wing (COMACCLOGWING). [Squadron homepage is http://www.cacclw.navy.mil/] In 2008, the Sun Kings deployed with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2 aboard USS Abraham Lincoln to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to support maritime security operations (MSO) and Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

Music Videos

VAW-116 became "semi-famous" in 2006 for its remake of the "Pump It" music video, by the Black Eyed Peas. The video originated as a project on board ship to fight off boredom and to boost morale, but stemmed into what is almost a full fledged production and a free recruiting ad for the Navy [http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/02/ntyoutube070219/] . Pump It has recorded over 1.8 million views on YouTube [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqaWdkdFb3Y] . The sequel, a remake of Outkast's video "Hey Ya," included every single member of the Sun Kings and has recorded over 983,000 views [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEkYqL9n7vo] . Both videos have been shown on national television, and news stations in other countries.

External links

* [http://www.cacclw.navy.mil/vaw116/ VAW-116 Official Website]
* [http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=PumpIt01 Pump It Music Video]
* [http://www.csfwp.navy.mil/cvw-2/ Carrier Air Wing TWO]
* [http://www.cacclw.navy.mil/ Commander, Airborne Command Control and Logistics Wing]
* [http://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/Detect_and_Direct.html Air & Space Article "Detect and Direct", featuring the VAW-116 Sun Kings]
* [http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=57016 Navy Picture of Air Power Demonstration]