DUHS, SMC graduate heads Pensacola squadron

Published 12:25 pm Thursday, April 2, 2009

By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
A Dowagiac and Southwestern Michigan College graduate Jody G. Bridges relieved Lt. Col. Christopher M. Marcell as commander of the U.S. Navy's Training Squadron Three in Pensacola, Fla., in a March 20 ceremony.
"Caveman" Bridges, son of Walt and Claudia Bridges, graduated from Union High School in 1986. He played varsity football for the Chieftains.
Bridges became interested in aviation while taking classes DUHS offered at that time.
He graduated from SMC, where he also took classes pertaining to aviation.
His Red Knights flew more than 25,000 flight hours and trained 29 primary student aviators in 2008 with a staff of 61 flight instructors, two enlisted and 14 civilian personnel.
He married the former Debra Desbiens of Lewiston, Maine. They have four children, Megan, Grant, Caitlin and Paige.
Bridges received his commission from th Naval Aviation Cadet (NAVCAD) program in August 1990.
Following Fleet Replacement Training in the P-3C Orion, in May 1991 he reported to Patrol Squadron 10 in Brunswick, Maine.
While in VP-10 he deployed to Sigonella, Sicily, and to Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico.
He qualified as a Patrol Plane Mission Commander, Patrol Plane Commander and Functional Check Pilot while serving as the Squadron First Lieutenant and Squadron Tactics Officer.
In May 1995, Bridges transferred to Commander, Fleet Air Mediterranean in Naples, Italy, where he served as Air Services Coordinator, Mediterranean (ASCOMED) Watch Officer coordinating air logistics for deployed units in the Sixth Fleet AOR.
From December 1997 to September 2000, he served on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) as a Catapult and Arresting Gear Officer, Air Department Administrative and Training Officer (V5) and Hanger Deck Division Officer (V3).
During this tour, he personally launched more than 6,000 aircraft during two deployments and associated workups.
Additionally, the Ike won two Battle Efficiency Awards for deployments to the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf.
After re-qualification at Fleet Replacement Training in the P-3C Orion in August 2001, he reported to the Fifth Fleet, deployed the "World Famous Golden Eagles" of Patrol Squadron Nine based out of Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.
After Sept. 11, 2001, the Golden Eagles transformed the Maritime Patrol community. When Coalition Forces began direct action missions against Taliban forces during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), VP-9 flew missions over Afghanistan which included imaging, long-range targeting, armed surveillance and reconnaissance and delivery of Stand-off Land Attack Missiles.
VP-0 won the Battle Efficiency Award for its efforts.