NFO ROLE FADING AWAY IN US MARINE CORPS AVIATION

READY ROOM

THE STORY BEHIND THE US NAVY HEADLINES

The EA-6B Prowler flew with three naval flight officers, known in this community as electronic countermeasures officers (ECMOs).
All photos Jamie Hunter

THE RETIREMENT OF the last US Marine Corps EA-6B Prowler electronic attack aircraft in May marked a milestone in the history of Marine Corps aviation, but it also had significant impact of a less obvious nature — the fading duty of the naval flight officer (NFO). The USMC is now planning to remove this role — essentially now only present in Weapon Systems Operators (WSO) in the back seats of F/A-18D Hornets.

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