includes: Operational flight planning, instruments, and navigation (international flight rules and TACAN navigation) Communications and navigation systems (comm systems and INS, GPS, and RADAR theory and navigation) Sensor and link operations (RADAR, IFF, and IR theory and data link employment) Fleet operations Upon completion of core training, SNFOs who progressed to MC2 training from Primary 1 (land-based maritime selectees) will select their fleet platform. Their choices are: E-6B Mercury, P-3C Orion, EP-3E Aries II, and P-8A Poseidon. When platform selection is complete, all SNFOs remain at VT-4 for "strand" training. Strand Strand training is platform-specific training in VT-4 via the MCS, allowing SNFOs destined for the carrier-based E-2 community or the land-based P-3/P-8, EP-3 and E-6 communities to begin learning their responsibilities on their fleet aircraft. The development of this program relieves the associated fleet replacement squadrons from teaching SNFOs the basics of naval aviation and to focus more on advanced fleet tactics, thus providing the fleet with mission-capable NFOs. Upon completion of strand training, students receive their "wings of gold" and are aeronautically designated as naval flight officers. SNFOs progress through one or two of four strands, depending on what platform they select. The E-2 strand consists of: Airborne early warning (E-2 capabilities and mission overview) Air intercept control (airborne battlefield command and control, tactics, and strike techniques) The common navigation strand consists of: Publications and charts Overwater navigation and communication procedures Navigation logs The MPR strand consists of: Surface search and littoral surveillance (community overview, target identification, sensor employment) Electronic warfare and acoustic operations (EW introduction, sonar theory) Maritime patrol and reconnaissance (coordinated operations) The E-6 strand consists of: Communications and operations (community overview, operations, strategic command structure) Advanced strike SNFOs report to VT-86 and fly the T-45C Goshawk. Training consists of five phases: Contact phase (T-45 systems, emergency procedures, carrier operations, night operations, communications) Strike phase (air-to-ground radar, low level flying, mission planning, fuel awareness) Close air support phase (CAS procedures and communications) Basic fighter maneuver phase (BFM practice) All weather intercepts phase (air-to-air radar, air intercepts, GPS) After graduating from advanced strike training, Navy SNFOs will select: EA-18G Growler F/A-18F Super Hornet Marine SNFOs will select: F/A-18D Hornet Comparison with naval aviators Naval flight officers operate some of the advanced systems on board most multi-crew naval aircraft, and some may also act as the overall tactical mission commanders of single or multiple aircraft assets during a