Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 1st Class Rodrickus Shepherd, the flight deck assistant leading petty officer, from Covington, Calif.,

ATLANTIC OCEAN (Sep. 14, 2010) Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 1st Class Rodrickus Shepherd, the flight deck assistant leading petty officer, from Covington, Calif., signals an AV-8B Harrier pilot from Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 233 to launch from the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5). Bataan is underway conducting portions of a basic-training phase, including an aviation certification that will allow the ship to launch and recover aircraft. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Julio Rivera) File# 100914-N-7508R-165