USS Abraham Lincoln flight deck: What is role of green jersey personnel onboard. Why are they vital to carrier aviation safety?

The flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln represents one of the most hazardous and high-decibel working environments in the world. To maintain operational safety during the launch and recovery of fighter jets and other aircrafts, the United States Navy utilises a visual communication system defined by colour-coded jerseys. This system, detailed in the Commander, Naval Air Forces Flight Deck Awareness protocols, ensures that every sailor’s role is immediately identifiable amidst the chaos of a moving airfield. In an environment where the roar of jet engines renders verbal commands impossible, these colours provide the essential structure required to prevent catastrophic mishaps.

Green jerseys signify aviation personnel responsible for aircraft maintenance, catapult systems, arresting gear support, and associated technical functions. These Sailors form part of the air wing support structure, ensuring aircraft are safe, serviceable, and correctly configured for flight operations.

The primary responsibility of those in green jerseys involves the ship’s "muscles", the catapults and arresting gear. These sailors operate the steam-powered (or electromagnetic) systems that sling a 30-tonne jet to flying speed in mere seconds. Conversely, they manage the arresting wires that catch landing aircraft, a task described as one of the "deadliest jobs" due to the risk of snapping steel cables.

Beyond the ship’s hardware, green shirts are the lifeblood of the aircraft’s health, their roles can range from Topside Petty Officer (TPO), Deck-Edge Operator, Hook Runners to Deck Checkers. They ensure the landing area is FOD (Foreign Object Debris) free, the wire is in position for aircraft recovery, and all personnel are clear of landing area.

The Flight Deck Awareness manual notes that they must "maintain constant vigilance over the machinery that powers the fleet." No jet can start without the necessary power and air, and green jerseys are responsible for the Ground Support Equipment (GSE) that provides these services.

While yellow jerseys direct fixed-wing aircraft, green jerseys take the lead for rotary-wing operations. Helicopter Landing Signal Enlisted (LSE) personnel wear green as they guide pilots onto the deck’s small landing spots, they also wear a red helmet. Using hand signals and light wands, they provide the pilot with the final visual cues necessary to touch down safely amidst the pitch and roll of the carrier at sea.

Interestingly, the green jersey is also the uniform of the ship’s storytellers. Mass Communication Specialists, or photographers, wear green to move safely across the deck while documenting operations. Their role is to capture the historical and tactical reality of life on the USS Abraham Lincoln, ensuring that the ship’s mission is recorded and shared with the world.

To wear the green jersey on the USS Abraham Lincoln is to be part of a community defined by technical proficiency and high-stakes reliability. While the yellow shirts lead and the red shirts arm, the green shirts provide the fundamental stability that allows the carrier to project power. As one sailor reflected on their service, "I was the one under the jet who made sure everything was sound before I gave my signal of good to go".