Lt. j.g. Zachary Drum, Lt. j.g. Samuel Bedford Howell Jr., Ensign Bret Louderback, Lt. j.g. Andrew Taylor and Lt. j.g. Bryan Valliere earned their Wings of Gold during a ceremony on board Naval Air Station Meridian, March 13. The naval aviator designation ceremony is not prescribed specifically by U.S. Navy regulations, but has emerged as an honored product of the rich heritage of naval tradition. It marks the culmination of nearly two years of specialized training, which has prepared these officers for the rigorous demands of aerial combat and carrier operations -- earning each the title of "Naval Aviator" and the right to wear the coveted "Wings of Gold."