As part of Navy Week, Rear Admiral Mark Guadagnini, the Chief of Naval Air Training, or CNATRA, made several visits in Meridian this week. He talked about government and the military with students at Meridian Community College Thursday.

Guadagnini says Naval Air Station Meridian plays a big role for the military.

"We train half of all the jet pilots," said Guadagnini. "And we need about 400 pilots a year, and half of them are trained right here at Naval Air Station Meridian."

When it comes to recruiting potential pilots, Guadagnini says it's going well despite the war in Iraq.

"Recruiting is getting tough for everybody in the military, but we're making our goals every month," said the admiral. "So, that's a credit to the people of the U.S. who say, 'I want to be part of defending truth, justice, and the American way of life'."

After dodging at least three previous national base realignment and closure efforts, Rear Admiral Guadagnini says NAS Meridian, has reason to be optimistic.

"First of all, I don't see many more if any rounds of base realignment or closure in the future and definitely nothing in the near future," said Guadagnini. "The second thing is as the Chief of Naval Air Training I need to have two bases to train from. I have one in Kingsville, Texas, and I have one in Meridian, Mississippi, and I need those for natural disasters that happen all over. So, Meridian is high on my list to keep around."

The mission of Naval Air Training Command is to train the world’s finest combat quality aviation professionals. Headquartered on board NAS Corpus Christi, Texas, Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) leads the Naval Air Training Command (NATRACOM) composed of five Training Air Wings located on Naval Air Stations in Florida, Mississippi and Texas. The wings are home to 17 Training Squadrons. In addition, joint training is also conducted with the Air Force on bases in Texas, Oklahoma and Georgia. CNATRA also oversees the Naval Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels.