— When Athens native Michael Kyle graduated from West Limestone High School in 2003, he did not picture himself in the air-traffic control tower of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.

Today, the aviation boatswain’s mate 3rd class is floating around somewhere in the Pacific Ocean aboard the carrier USS George Washington.

He and the rest of the crew ensure that jets and other aircraft land and return safely nearly every day, day in and day out.

The 26-year-old spoke with The News Courier by telephone Monday just before going on his 12-hour night shift as a supervisor in the control tower. Kyle’s job is to make sure everything is in order in the tower before the arrival of the air boss — the person in charge of flight operations on the carrier.

“As the lead primary flight-control station supervisor, Kyle is responsible for ensuring the operability of flight operation radios, flight deck alarms and microphones,” said Lt. Commander Dave Hecht, the public affairs officer aboard the carrier. “Primary flight control’s communication capabilities are essential to the coordination of the launch and recovery of all aircraft arriving to and departing from George Washington.”

The tower is the highest level manned on the ship — like the top floor of an office building, Kyle said.

“The air-traffic controllers are here and we are in charge of all aircraft within a certain nautical ship and air space around the carrier,” he said. “My favorite part of the job is knowing that I help safely launch and recover the aircraft when they return.”

Kyle also has other duties aboard the ship.

“I have collateral duties — smaller jobs outside of my main job,” he said. “I am a supply petty officer who makes sure everybody that works around and below me has out-to-sea clothing and flight-deck clothing. They are authorized to wear those clothing and it is my job to make sure they have those uniforms.”

Crew members generally wear camouflage pants and a turtleneck shirt of a particular color depending on their job. Kyle’s is white.

“Every person on the carrier has a vital role in completing the ship’s mission,” he said.

Hecht described Kyle as one of the ship’s best and brightest.

“He is a hard-working airman who maintains the flight deck and keeps air operations moving forward, a huge responsibility for someone who graduated from high school just a few years ago,” Hecht said.

Kyle spends half of the year on the carrier and the other half at home in Yokosuka, Japan, with his wife, Yoko, and their two children, 4-year-old Hina and 8-month-old son, Sidney.

He was home last year to see his mother, Ada Shapiro, of Athens. In addition to feeling extremely proud of her son, she has noticed quite a change in him.

“He’s gotten a lot more mature,” said Shapiro, who works at Cast Products Inc. on Alabama 127 in Athens. “He’s grown into a man.”

She hopes when this tour is over he and his family will return stateside.

Office with a view

Kyle’s “office” offers a heck of a view each day.

The George Washington — commissioned in 1992 — is 17 stories tall, 1,092 feet long and 275 feet wide. Its massive, 4.5-acre flight deck can hold 70 to 75 aircraft. Two nuclear reactors will allow the carrier to steam for almost 18 years before refueling. Its two anchors weigh 30 tons each. It has accommodations for 6,250 crewmembers and serves 18,000 meals a day.

“The food is good and nutritional, and if you don’t like it, something’s wrong with you,” he said.

Work, fun, food

Life on a ship is not as remote as one might think.

“We have numerous phones around the ship,” he said. “They look like pay phones but they are sailor phones and you just go to the (shipboard) store and buy a calling card, pick up a phone, dial and talk until your minutes are up. You can do it every day if you like.”

Crewmembers also use an e-mail account similar to Yahoo or Gmail. He sends his mother e-mail regularly and also calls her at work or at home, he said

“We have our own water plant to make our own water,” he said. “We make 400,000 gallons of fresh water a day — enough for 2,000 homes.”

There are plenty of things to do when you are not working, Kyle said.

“We have every sort of software on the ship,” he said. “You can check out an Xbox or PS3 (PlayStation 3) and take it to a TV and play a video game for a while. There are numerous gyms on the ship and anytime you get hungry, you can eat — there are thousands of places to eat.”

Sailors can also watch nearly any movie out there and even watch television through the Armed Forces Network. They even have a television studio on board, he said.

He also gets 30 days of paid vacation each year, so he can be with his family or travel if he likes.

At home in Japan

First stationed aboard the USS Kitty Hawk, Kyle was later moved to the George Washington. After a total of five years of water duty, he had a decision to make.

“I could have gone to shore duty, but I chose to stay out to sea,” he said.

Next year, Kyle will have to decide his next step.

“I have 10 months left and then, after that, we will see what is in store,” he said.

After seven years in Japan, he likes the city but finds it congested, he said.

“There is always something new and adventurous to do here, but I would love to come back home and have Yoko see how we live here in Alabama,” he said.

Yoko, who is Japanese, stays home with their two children while he is at sea.

“She takes wonderful care of the children and in managing the family while I’m away,” Kyle said.

He couldn’t think of a downside to his job, which makes you wonder if he has been out there too long.

“I enjoy my job very much,” he said. “A day without learning is a day wasted, to me.”

Kyle wholeheartedly endorses the Navy for male and female high school graduates looking for a good, solid career.

“Most definitely,” he said. “It has made me grow up a lot. It has made me more grown up and more independent and more responsible. Joining the military is a great career path, and I highly recommend it.”