Pacific Ocean (Sept. 27, 2006) - F/A-18 Hornets prepare to launch from the waist catapults during flight operations on the flight deck aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Stennis and the embarked Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) are operating together for the first time during Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX). COMPTUEX is the second of three at-sea training phases for the John C. Stennis Strike Group inter-deployment training cycle. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael Hight