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I was an AB (Aircraft Boatswain's Mate) first, launching planes off the roof, then an AT (Aircraft Electronics Tech) on the Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71)... worked in AIR/V2 then in AIMD/IM3 from 2003 to 2005.
Launching planes off the deck was cool, kinda. Scary. F14's were BEAST when they lit the burners, you feel your whole guts vibrating... we all missed them when they decom'd them.
Hornets and Superhornets both have their place, and they're very small (more planes per carrier) and much cheaper to repair/maintain (that's the real reason they replaced the F14's and A5's).
My job on the carrier was to maintain ELINT and Offensive Electronics Warfare equipment for the F-14, F-18 and the EA-6B (Prowler)... pretty cool job as far as they go, it's really strange being in the Gulf though when it's 120* outside, and inside your shop it's 60* (they have to keep it cool for the R/F equipment) - you walk around the ship in cold-weather gear and people look at you like you're nuts.
I was around jets so much that I'd be totally fine never having to listen to that noise again in my life.
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