 In October 1966, he was slated for upcoming Vietnam War duty, and so reported to the VA-44 Replacement Air Group squadron at Naval Air Station Cecil Field in Florida for training on the A-4 Skyhawk, a single-seat jet attack aircraft.There McCain was seen as a good pilot, albeit one who tended to "push the envelope" in his flying.Promoted to lieutenant commander in January 1967, McCain joined the aircraft carrier by May 1967, flying Skyhawks with the VA-46 "Clansmen" squadron.