By
Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A 2010 Prospect
Mountain High School graduate and Barnstead, New Hampshire native is serving in the U.S. Navy aboard
Naval Air Station Jacksonville, the largest base in the Southeast Region and
third largest in the nation.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Mike Loan is
a naval air crewman (electronic warfare operator) serving with Commander,
Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11.
A naval air crewman is
responsible for tracking submarines.
“I operate the radar, cameras, and other
systems to identify submarines and surface ships,” said Loan. “Flying has to be the best part of my
job, especially flying at low altitudes over water. I like the people I work
with and I get to interact with officers and learn more about my job."
According to Navy officials, Wing 11’s history and
reputation remain unparalleled since being commissioned on August 15, 1942.
Throughout the decades, Wing 11 has continued to fly combat missions in direct support of
the troops on the ground and delivered
traditional maritime capabilities, real-time intelligence, surveillance and
reconnaissance.
Beginning in the
1960s, the P-3C Orion, a land-based, long-range anti-submarine warfare patrol
aircraft, replaced the P-2V Neptune fleet. After 50 years of faithful
service and the 50th anniversary of Maritime Patrol and
Reconnaissance Force, the P-3C Orion is being phased out of the fleet,
according to Navy officials.
The P-8A is a modified Boeing airframe
featuring a fully connected, state-of-the-art, open architecture mission system
designed for long-range anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface warfare; and
intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, Navy officials
explained.
"The U.S. Navy sometimes asks the
impossible of our people. It is sailors that make the impossible possible,”
said Capt. Anthony Corapi, Commodore, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11. “Petty Officer Loan is one example of a selfless
servant of our nation. These heroes ask
for very little recognition and perform their daily job with pride and
professionalism defending freedom and our way of life around the world. Each member of the Navy's combat team is
crucial to our success. I am very proud to have Petty Officer Loan
on our team!"
Loan is part of a crew that is
transitioning to the P-8A Poseidon and preparing for deployment in the future.
“I am proud to be a part of this command," said Loan. "Although I recently checked onboard I have felt welcomed by everyone and
they have been very helpful."
According to Navy officials, the Navy
continues to meet milestone after milestone on this world-class mission and is
providing an aircraft with superior capabilities to the men and women in
uniform that will have a lasting legacy promoting a global maritime strategy.
“The Navy has taught me that I am
capable of living on my own and taking on more responsibilities in my job,”
added Loan.