By
Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A 2015 Boise High
School graduate and Boise, Idaho 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.
Airman Savannah Gamel is an aviation structural
mechanic (safety equipment) serving with Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance
Wing 11.
A Navy aviation structural mechanic is responsible for ensuring the aircraft is secure and
operational ready for the pilot to fly.
“My job is great because there is
always something to be done,” said Gamel. “I am never bored and I gain a sense of
accomplishment when I complete my tasks.”
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. “Airman Gamel 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 Airman Gamel on our team!"
Gamel
“This command is my first command and
it is has set the bar high for my future commands in my career because of the
great leadership and atmosphere here,” said Gamel.
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 teamwork
is essential to the competing the mission,” added Gamel. “If one person makes a
mistake, it effects everyone so we need to be sure that we are all on the same
page.”