By
Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A 2011 Brooklyn
High School graduate and Brooklyn, Ohio 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 Mallory Pratt is an aviation
structural mechanic serving with Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11.
A Navy aviation structural mechanic is
responsible for maintaining the airframe on the aircraft as well as repairs and
patching as well as hydraulic systems, tires and flight controls.
“My job is great because I get to be
hands on,” said Pratt. “I am able to gain a variety of skill sets by working on
different parts of the aircraft.”
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 Pratt 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 Pratt on
our team!"
Pratt is part of a crew that began a
transition to the P-8A Poseidon and is preparing for deployment in the future.
“The people at this command are helpful
and personable,” said Pratt. “I have made friendships and bonds that will last
a lifetime.”
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 to be confident
and disciplined,” said Pratt. “Having to adapt to new situations and
circumstances has instilled these traits in me.”