By
Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A 1997 Westerville
South High School graduate and Columbus, 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 1st Class Jason Rife is
an aviation
machinist's mate serving with Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11.
A Navy aviation machinist's mate is
responsible for maintaining aircraft engines and their related systems.
“What I like most about this command is
the security
of employment and a stable environment in which to work," said Rife. "I also enjoy the
people I work with."
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 Rife 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 Rife
on our team!"
Rife is part of a crew that began a
transition to the P-8A Poseidon in 2014. Earlier this year, squadron VP-45 entered the Inter-Deployment Readiness Cycle in preparation for their first
deployment as a P-8A squadron.
“Working at this command gives me the
opportunity to work on the new platform coming from the P-3s before and to
receive training before transferring to the civilian sector when I retire,”
said Rife.
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 discipline and
how to multitask to complete several objectives at a time," said Rife. "Mental strength comes along with everyday
issues."