By
Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A 2008 East Jordan
High School graduate and East Jordan,
Michigan 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.
Lt. j.g. Sarah Kupovits is a pilot
serving with Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11.
As a pilot,
Kupovits
is responsible for managing and supervising sailors and flying aircraft tactically for anti-submarine warfare missions, reconnaissance operations and maritime patrols.
“I enjoy
working with the people in the Navy, even with diverse backgrounds there is a
bond for the missions at hand,” said Kupovits. “I also love how everyday is
different, from the actual place that you are going, to the mission and the
people that you are flying 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. Lt.
j.g. Kupovits 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 Lt.j.g.
Kupovits on our team!"
Kupovits
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.
“I love
the fact that we are one of the first comamnds to fly the P-8As and at the
forefront of maritime patrol and reconnaissance,” said Kupovits.
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.
“Serving
in the Navy I've learned that sacrifices are well worth it when others depend
on you for support,” said Kupovits. “I've also learned to value respect for all
and I get a sense of pride knowing that I am doing my job for a greater cause.”