By
Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A 2007 Bloomington
High School graduate and Fontana, California 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. Ehric"Roach" Haggard
is a pilot
serving with Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11.
A Navy pilot is responsible for the safety
of the aircraft and crew.
“I position
the aircraft so the crew can complete the mission," said Haggard. "Our aircraft is used for reconnaissance to observe surface and subsurface contacts so positioning and
maintaining a good location is imperative."
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. Haggard 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. Haggard
on our team!"
Haggard
“Everyone at this command is personable and professional and works well together,” said Haggard.
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.
“I have grown as a leader by serving in the Navy and being able to serve others,” added Haggard. “So far the Navy has been what I expected it to be and this really was the right choice for me."