By
Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A 2008 Kennett
High School graduate and Kennett Square, Pennsylvania 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.
Ensign Zachary Galczynski is a naval flight officer
serving with Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11.
A Navy naval
flight officer is responsible for tactical
implementation of sensors in the P-A 8 Poseidon and capturing aerial
intelligence for the rest of the fleet.
They are the eyes and ears of the Navy.
“Being
able to fly and travel is the best part of my job,” said Galczynski. “I am able
to experience interesting things around the world while serving my country.”
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. “Ensign
Galczynski 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 Ensign
Galczynski on our team!"
Galczynski
is part of a crew that began a transition to the P-8A Poseidon and is preparing for a deployment in the future.
“Everyone
at this command is new to the P-A 8 aircraft and we are determined and
motivated to operate this aircraft and be best in the fleet,” said Galczynski.
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.
“Confidence
is something I have gained since joining the Navy,” said Galczynski. “All of
the challenges and obstacles the Navy has thrown at me has shown me that I can
push myself further and harder than before.”