By
Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A 2008 Notre Dame
High School graduate and Monterey,
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. j.g. Caroline Montero is a pilot
serving with Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11.
As a pilot,
Montero is responsible for flying the P-8A
aircraft for the command and is involved with tactical decisions of various
missions and operations.
“What I
enjoy most about my job is the sense of accomplishment I get in knowing that
I've worked so hard in achieving my dream of becoming a pilot,” said Montero.
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
Montero 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 Montero on our team!"
Montero
is part of a crew that began a transition to the P-8A Poseidon and is preparing for deployment in the future.
“I enjoy
the family atmosphere here and making memories with my fellow sailors that I will
take with me and cherish for a lifetime,” said Montero.
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 has taught me integrity and it’s definitely made me
more of an effective leader,” said Montero.