By
Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A 2014 Maury High
School graduate and Norfolk, Virginia 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.
Airman Ashley Walker is serving with Commander,
Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11.
A Navy airman is responsible for
ensuring that the aircraft is operational ready for the pilots.
“I enjoy that my job allows me to gain
experience and knowledge on aircraft,” said Walker.
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. “Airman Walker 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 Airman Walker on our
team!"
Walker is part of a crew that is transitioning to the P-8A Poseidon and preparing for deployment in the future.
“This command has a great chain of
command,” said Walker. “They communicate the mission and what is expected of me
well.”
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 given me a sense of
pride,” added Walker. “I enjoy putting on the uniform and serving my country.”