By
Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A West Valley, Utah 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.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Spencer Crouch is a naval air crewman serving with Commander, Patrol
and Reconnaissance Wing 11.
As a naval
air crewman, Crouch is responsible for the
overall safety of the command’s flight operations.
“What I enjoy most about my job is
being a part of the flight crew and working
amongst my fellow sailors,” said Crouch.
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. “Petty Officer
Crouch 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 Petty Officer Crouch
on our team!"
Crouch
“Serving at this command has been a
great experience, said Crouch. “I enjoy the
traveling aspect that coincides with my job and my chain of command takes care
of me professionally.”
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
morals, values and teamwork instilled in me by the Navy has definitely made me
a better overall person,” said Adams.