SAN DIEGO – Petty Officer 1st Class Kevin Levesque, a native of San Diego, California, serves the U.S. Navy as a member of Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 50 located in San Diego, California.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jordan Jennings, Navy Office of Community Outreach |
“I always wanted to join the military,” said Levesque. “I enlisted in the Navy at 18 for the steady pay and benefits for my family.”
Growing up in San Diego, Levesque attended Morse High School and graduated in 2003. He graduated from San Diego Mesa Community College in 2018.
Today, Levesque relies upon skills and values similar to those found in San Diego to succeed in the military.
“Growing up, I learned how to work with anyone, anywhere,” said Levesque. “San Diego has a pretty diverse culture and growing up in that environment made it easy to bring that mindset to the Navy.”
These lessons have helped Levesque while serving at Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron 50.
The CMV-22B is the Navy’s version of the U.S. Marines’ V-22 Osprey. It is designed to replace the C-2A Greyhound, which has provided logistical support to aircraft carriers for four decades.
CMV-22Bs are vertical takeoff and landing tilt-rotor aircraft, which have an increased operational range, faster cargo loading/unloading, increased survivability and enhanced communications compared to the C-2A Greyhound.
According to Navy officials, the mission of the CMV-22B is to provide timely, persistent air logistics for sustained carrier strike group lethality, anywhere in the world.
This year commemorates 50 years of women flying in the U.S. Navy. In 1973, the first eight women began flight school in Pensacola. One year later six of them, known as “The First Six,” earned their “Wings of Gold.” Over the past 50 years, the Navy has expanded its roles for women to lead and serve globally, and today women aviators project power from the sea in every type of Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard aircraft. According to Navy officials, our Nation and our Navy is stronger because of their service.
With 90 percent of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to trained sailors and a strong Navy.
As a member of the Navy, Levesque is part of a world-class organization focused on maintaining maritime dominance, strengthening partnerships, increasing competitive warfighting capabilities and sustaining combat-ready forces in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“I think the Navy plays a huge role in its area of concern, as far as defending the oceans and having a presence around the globe,” said Levesque.
Levesque has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I’m proud of everything I’ve done in 19 years,” said Levesque. “The ability to serve in different roles and see different areas where the Navy operates, from the aircraft carrier, to an individual augmentee assignment with the Army, to serving with a dedicated special operations support squadron and being an aircrewman transitioning to a new aircraft with the CMV-22 Osprey, has been a great experience.”
As Levesque and other sailors continue to perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“My service means being able to meet the needs of the Navy,” said Levesque. “In the Navy, you serve where you are needed and do your best to accomplish the task and mission that you are given.”
Levesque is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I joined the Navy because one of my best friends growing up, Luke Ryan, intercepted me from the Marine Corps recruiter,” said Levesque. “I was going to go into the Marines but he encouraged me to meet with a Navy recruiter. He had just joined the Navy and we attempted to do the buddy program together. We were in Pensacola together and then he became a CTA. He went to a San Antonio Air Force base and passed away in a vehicle accident on duty. I always carry that with me and remember him during some difficult times.”