SAN DIEGO - Petty Officer 2nd Class Raine King, a native of Council Bluffs, Iowa, serves aboard USS Abraham Lincoln, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier operating out of San Diego, California.
King graduated from Lewis Central High School in 2020.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Council Bluffs.
“I started working when I was 13 or 14, and that taught me how to adapt quickly in any environment,” King said. “I also learned people skills and public speaking, which has helped me in the lead petty officer (LPO) role because I have to communicate effectively with my sailors.”
King joined the Navy five years ago. Today, King serves as a cryptologic technician (technical).
“I joined the Navy for the education benefits and because I didn’t want to stay in Iowa my whole life,” King said. “My neighbor, Dylan Rose, also inspired me to join. He was in the Army. I had a buddy who was in the Marine Corps, but I knew I wasn’t going to be a Marine. The Navy recruiter was the best we had, and now here I am.”
 |
| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Joey Sitter, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West |
King graduated from Lewis Central High School in 2020.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Council Bluffs.
“I started working when I was 13 or 14, and that taught me how to adapt quickly in any environment,” King said. “I also learned people skills and public speaking, which has helped me in the lead petty officer (LPO) role because I have to communicate effectively with my sailors.”
King joined the Navy five years ago. Today, King serves as a cryptologic technician (technical).
“I joined the Navy for the education benefits and because I didn’t want to stay in Iowa my whole life,” King said. “My neighbor, Dylan Rose, also inspired me to join. He was in the Army. I had a buddy who was in the Marine Corps, but I knew I wasn’t going to be a Marine. The Navy recruiter was the best we had, and now here I am.”
Aircraft carriers are the centerpiece of America’s Naval forces. For more than 100 years, they have projected power, sustained sea control, bolstered deterrence, provided humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and maintained enduring commitments worldwide.
According to Navy officials, aircraft carriers are versatile and have unique mission capabilities that make them a more strategic asset for the Navy than fixed-site bases. They are often the first response in a global crisis because of their ability to operate freely in international waters anywhere on the world’s oceans. In addition, no other weapon system can deploy and operate forward with a full-sized aircraft carrier’s speed, endurance, agility and combat capability of its air wing.
The U.S. Navy is celebrating its 250th birthday this year.
According to Navy officials, “America is a maritime nation and for 250 years, America’s Warfighting Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom.”
With 90% 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 recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
King has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“My proudest accomplishment in the Navy is being given the opportunity to take over as a lead petty officer,” King said. “My leadership skills have developed exponentially, and it is great to see my sailors succeed because I feel like I am succeeding as well. I am also proud of earning a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for being the LPO during a ship maintenance period where my team did several jobs on the ship, a lot of which were pulled from other departments.”
King serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“Serving in the Navy means camaraderie and tradition,” King said. “A big reason I picked the Navy over other branches is because the Navy has the most tradition. I love it because it brings a certain brotherhood that you can’t find in other branches. We are living together, working day in and day out, 109 days out to sea. It is a unique experience that, unless you’ve done it, you wouldn’t understand. I’d take a bullet for any one of my sailors.”
King is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my parents, Heather and Aaron King, for signing my permission slip to join the Navy when I was 17 because I wouldn’t have been able to do this without them,” King added. “I also want to thank my good friend, Jonah Wubben, for being there for me through everything. Lastly, I want to thank all my teachers back home for their support and appreciation.”
According to Navy officials, “America is a maritime nation and for 250 years, America’s Warfighting Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom.”
With 90% 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 recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
King has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“My proudest accomplishment in the Navy is being given the opportunity to take over as a lead petty officer,” King said. “My leadership skills have developed exponentially, and it is great to see my sailors succeed because I feel like I am succeeding as well. I am also proud of earning a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for being the LPO during a ship maintenance period where my team did several jobs on the ship, a lot of which were pulled from other departments.”
King serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“Serving in the Navy means camaraderie and tradition,” King said. “A big reason I picked the Navy over other branches is because the Navy has the most tradition. I love it because it brings a certain brotherhood that you can’t find in other branches. We are living together, working day in and day out, 109 days out to sea. It is a unique experience that, unless you’ve done it, you wouldn’t understand. I’d take a bullet for any one of my sailors.”
King is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my parents, Heather and Aaron King, for signing my permission slip to join the Navy when I was 17 because I wouldn’t have been able to do this without them,” King added. “I also want to thank my good friend, Jonah Wubben, for being there for me through everything. Lastly, I want to thank all my teachers back home for their support and appreciation.”