NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Petty Officer 3rd Class Jason Romo, a native of Arizona City, Arizona, serves aboard USS John C. Stennis, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier operating out of Newport News, Virginia. Aircraft carriers are among the largest warships in the world.
 |
| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Alexander Morneau, Navy Public Affairs Support Element East |
Romo graduated from Florence High School in 2020.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Arizona City.
“I learned early on that it takes teamwork to get things done, and working together is what the Navy is all about,” Romo said. "It doesn't matter how good one person is; no one can do everything by themselves."
Romo joined the Navy four years ago. Today, Romo serves as a hull maintenance technician.
“I joined the Navy to be the first in my family to enlist in the military,” Romo said. "It has made my family proud and I have no regrets."
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. USS John C. Stennis is longer than three football fields at 1,092 feet. The ship is 252 feet wide and weighs more than 100,000 tons. More than 5,000 sailors serve aboard these self-contained mobile airports.
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.
Romo has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“My proudest accomplishment was when we were able to remove and cap over 200 heat exchangers in a year,” Romo said. "That was teamwork at its best and I was proud to be a part of it."
Romo 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 I am serving a purpose greater than myself,” Romo said.
Romo is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my parents, Jose and Yvette Martinez, for guiding me to make good decisions and supporting my Navy career,” Romo said.
“My plan now is to leave the Navy after this enlistment,” Romo added. "I've been going to college for a degree in computer science, so I'll stay in long enough to finish it."