NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Petty Officer 3rd Class Joseph Bahr, a native of Brainerd, Minnesota, 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.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Sage Valarde, USS John C. Stennis |
Bahr graduated from Brainerd High School in 2011. Additionally, Bahr earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from St. Cloud State University in 2022 and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in strategic communication from Mississippi College and is expected to graduate in 2026.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Brainerd.
“I learned growing up to take advantage of new opportunities,” Bahr said. "I always knew I didn't want to stay in my hometown. I wanted to see more of what the world had to offer."
Bahr joined the Navy six years ago. Today, Bahr serves as an aviation electronics technician.
“I joined the Navy to continue serving my country and to be a part of something bigger than myself,” Bahr said.
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.
Bahr has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“My proudest accomplishment in the Navy is being someone that other people can rely on and helping my peers accomplish their goals,” Bahr said. “I have been in the military for a long time and my mindset has shifted from what I can accomplish to what we can accomplish. Working as a team will always accomplish more than just working individually.”
Bahr serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation's prosperity and security.
“Being in the Navy means I am able to serve my country and be a part of something bigger than myself,” Bahr said.
Bahr is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my wife, Angela Bahr, for being my rock,” Bahr added. “I also want to thank our daughter, Addyson Bahr, for being the coolest person that I know.”