NORFOLK, Va. - Petty Officer 3rd Class Bradley Hodges, a native of Indianapolis, Indiana, serves aboard USS George H.W. Bush, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier operating out of Norfolk, Virginia.
 |
| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Sylvie Carafiol Navy Public Affairs Support Element East |
Hodges graduated from North Putnam High School in 2016.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Indianapolis.
“Growing up playing football helped me be committed to something and put in hard work,” Hodges said. "Being part of a team incorporated really well into being part of the Navy."
Hodges joined the Navy eight years ago. Today, Hodges serves as a hospital corpsman.
“I joined the Navy because I wanted to travel and be a part of something bigger,” Hodges said.
Hodges is also on the team that serves as handlers for Lt. Cmdr. Fathom, Bush’s expeditionary facility dog. The fox red English Labrador retriever is on loan to the ship from Mutts With A Mission and serves to provide emotional support and improve morale aboard the ship. The nearly 3-year-old dog serves aboard the ship in port and at sea.
“Being a dog handler is great; I love seeing the way Fathom affects people on the boat,” Hodges said. "He is an instant stress reliever. People are always excited to see him. He brightens people’s days. People will come up and start showing us photos of their own dogs from home."
Commissioned in 2009, the aircraft carrier is named for George H.W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States and a former naval aviator. The ship was the first aircraft carrier to have its namesake participate in its christening.
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.
The Navy’s aircraft carriers are among the largest warships in the world. Bush 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.
Hodges has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“My proudest accomplishment has been getting both my warfare pins as an E-3 at my first command,” Hodges said. "It was difficult; there's a lot of stuff that goes into it."
Hodges serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation's prosperity and security.
“I love being a hospital corpsman,” Hodges said. "It’s super rewarding being able to help people and learn a lot. I want to stay in the healthcare community, so it’s a nice gateway."
Hodges is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my mother, Lynnete Ford, my grandmother, Peggy Scotten, and my best friend, HM2 Jourdan Patascil,” Hodges added. "They have always been there when I needed them. My father just passed away, so they helped a lot by being there for me and giving me advice and making sure I always had someone to talk to."