By Kayla Good, Navy Office of Community Outreach
BANGOR, Wash. – A 2012
Fruita Monument High School graduate and Grand Junction, Colorado native
is serving in the U.S. Navy as part of a crew working aboard one of the world’s
most advanced ballistic missile submarines, the USS Henry M. Jackson.
Petty Officer 3rd
Class Alex Hundtoft is an
electronics technician (radio) serving aboard the Bangor-based boat, one of 14 Ohio-class ballistic missile
submarines.
A
Navy electronics technician is responsible for electronic equipment used to
send and receive messaged. They maintain all electronic equipment used for
communications on and off the ship.
“This job has allowed me the
opportunity to see so much,” said Hundtoft. “I like that this sub is a
strategic asset and my job is vital to ensuring that we are ready to receive a
launch order, which I hope never happens. That’s the whole point of my job
though, to train for that worst case scenario.”
Measuring
560 feet long, 42 feet wide and weighing more than 16,500 tons, a
nuclear-powered propulsion system helps push the ship through the water at more
than 20 knots.
The
Navy's ballistic missile submarines, often referred to as "boomers,"
serve as a strategic deterrent by providing an undetectable platform for submarine
launched ballistic missiles. They are designed specifically for stealth,
extended patrols and the precise delivery of missiles if directed by the
President. The Ohio-class design allows the submarines to operate for 15 or
more years between major overhauls. On average, the submarines spend 77 days at
sea followed by 35 days in-port for maintenance.
According to Navy
officials, current ballistic missile submarines, commissioned between 1987 and
1997, are reaching their end of life. Leveraging more than 50 years of
ballistic missile submarine design and operational experience, the Ohio
replacement submarine will be a cost-effective recapitalization of sea-based strategic
deterrence. The Ohio replacement also leverages Virginia class submarine
capabilities.
Lead Ohio Replacement
construction must begin in 2021 in order for the first new submarine to commence
its first strategic patrol in 2031, Navy officials explained. Ohio replacement ballistic missile submarines
will provide the nation’s survivable nuclear deterrent through the 2080s. The
plan includes 12 Ohio replacement submarines, each with 16 TRIDENT II (D5)
missiles and a 42-year service life. The 12 Ohio replacement submarines provide
the same at-sea presence as 14 original Ohio submarines saving $20B (CY10) over
the life of the class.
"Every day I am
extremely proud to lead and serve alongside the exceptionally talented men and
women of the submarine force," said Capt. Mark Schmall, commodore of
Submarine Squadron 17, of Bangor, Washington. "Our team is filled with
dedicated, hardworking, and highly qualified professionals who hold uncommon
levels of responsibility and accountability in support of our nation's
strategic deterrence mission. Their work ethic, commitment, and enthusiasm are
second to none!"
Hundtoft is part of the boat's Gold crew, one of the two rotating crews,
which allow the ship to be deployed on missions more often without taxing one
crew too much. A typical crew on this submarine is approximately 150 officers and
enlisted sailors.
“Serving aboard this submarine takes normal, every day situations and puts them into perspective,” said Hundtoft. “I have also been lucky to serve here and meet great people.”
A key
element of the Navy’s mission is tied to the fact that America is a maritime
nation, according to Navy officials, and that the nation’s prosperity is tied
to the ability to operate freely on the world’s oceans. More than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface
is covered by water; 80 percent of the world’s population lives close to a
coast; and 90 percent of all global trade by volume travels by sea.
U.S. strategic
deterrence promotes global stability by preventing coercion by threat of
nuclear attack, helping prevent proliferation of nuclear weapons, and assuring
non-nuclear allies and partners the U.S. will respond if attacked, according to
Navy officials. The ballistic missile submarine force is the survivable leg of
the U.S. nuclear triad. A survivable
deterrent can impose unacceptable consequences even after being attacked.
Ballistic missile submarines will be responsible for ~70% of deployed nuclear
warheads under the New START.
Ballistic missile
submarines are an effective sea-based strategic deterrent because submarines are
undetectable when submerged and provide adequate range to allow operations far
from adversaries in broad ocean areas, Navy officials explained. The new
submarines are designed with state-of-the-art stealth to remain undetectable
into the 2080s.
According
to Navy officials, because of the demanding environment aboard submarines,
personnel are accepted only after rigorous testing and observation. Submariners
are some of the most highly trained and skilled people in the Navy. The
training is highly technical, and each crew has to be able to operate,
maintain, and repair every system or piece of equipment on board. Regardless of their specialty, everyone also
has to learn how everything on the ship works and how to respond in emergencies
to become “qualified in submarines” and earn the right to wear the coveted gold
or silver dolphins on their uniform.
Challenging submarine living conditions build strong
fellowship among the elite crew, Navy officials explained. The crews are highly
motivated, and quickly adapt to changing conditions. It is a busy life of specialized work,
watches, and drills.
“Serving in the Navy has been a stepping stone for
bettering myself,” added Hundtoft. “It has allowed me to pursue college and
gain experience from the fast paced job.”