SAN DIEGO – Petty Officer 3rd Class Owen Canterbury, a native of Canon City, Colorado, joined the Navy because he wanted to travel.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson Brown |
Now, five years later, Canterbury serves aboard one of the Navy’s amphibious ships at Naval Base San Diego.
Canterbury, a 2014 graduate of Canon City High School, is an aviation boatswain's mate handling aboard USS Essex, one of four Wasp-class amphibious assault ships in the Navy, homeported in San Diego.
“I work in crash and salvage. We fight fires on the flight deck and rescue pilots if there is a crash,” said Canterbury. “It’s fast paced, when we're underway we work long hours. We conduct flight operations every day and we work the entire flight schedule.”
Canterbury credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Canon City.
“Leadership carrying around a positive attitude have helped me a lot in the Navy,” said Canterbury.
Essex is designed to deliver U.S. Marines and their equipment where they are needed to support a variety of missions ranging from amphibious assaults to humanitarian relief efforts. Designed to be versatile, the ship has the option of simultaneously using helicopters, Harrier jets, and Landing Craft Air Cushioned (LCAC), as well as conventional landing craft and assault vehicles in various combinations.
Because of their inherent capabilities, these ships have been and will continue to be called upon to support humanitarian and other contingency missions on short notice.
Sailors' jobs are highly varied aboard Essex. More than 1,000 men and women make up the ship's crew, which keeps all parts of the ship running smoothly, from handling weaponry to maintaining the engines. An additional 1,200 Marines can be embarked.
“It’s interesting, networking with the Marines getting to see how other services do things,” said Canterbury.
Serving in the Navy means Canterbury is part of a world that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
America is a maritime nation, and 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.
“Our priorities center on people, capabilities and processes, and will be achieved by our focus on speed, value, results and partnerships,” said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. “Readiness, lethality and modernization are the requirements driving these priorities.”
Though there are many ways for sailors to earn distinction in their command, community, and career, Canterbury is most proud of being a qualified leading petty officer as a third class petty officer and being dual warfare qualified, earning his Air Warfare and Information Dominance Warfare pins.
“It's a lot of hard work and I’m proud to have finished it very quickly,” said Canterbury.
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Canterbury and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes contributing to the Navy the nation needs.
“Serving in the Navy means getting to do things normal people wouldn't get to do," said Canterbury. "I've been to Thailand, Dubai, Malaysia, Qatar, Hong Kong and a lot of other places.”
Canterbury, a 2014 graduate of Canon City High School, is an aviation boatswain's mate handling aboard USS Essex, one of four Wasp-class amphibious assault ships in the Navy, homeported in San Diego.
“I work in crash and salvage. We fight fires on the flight deck and rescue pilots if there is a crash,” said Canterbury. “It’s fast paced, when we're underway we work long hours. We conduct flight operations every day and we work the entire flight schedule.”
Canterbury credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Canon City.
“Leadership carrying around a positive attitude have helped me a lot in the Navy,” said Canterbury.
Essex is designed to deliver U.S. Marines and their equipment where they are needed to support a variety of missions ranging from amphibious assaults to humanitarian relief efforts. Designed to be versatile, the ship has the option of simultaneously using helicopters, Harrier jets, and Landing Craft Air Cushioned (LCAC), as well as conventional landing craft and assault vehicles in various combinations.
Because of their inherent capabilities, these ships have been and will continue to be called upon to support humanitarian and other contingency missions on short notice.
Sailors' jobs are highly varied aboard Essex. More than 1,000 men and women make up the ship's crew, which keeps all parts of the ship running smoothly, from handling weaponry to maintaining the engines. An additional 1,200 Marines can be embarked.
“It’s interesting, networking with the Marines getting to see how other services do things,” said Canterbury.
Serving in the Navy means Canterbury is part of a world that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
America is a maritime nation, and 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.
“Our priorities center on people, capabilities and processes, and will be achieved by our focus on speed, value, results and partnerships,” said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. “Readiness, lethality and modernization are the requirements driving these priorities.”
Though there are many ways for sailors to earn distinction in their command, community, and career, Canterbury is most proud of being a qualified leading petty officer as a third class petty officer and being dual warfare qualified, earning his Air Warfare and Information Dominance Warfare pins.
“It's a lot of hard work and I’m proud to have finished it very quickly,” said Canterbury.
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Canterbury and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes contributing to the Navy the nation needs.
“Serving in the Navy means getting to do things normal people wouldn't get to do," said Canterbury. "I've been to Thailand, Dubai, Malaysia, Qatar, Hong Kong and a lot of other places.”