OAK HARBOR, Wash. – Petty Officer 3rd Class Caleb Fisher, a native of Amarillo, Texas, was ready for a change of pace in life, and also wanted to go out and see the world, so he joined the Navy.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Emilia Hilliard |
Now, three years later, Fisher serves with the “Skinny Dragons” of VP-4, working with the Navy’s cutting-edge maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington.
“This squadron has a good mentality about mission integrity and training,” said Fisher. “We also have a good family dynamic, everyone is close and helps each other get the job done.”
Fisher, a 2015 graduate of Taescosa High School, is an aviation machinist's mate with VP-4, a high-tech maritime patrol and reconnaissance squadron tasked with monitoring the world’s oceans in the state-of-the-art P-8A “Poseidon.”
“I'm responsible for keeping the engines and fuel systems ready to fly in the aircraft, and for fixing those systems when they don't work,” said Fisher.
Fisher credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Amarillo.
“The value of integrity has always been important to me,” said Fisher. “My parents and grandparents gave that to me, and it's been very valuable in the Navy.”
VP-4's primary mission is to conduct maritime patrol and reconnaissance as well as long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and intelligence gathering missions. They deploy around the world to monitor the world’s oceans wherever they are needed.
The P-8A Poseidon, the Navy’s newest maritime, patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, is a replacement aircraft for the legacy P-3C “Orion”. According to Navy officials, leveraging the experience and technology of the successful P-3C “Orion” with the needs of the fleet, the P-8A is designed to be combat-capable, and to improve an operator’s ability to efficiently conduct anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface warfare; and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
As the Navy transitions to the full capacity with the P-8A “Poseidon”, the aircraft continues the work- horse tradition established by the P-3C “Orion”. The P-8A has a planned state-of-the-art open architecture mission system and next-generation sensors. These capabilities give warfighters added protection. The aircraft empowers the fleet with more combat capability, responsiveness, and interoperability with traditional manned forces and evolving unmanned sensors. The P-8A “Poseidon” has significant growth potential, with planned, phased-in technological improvements that extend global reach, payload capacity and higher-operating altitude.
“This aircraft is a learning experience since it's new to us, and the capabilities are great,” said Fisher.
Serving in the Navy means Fisher 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.
A key element of the Navy the nation needs is tied to the fact that America is a maritime nation, 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.
“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, Fisher is most proud of becoming an aviation machinist's mate
“Finally getting a job that I was comfortable in and enjoyed doing made me very proud,” said Fisher.
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Fisher and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes contributing to the Navy the nation needs.
“I was ready for a change, and the Navy has provided me that change,” said Fisher. “I get to do a job that I love to do, that no one at home can really say they do. I work on aircraft for the Navy, and I'm really proud of that.”
“This squadron has a good mentality about mission integrity and training,” said Fisher. “We also have a good family dynamic, everyone is close and helps each other get the job done.”
Fisher, a 2015 graduate of Taescosa High School, is an aviation machinist's mate with VP-4, a high-tech maritime patrol and reconnaissance squadron tasked with monitoring the world’s oceans in the state-of-the-art P-8A “Poseidon.”
“I'm responsible for keeping the engines and fuel systems ready to fly in the aircraft, and for fixing those systems when they don't work,” said Fisher.
Fisher credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Amarillo.
“The value of integrity has always been important to me,” said Fisher. “My parents and grandparents gave that to me, and it's been very valuable in the Navy.”
VP-4's primary mission is to conduct maritime patrol and reconnaissance as well as long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and intelligence gathering missions. They deploy around the world to monitor the world’s oceans wherever they are needed.
The P-8A Poseidon, the Navy’s newest maritime, patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, is a replacement aircraft for the legacy P-3C “Orion”. According to Navy officials, leveraging the experience and technology of the successful P-3C “Orion” with the needs of the fleet, the P-8A is designed to be combat-capable, and to improve an operator’s ability to efficiently conduct anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface warfare; and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
As the Navy transitions to the full capacity with the P-8A “Poseidon”, the aircraft continues the work- horse tradition established by the P-3C “Orion”. The P-8A has a planned state-of-the-art open architecture mission system and next-generation sensors. These capabilities give warfighters added protection. The aircraft empowers the fleet with more combat capability, responsiveness, and interoperability with traditional manned forces and evolving unmanned sensors. The P-8A “Poseidon” has significant growth potential, with planned, phased-in technological improvements that extend global reach, payload capacity and higher-operating altitude.
“This aircraft is a learning experience since it's new to us, and the capabilities are great,” said Fisher.
Serving in the Navy means Fisher 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.
A key element of the Navy the nation needs is tied to the fact that America is a maritime nation, 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.
“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, Fisher is most proud of becoming an aviation machinist's mate
“Finally getting a job that I was comfortable in and enjoyed doing made me very proud,” said Fisher.
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Fisher and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes contributing to the Navy the nation needs.
“I was ready for a change, and the Navy has provided me that change,” said Fisher. “I get to do a job that I love to do, that no one at home can really say they do. I work on aircraft for the Navy, and I'm really proud of that.”