By Navy Office of Community Outreach
OAK HARBOR, Wash. – Petty Officer 3rd Class Shin Bost, a native of Fayetteville, North Carolina, joined the Navy to carry on a family legacy of service.
Now, two years later, Bost serves as an aviation ordnanceman with the “Screaming Eagles” of Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Squadron 1, working with the Navy’s cutting-edge maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington.
“We work together and as a team get the job done,” said Bost.
Bost, a 2017 graduate of Terry Sanford High School, with Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Squadron 1, serves with 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 am responsible for loading and handling ordnance,” said Bost.
Bost credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Fayetteville.
“My hometown taught me the value of respect,” said Bost. “I apply myself to show respect to everyone every day.”
Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Squadron 1'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.
“The P-8A gives us the best patrol capabilities in the world,” said Bost.
Serving in the Navy means Bost 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, Bost is most proud of achieving the rank of third class petty officer.
“I studied hard and worked hard to get a good evaluation to make rank,” said Bost.
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Bost 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 protecting my country to the best of my abilities,” said Bost. “And getting to travel and see the world.”