OAK HARBOR, Wash. – Chief Petty Officer Jeremy Wakeman, a native of Jordan, New York, wanted more out of his life.
“I felt pretty stagnant in my lifestyle, so I wanted a change,” said Wakeman. “I wanted to travel the world, and the Navy gave me that opportunity.”
Now, nine years after joining the Navy, Wakeman serves with the “Skinny Dragons” of Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Squadron (VP) 4, working with the Navy’s cutting-edge maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington.
“The squadron keeps me interested, there never seems to be a dull day,” said Wakeman. “There's a lot of moving parts here, with little room for complacency, and there are many opportunities for advancement and special programs here. We also deploy to amazing locations.”
Wakeman, a 2006 graduate of Jordan Elbridge Senior High School, is an aviation electrician'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 an aircraft electrician,” said Wakeman. “I maintain and troubleshoot discrepancies related to aircraft flight systems, engine systems and the autopilot system, as well as perform wire repair.”
Wakeman credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Jordan.
“I learned the importance of treating people with dignity and respect growing up,” said Wakeman. “I've kept that bearing throughout my career, and it's carried me far 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.
“The P-3 has been around for so long that we used to think we had the whole plane figured out,” said Wakeman. “On the P-8, we have to learn the entire aircraft over again, so the learning curve is still there, but we've been working together to learn the aircraft.”
Serving in the Navy means Wakeman 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, Wakeman is most proud of becoming a chief petty officer
“Becoming a chief is considered the biggest career milestone in the Navy, and I take great pride in that,” said Wakeman. “When you make chief, you're now a part of a group of very high quality people who work together to get things done. I'm a part of a brotherhood now, and the camaraderie is unmatched in the chief's mess.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Wakeman 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 that I am contributing to a greater good that's much bigger than myself,” said Wakeman.
Now, nine years after joining the Navy, Wakeman serves with the “Skinny Dragons” of Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Squadron (VP) 4, working with the Navy’s cutting-edge maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington.
“The squadron keeps me interested, there never seems to be a dull day,” said Wakeman. “There's a lot of moving parts here, with little room for complacency, and there are many opportunities for advancement and special programs here. We also deploy to amazing locations.”
Wakeman, a 2006 graduate of Jordan Elbridge Senior High School, is an aviation electrician'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 an aircraft electrician,” said Wakeman. “I maintain and troubleshoot discrepancies related to aircraft flight systems, engine systems and the autopilot system, as well as perform wire repair.”
Wakeman credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Jordan.
“I learned the importance of treating people with dignity and respect growing up,” said Wakeman. “I've kept that bearing throughout my career, and it's carried me far 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.
“The P-3 has been around for so long that we used to think we had the whole plane figured out,” said Wakeman. “On the P-8, we have to learn the entire aircraft over again, so the learning curve is still there, but we've been working together to learn the aircraft.”
Serving in the Navy means Wakeman 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, Wakeman is most proud of becoming a chief petty officer
“Becoming a chief is considered the biggest career milestone in the Navy, and I take great pride in that,” said Wakeman. “When you make chief, you're now a part of a group of very high quality people who work together to get things done. I'm a part of a brotherhood now, and the camaraderie is unmatched in the chief's mess.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Wakeman 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 that I am contributing to a greater good that's much bigger than myself,” said Wakeman.