OAK HARBOR, Wash. – Petty Officer 2nd Class Mark Kido, a native of Kailua, Hawaii, joined the Navy for stability and opportunity.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Emilia Hilliard |
“Life in at this command is amazing,” said Kido. "Our command operates from three different locations giving me the opportunity to see the world. It is quick turn around from each location, so you never have time to be bored."
Kido, a 2004 graduate of Assets School, is an aviation structural mechanic with VQ-1, a state-of-the-art intelligence-gathering squadron flying the EP-3 “Aires,” a variant of the venerable P-3C “Orion.”
“In the simplest terms, I am responsible for safety of the aircrew,” said Kido.
Kido credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Kailua.
“The laid back attitude of Hawaii has given me the ability to handle the pressures of the naval aviation and take it in stride,” said Kido.
Members of VQ-1 conduct reconnaissance as well as intelligence-gathering missions. They deploy around the world to monitor the world’s oceans wherever they are needed.
The EP-3 “Aires” is a land-based, long-range, signals intelligence-gathering aircraft. It is a variant of the P-3C “Orion,” which has been in operation since the 1960s. They are still in service and performing missions all over the world.
Serving in the Navy means Kido 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, Kido is most proud of becoming qualified to as a troubleshooter on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier.
“There was a lot of training and hands on learning,” said Kido. "Going from a flight line to an actual carrier was awesome."
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Kido 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 serving the people of America,” said Kido. "Fighting for what this country was built on: freedom and democracy."