OAK HARBOR, Wash. – Seaman Recruit Ian Patubo, a native of Oak Harbor, Washington, joined the Navy because his ambition was to always serve.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Emilia Hilliard |
“Life at this command is very awesome,” said Patubo. "They taught me to be a good sailor all the time, especially for my job."
Patubo, a 2011 graduate of Saint Joseph College Incorporated in the Philippines, serves with VP-47, 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 financial services and customer service,” said Patubo.
Patubo credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Oak Harbor.
“The lesson I learned from my hometown before I joined the Navy is how to respect people and have proper manners,” said Patubo.
VP-47'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-8 gives us the best patrol capabilities in the world,” said Patubo.
Serving in the Navy means Patubo 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, Patubo is most proud of graduating from boot camp and Navy technical schooling.
“Just those simple things allowed me to be in the Navy, which I am very proud of,” said Patubo.
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Patubo 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 to challenge myself every day,” said Patubo. "I'm proud to wear my Navy uniform every day."
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, Patubo is most proud of graduating from boot camp and Navy technical schooling.
“Just those simple things allowed me to be in the Navy, which I am very proud of,” said Patubo.
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Patubo 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 to challenge myself every day,” said Patubo. "I'm proud to wear my Navy uniform every day."