OAK HARBOR, Wash. – Petty Officer 2nd Class Ariana Crosby, a native of Priest River, Idaho, joined the Navy to travel the world.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Emilia Hilliard |
“The people are the best part of the command,” said Crosby. "It's a big family."
Crosby, a 2014 graduate of Priest River Lamana High School, with VP-46, a high-tech maritime patrol and reconnaissance squadron, is tasked with monitoring the world’s oceans in the state-of-the-art P-8A “Poseidon.”
“I am responsible for navigation systems,” said Crosby.
Crosby credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons she learned in Priest River.
“I learned how to talk to people and interact with people growing up," said Crosby. "You meet so many different people in the Navy that you are required to interact and be social to be successful."
VP-46'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 is so new, so the experience of learning the plane and all the new systems is exciting,” said Crosby.
Serving in the Navy means Crosby 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, Crosby is most proud of achieving the rank of second class petty officer.
“I studied and had to put in the work,” said Crosby. "It took me a few tries, but through effort and willpower I accomplished it."
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Crosby and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes contributing to the Navy the nation needs.
“I am very proud of what I do in the Navy and the accomplishments I've earned so far,” said Crosby.