OAK HARBOR, Wash. – Petty Officer 2nd Class Garrett Beedle, a native of Redding, California, joined the Navy to provide direction.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Emilia Hilliard |
“The people here are what make the command what it is,” said Beedle. "Everyone is friendly and motivated to be here and there's never been a time I asked a question and haven't been able to get an answer."
Beedle, a 2015 graduate of Shasta High School, 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 electronic warfare aboard the P-8,” said Beedle.
Beedle credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons he learned in Redding.
“Growing up in Redding, my father taught me to take responsibility for your actions,” said Beedle. "It's helped me while serving because I'm responsible for my performance."
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.
“Working with the P-8 allows you to go to cool places,” said Beedle. "I love the technology aboard the aircraft as well."
Serving in the Navy means Beedle 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, Beedle is most proud of earning his naval air warfare specialist pin.
“It took a year of studying, simulators, flights and boards,” said Beedle.
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Beedle 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 carrying on a tradition of Naval service that others have done before me,” said Beedle.