OAK HARBOR, Wash. – Airman Molly Roffman, a native of Ripon, Wisconsin, was inspired by family to join the Navy.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Emilia Hilliard |
“My dad was a Marine, and my brothers were in the Army, so I wanted to do the same thing,” said Roffman. “I wanted to join since I was little.”
Now, a year and a half after joining the Navy, Roffman 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 work environment here is busy, and you really get a sense of accomplishment from everything you do,” said Roffman.
Roffman, a 2018 graduate of Ripon High School, is an aviation structural mechanic 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 work on the whole exterior of the plane, I also service and replace tires, and hydraulic systems,” said Roffman. “I also work in the line shack, and we help launch the aircraft.”
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-8 gives us a great learning environment, since it's all very new,” said Roffman. “We all figure things out together here. You can take what you learn on this aircraft and take it directly to the civilian world."
Serving in the Navy means Roffman 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, Roffman is most proud of launching her first jet on the flight line.
“It was a whole new adrenaline rush for me, I was super happy when it happened,” said Roffman. “Everyone lifted me up after I accomplished that, especially since I wasn't achieving goals before. It was unlike anything I had ever done, and that makes me very proud.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Roffman and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes contributing to the Navy the nation needs.
“I feel like I'm representing my family by serving in the Navy,” said Roffman. “Every generation of my family has been in the military, and I'm proud to carry on that tradition.”
Now, a year and a half after joining the Navy, Roffman 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 work environment here is busy, and you really get a sense of accomplishment from everything you do,” said Roffman.
Roffman, a 2018 graduate of Ripon High School, is an aviation structural mechanic 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 work on the whole exterior of the plane, I also service and replace tires, and hydraulic systems,” said Roffman. “I also work in the line shack, and we help launch the aircraft.”
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-8 gives us a great learning environment, since it's all very new,” said Roffman. “We all figure things out together here. You can take what you learn on this aircraft and take it directly to the civilian world."
Serving in the Navy means Roffman 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, Roffman is most proud of launching her first jet on the flight line.
“It was a whole new adrenaline rush for me, I was super happy when it happened,” said Roffman. “Everyone lifted me up after I accomplished that, especially since I wasn't achieving goals before. It was unlike anything I had ever done, and that makes me very proud.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Roffman and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes contributing to the Navy the nation needs.
“I feel like I'm representing my family by serving in the Navy,” said Roffman. “Every generation of my family has been in the military, and I'm proud to carry on that tradition.”