By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson G. Brown, Navy Office of Community Outreach
OAK HARBOR, Wash. – Petty Officer 3rd Class Justin Peterman, a native of Snohomish, Washington, Wanted a new opportunity for his life.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Marc Cuenca |
Now, two and a half years after joining the Navy, Peterman serves with the “Screaming Eagles” of Maritime Patrol Squadron (VP) 1, working with the Navy’s cutting-edge maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington.
“There's a lot of studying and simulation involved with what we do, which gets us qualified,” said Peterman. “That's important to getting our mission accomplished.”
Peterman, a 2014 graduate of Everett High School, is a naval aircrewman with VP-1, 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 an aircrewman on the P-8, and I track submarines from the aircraft,” said Peterman.
Peterman credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Snohomish.
“I learned the value of never giving up when I was growing up, and that has helped me in the Navy,” said Peterman.
VP-1'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.
“We work with officers hand-in-hand, and we also get to fly with them,” said Peterman. “It's a very unique environment that I enjoy.”
Serving in the Navy means Peterman 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, Peterman is most proud of getting through his various aircrewman training to where he is now.
“I used to quit different opportunities in my life, so being able to persevere through this rate has been great for me,” said Peterman.
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Peterman 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 I'm doing something for my country, giving instead of taking,” said Peterman. “Someone has to do this job, and I take pride in it.”