OAK HARBOR, Wash. – Petty Officer 3rd Class Javoris Phillips, a native of Troy, Alabama, joined the Navy because of stories about military service from his father and grandfather.
Now, almost three years later, Phillips serves as an aviation ordnanceman with the “Screaming Eagles” of Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Squadron 1, working with the Navy’s cutting-edge maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington.
“Life at this command is very busy due to the operational tempo we have, but we all work together to accomplish our mission,” said Phillips. “We truly are a family and it shows.”
Phillips, a 2012 graduate of Smiths Station High School, serves with 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 am responsible for handling all of the Navy's ordnance,” said Phillips.
Phillips credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Troy.
“My hometown taught me the value of being dedicated,” said Phillips. “I took that lesson with me and use it as a guide to never quit.”
Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Squadron 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.
“The P-8 gives us the best patrol capabilities in the world,” said Phillips.
Serving in the Navy means Phillips 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, Phillips is most proud of earning the enlisted aviation warfare qualification.
“I'm very proud of receiving my enlisted aviation warfare qualification,” said Phillips. "Obtaining this qualification took months of hard work, dedication and a lot of studying.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Phillips 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 get to travel the world, go to school and experience other cultures first hand,” said Phillips. “That is something I've always dreamt of doing and the Navy has given me the opportunity to fulfill that dream.”
Phillips, a 2012 graduate of Smiths Station High School, serves with 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 am responsible for handling all of the Navy's ordnance,” said Phillips.
Phillips credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Troy.
“My hometown taught me the value of being dedicated,” said Phillips. “I took that lesson with me and use it as a guide to never quit.”
Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Squadron 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.
“The P-8 gives us the best patrol capabilities in the world,” said Phillips.
Serving in the Navy means Phillips 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, Phillips is most proud of earning the enlisted aviation warfare qualification.
“I'm very proud of receiving my enlisted aviation warfare qualification,” said Phillips. "Obtaining this qualification took months of hard work, dedication and a lot of studying.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Phillips 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 get to travel the world, go to school and experience other cultures first hand,” said Phillips. “That is something I've always dreamt of doing and the Navy has given me the opportunity to fulfill that dream.”