OAK HARBOR, Wash. – Airman Jakob Abney, a native of Visalia, California, joined the Navy to turn a lifelong dream into reality.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Emilia Hilliard |
“The people I work with make this command what it is,” said Abney. "It really helps make the days go by."
Abney, a 2016 graduate of Mt. Whitney High School, with VP-4, 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 currently for learning the job and achieving the rate,” said Abney.
Abney credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Visalia.
“Growing up I learned to listen to what my dad says,” said Abney. "I speak to him about everything that is going on in my life and about my service."
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.
“Working with the P-8 is something new and something I wouldn't have imagined doing,” said Abney. "Growing up, I wanted to be a firefighter and now I'm working on planes."
Serving in the Navy means Abney 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, Abney is most proud of earning the distinction of being selected as Blue Jacket of the Quarter.
“To earn that, I had to work hard, I got qualifications quickly that I needed to and stepped up,” said Abney. "I worked hard and did what I was supposed to."
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Abney 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 that I get to be the person who is protecting those who sleep at night,” said Abney. "I was always told the military was the reason I could sleep safe at night and now I get to be that person."