ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam – A 2016 New Smyrna Beach High School graduate and New Smyrna Beach, Florida, native is serving in the U.S. Navy with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25 on the island of Guam.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Ashlee Foss is a logistics specialist serving with HSC 25, known as the “Island Knights,” a versatile squadron that’s capable of completing a number of important missions for the Navy with the MH-60S “Seahawk” helicopter.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Ashlee Foss is a logistics specialist serving with HSC 25, known as the “Island Knights,” a versatile squadron that’s capable of completing a number of important missions for the Navy with the MH-60S “Seahawk” helicopter.
A logistics specialist is responsible for ensuring the command has all parts available for the aircraft. Additionally, Foss launches aircraft from the flight deck of vessels, maintains cargo loads to include ordnance and supplies to be vertically replenished to a carrier strike group.
"When not performing in an operational aspect, I use my spare time receiving qualifications to include aviation warfare specialist, break rider, fuel surveillance, and safety observer," said Foss. "All these combined greatly increase the proficiency and flexibility of my unit but most of all puts a smile on my face."
Foss credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in New Smyrna Beach.
“My hometown taught me it takes a village to raise a child," said Foss. "The positive influence and caring neighbors of my small community really laid the foundation for successful life decisions. I would not be where I am today without that foundation.”
HSC 25 is the first and only forward-deployed vertical replenishment (VERTREP) squadron in the Navy and is tasked with supporting Seventh Fleet units in the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, North Arabian Sea, and Persian Gulf. To provide this support, HSC-25 embarks two-aircraft detachments aboard Military Sealift Command vessels which provide transportation of equipment, fuel, supplies and ammunition to sustain U.S. forces worldwide.
They are the only Navy squadron based at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.
In addition to VERTREP, HSC-25 provides 24-hour Search-and-Rescue/Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) services for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. Averaging more than 30 rescues and 70 MEDEVACs per year, HSC-25 also conducts airborne firefighting using externally-carried buckets, Vertical Onboard Delivery (VOD), drone and torpedo recovery, special operations airborne support, and fleet logistics support for all military activities in the Guam area, including the Maritime Prepositioned Ships operating in the local area.
“The most rewarding part about serving at HSC-25 is the ability to see the impact of what we do on the surrounding communities," Foss said. "I think back on how a hurricane affected our local Marianas Islands and HSC 25 banded together to collect and deliver food, water and necessary supplies to help recover from this tragedy. This selflessness is the most rewarding aspect of this duty station.”
According to officials at the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Fleet headquarters in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, the ships, submarines, aircraft and Navy personnel forward-deployed to Guam are part of the world’s largest fleet command and serve in a region critical to U.S. national security. The U.S. Pacific Fleet encompasses 100 million square miles, nearly half the Earth’s surface, from Antarctica to the Arctic Circle and from the West Coast of the United States into the Indian Ocean. All told, there are more than 200 ships and submarines, nearly 1,200 aircraft, and more than 130,000 uniformed and civilian personnel serving in the Pacific.
Serving in the Navy means Foss 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, Foss is most proud of being meritoriously promoted to petty officer third class by a board os senior enlisted sailors and officers.
“To receive that accomplishment I had sustained superior performance both in and out of my primary job," said Foss. "I am proud of that achievement because it puts me in a leadership role and allows me to mentor fellow shipmates.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Foss and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes, one that will provide a critical component of the Navy the nation needs.
“Serving in the Navy means I'm making my family proud," added Foss. "A handful of my family members have served in the United States Navy including my grandfather who was a quartermaster in WWII. He passed away when I was very young but I think about him a lot and I know he would be proud of me if he was here today.”
"When not performing in an operational aspect, I use my spare time receiving qualifications to include aviation warfare specialist, break rider, fuel surveillance, and safety observer," said Foss. "All these combined greatly increase the proficiency and flexibility of my unit but most of all puts a smile on my face."
Foss credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in New Smyrna Beach.
“My hometown taught me it takes a village to raise a child," said Foss. "The positive influence and caring neighbors of my small community really laid the foundation for successful life decisions. I would not be where I am today without that foundation.”
HSC 25 is the first and only forward-deployed vertical replenishment (VERTREP) squadron in the Navy and is tasked with supporting Seventh Fleet units in the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, North Arabian Sea, and Persian Gulf. To provide this support, HSC-25 embarks two-aircraft detachments aboard Military Sealift Command vessels which provide transportation of equipment, fuel, supplies and ammunition to sustain U.S. forces worldwide.
They are the only Navy squadron based at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.
In addition to VERTREP, HSC-25 provides 24-hour Search-and-Rescue/Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) services for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. Averaging more than 30 rescues and 70 MEDEVACs per year, HSC-25 also conducts airborne firefighting using externally-carried buckets, Vertical Onboard Delivery (VOD), drone and torpedo recovery, special operations airborne support, and fleet logistics support for all military activities in the Guam area, including the Maritime Prepositioned Ships operating in the local area.
“The most rewarding part about serving at HSC-25 is the ability to see the impact of what we do on the surrounding communities," Foss said. "I think back on how a hurricane affected our local Marianas Islands and HSC 25 banded together to collect and deliver food, water and necessary supplies to help recover from this tragedy. This selflessness is the most rewarding aspect of this duty station.”
According to officials at the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Fleet headquarters in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, the ships, submarines, aircraft and Navy personnel forward-deployed to Guam are part of the world’s largest fleet command and serve in a region critical to U.S. national security. The U.S. Pacific Fleet encompasses 100 million square miles, nearly half the Earth’s surface, from Antarctica to the Arctic Circle and from the West Coast of the United States into the Indian Ocean. All told, there are more than 200 ships and submarines, nearly 1,200 aircraft, and more than 130,000 uniformed and civilian personnel serving in the Pacific.
Serving in the Navy means Foss 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, Foss is most proud of being meritoriously promoted to petty officer third class by a board os senior enlisted sailors and officers.
“To receive that accomplishment I had sustained superior performance both in and out of my primary job," said Foss. "I am proud of that achievement because it puts me in a leadership role and allows me to mentor fellow shipmates.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Foss and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes, one that will provide a critical component of the Navy the nation needs.
“Serving in the Navy means I'm making my family proud," added Foss. "A handful of my family members have served in the United States Navy including my grandfather who was a quartermaster in WWII. He passed away when I was very young but I think about him a lot and I know he would be proud of me if he was here today.”