SAN DIEGO – Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Tanner, a native of Richton Park, Illinois, serves the U.S. Navy as a member of Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 50, located in San Diego, California.
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Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Sang Kim, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West |
Tanner joined the Navy 16 years ago. Today, Tanner serves as a personal specialist with Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron.
“I joined the Navy because I couldn’t afford college and I didn’t want to put a financial burden on my family,” said Tanner. “I had no direction, and didn’t know what I wanted to do in my life.”
Growing up in Richton Park, Tanner attended Rich Central and graduated in 2006. Today, Tanner relies upon skills and values similar to those found in Richton Park to succeed in the military.
“Growing up, I learned to be receptive to different types of people because you never know what kind of impact they may have on your life,” said Tanner.
These lessons have helped Tanner while serving in the Navy.
The CMV-22B is the Navy’s version of the U.S. Marines’ V-22 Osprey. It is designed to replace the C-2A Greyhound, which has provided logistical support to aircraft carriers for four decades.
CMV-22Bs are vertical takeoff and landing tilt-rotor aircraft, which have an increased operational range, faster cargo loading/unloading, increased survivability and enhanced communications compared to the C-2A Greyhound.
According to Navy officials, the mission of the CMV-22B is to provide timely, persistent air logistics for sustained carrier strike group lethality, anywhere in the world.
Serving in the Navy means Tanner is part of a world that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on strengthening alliances, modernizing capabilities, increasing capacities and maintaining military readiness in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“The Navy is important to national defense because we keep the sea lanes open to free trade around the world,” said Tanner.
With more than 90 percent of all trade traveling by sea, and 95 percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic carried through fiber optic cables lying on the ocean floor, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity and security of the United States is directly linked to ready sailors and a strong Navy.
“Maintaining the world’s best Navy is an investment in the security and prosperity of the United States, as well as the stability of our world,” said Adm. Mike Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations. “The U.S. Navy—forward deployed and integrated with all elements of national power—deters conflict, strengthens our alliances and partnerships, and guarantees free and open access to the world’s oceans. As the United States responds to the security environment through integrated deterrence, our Navy must continue to deploy forward and campaign with a ready, capable, combat-credible fleet.”
“The Surface Force will continue to meet the challenge of strategic competition and respond to the realities of the modern security environment,” said Vice Adm. Roy Kitchener, commander of naval surface forces. “Our efforts are critical to preserve freedom of the seas, deter aggression and win wars.”
Tanner and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“I’m most proud of the time I saved someone's life,” said Tanner. “During barracks inspections, we found a sailor trying to harm himself. We intervened, called an ambulance, and got him the help he needed.”
As Tanner and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“Serving in the Navy has given me a huge sense of belonging,” added Tanner. “I have had a huge impact on a lot of people's lives, which has given me a sense of self-fulfillment. I genuinely love helping people with the work that I do.”
“I joined the Navy because I couldn’t afford college and I didn’t want to put a financial burden on my family,” said Tanner. “I had no direction, and didn’t know what I wanted to do in my life.”
Growing up in Richton Park, Tanner attended Rich Central and graduated in 2006. Today, Tanner relies upon skills and values similar to those found in Richton Park to succeed in the military.
“Growing up, I learned to be receptive to different types of people because you never know what kind of impact they may have on your life,” said Tanner.
These lessons have helped Tanner while serving in the Navy.
The CMV-22B is the Navy’s version of the U.S. Marines’ V-22 Osprey. It is designed to replace the C-2A Greyhound, which has provided logistical support to aircraft carriers for four decades.
CMV-22Bs are vertical takeoff and landing tilt-rotor aircraft, which have an increased operational range, faster cargo loading/unloading, increased survivability and enhanced communications compared to the C-2A Greyhound.
According to Navy officials, the mission of the CMV-22B is to provide timely, persistent air logistics for sustained carrier strike group lethality, anywhere in the world.
Serving in the Navy means Tanner is part of a world that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on strengthening alliances, modernizing capabilities, increasing capacities and maintaining military readiness in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“The Navy is important to national defense because we keep the sea lanes open to free trade around the world,” said Tanner.
With more than 90 percent of all trade traveling by sea, and 95 percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic carried through fiber optic cables lying on the ocean floor, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity and security of the United States is directly linked to ready sailors and a strong Navy.
“Maintaining the world’s best Navy is an investment in the security and prosperity of the United States, as well as the stability of our world,” said Adm. Mike Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations. “The U.S. Navy—forward deployed and integrated with all elements of national power—deters conflict, strengthens our alliances and partnerships, and guarantees free and open access to the world’s oceans. As the United States responds to the security environment through integrated deterrence, our Navy must continue to deploy forward and campaign with a ready, capable, combat-credible fleet.”
“The Surface Force will continue to meet the challenge of strategic competition and respond to the realities of the modern security environment,” said Vice Adm. Roy Kitchener, commander of naval surface forces. “Our efforts are critical to preserve freedom of the seas, deter aggression and win wars.”
Tanner and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“I’m most proud of the time I saved someone's life,” said Tanner. “During barracks inspections, we found a sailor trying to harm himself. We intervened, called an ambulance, and got him the help he needed.”
As Tanner and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“Serving in the Navy has given me a huge sense of belonging,” added Tanner. “I have had a huge impact on a lot of people's lives, which has given me a sense of self-fulfillment. I genuinely love helping people with the work that I do.”