KINGSVILLE, Texas - A Hinsdale, Illinois, native is serving in the U.S. Marine Corps alongside naval aviators who learn the skills they need to fly missions around the world.
1st Lt. Jonathan Pyzdrowski, a 2015 Fenwick High School graduate, joined the Marine Corps three years ago.
“I joined the Marine Corps to serve my country, lead Marines and to continue a family tradition of service,” said Pyzdrowski. “My grandfather was a naval aviator in WWII, who served in the Pacific. I grew up hearing his stories of fighting in the war. I wanted to honor the sacrifice of his generation by serving in my own time.”
Skills and values learned in the Marines are similar to those found in Hinsdale.
“Growing up, I learned that humility and respect will get you the furthest in life,” said Pyzdrowski. “You always need to put your best foot forward, and take the initiative to do what needs to be done in order to complete the mission.”
Pyzdrowski serves as an instructor pilot with Training Squadron 22, a strike jet training squadron, located at Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas.
“I enjoy training student aviators on professional, personal and aviation skills, so they can be successful Naval officers in the fleet,” said Pyzdrowski.
The air training program focuses on the increased complexity of today’s aircraft. After successfully completing the rigorous program, naval aviators earn their coveted “Wings of Gold.”
After graduation, pilots continue their training to learn how to fly a specific aircraft, such as the F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter attack jet, the F-35 Lightning strike fighter jet or the SH-60 Seahawk helicopter. These aircraft take off from and land on Navy aircraft carriers at sea.
Navy aircraft carriers are designed for a 50-year service life. When the air wing is embarked, the ship carries more than 70 attack fighter jets, helicopters and other aircraft, all of which take off from and land aboard the carrier at sea. With more than 5,000 sailors serving aboard, the aircraft carrier is a self-contained mobile airport.
Aircraft carriers are often the first response to a global crisis because of their ability to operate freely in international waters anywhere on the world’s oceans.
Since USS Langley's commissioning 100 years ago, the nation's aircraft carriers and embarked carrier air wings have projected power, sustained sea control, bolstered deterrence, provided humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and maintained enduring commitments worldwide.
"The aircraft carrier is our U.S. Navy's centerpiece, our flagship, and a constant reminder to the rest of the world of our enduring maritime presence and influence," said Rear Adm. James P. Downey, USN, Program Executive Officer (PEO) Aircraft Carriers. "These ships touch every part of our Navy's mission to project power, ensure sea control, and deter our adversaries."
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.
Serving in the Department of Defense means Pyzdrowski is part of a team 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.
“The Marine Corps is the nation’s force in readiness,” said Pyzdrowski. “We train to operate as a cohesive team to respond to the needs of our nation at a moment’s notice.”
Pyzdrowski has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I am most proud of my continued training in aviation,” said Pyzdrowski. “Even as a student, there is no connection to past naval aviators and the shared hurdles learning to fly and fight.”
Pyzdrowski takes pride in serving the country in the Marine Corps.
“Serving in the Marine Corps means being a part of something bigger than yourself,” said Pyzdrowski. “You serve your country, the organization and your Marines. Every day you strive for excellence and to continually improve morally, mentally and physically.”
Pyzdrowski is grateful to others for helping make a career in the Marine Corps possible.
“I would like to thank the faculty and staff at Fenwick High School for imbuing me with many of the tools that helped me reach this point in my career,” added Pyzdrowski. “Without the education and support I received in my teenage years, I truly do not believe I would have been prepared for the rigorous training to be a naval aviator.”
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| Photo by Stephanie Fox, Navy Office of Community Outreach |
1st Lt. Jonathan Pyzdrowski, a 2015 Fenwick High School graduate, joined the Marine Corps three years ago.
“I joined the Marine Corps to serve my country, lead Marines and to continue a family tradition of service,” said Pyzdrowski. “My grandfather was a naval aviator in WWII, who served in the Pacific. I grew up hearing his stories of fighting in the war. I wanted to honor the sacrifice of his generation by serving in my own time.”
Skills and values learned in the Marines are similar to those found in Hinsdale.
“Growing up, I learned that humility and respect will get you the furthest in life,” said Pyzdrowski. “You always need to put your best foot forward, and take the initiative to do what needs to be done in order to complete the mission.”
Pyzdrowski serves as an instructor pilot with Training Squadron 22, a strike jet training squadron, located at Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas.
“I enjoy training student aviators on professional, personal and aviation skills, so they can be successful Naval officers in the fleet,” said Pyzdrowski.
The air training program focuses on the increased complexity of today’s aircraft. After successfully completing the rigorous program, naval aviators earn their coveted “Wings of Gold.”
After graduation, pilots continue their training to learn how to fly a specific aircraft, such as the F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter attack jet, the F-35 Lightning strike fighter jet or the SH-60 Seahawk helicopter. These aircraft take off from and land on Navy aircraft carriers at sea.
Navy aircraft carriers are designed for a 50-year service life. When the air wing is embarked, the ship carries more than 70 attack fighter jets, helicopters and other aircraft, all of which take off from and land aboard the carrier at sea. With more than 5,000 sailors serving aboard, the aircraft carrier is a self-contained mobile airport.
Aircraft carriers are often the first response to a global crisis because of their ability to operate freely in international waters anywhere on the world’s oceans.
Since USS Langley's commissioning 100 years ago, the nation's aircraft carriers and embarked carrier air wings have projected power, sustained sea control, bolstered deterrence, provided humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and maintained enduring commitments worldwide.
"The aircraft carrier is our U.S. Navy's centerpiece, our flagship, and a constant reminder to the rest of the world of our enduring maritime presence and influence," said Rear Adm. James P. Downey, USN, Program Executive Officer (PEO) Aircraft Carriers. "These ships touch every part of our Navy's mission to project power, ensure sea control, and deter our adversaries."
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.
Serving in the Department of Defense means Pyzdrowski is part of a team 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.
“The Marine Corps is the nation’s force in readiness,” said Pyzdrowski. “We train to operate as a cohesive team to respond to the needs of our nation at a moment’s notice.”
Pyzdrowski has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I am most proud of my continued training in aviation,” said Pyzdrowski. “Even as a student, there is no connection to past naval aviators and the shared hurdles learning to fly and fight.”
Pyzdrowski takes pride in serving the country in the Marine Corps.
“Serving in the Marine Corps means being a part of something bigger than yourself,” said Pyzdrowski. “You serve your country, the organization and your Marines. Every day you strive for excellence and to continually improve morally, mentally and physically.”
Pyzdrowski is grateful to others for helping make a career in the Marine Corps possible.
“I would like to thank the faculty and staff at Fenwick High School for imbuing me with many of the tools that helped me reach this point in my career,” added Pyzdrowski. “Without the education and support I received in my teenage years, I truly do not believe I would have been prepared for the rigorous training to be a naval aviator.”