MAYPORT, Fla. - Petty Officer 3rd Class Henry Ashbrook, a native of Richmond, Virginia, serves aboard Naval Station (NAVSTA) Mayport in Mayport, Florida.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Bryan Niegel, Navy Office of Community Outreach |
Ashbrook, a 2014 graduate of Hermitage High School, joined the Navy six years ago.
“I joined the Navy to continue the family tradition,” said Ashbrook. “My older brother, Stephen, served in the Navy for nine years as a Machinist's Mate 1st Class and my grandfather, Glen, served in the Navy during WWII.”
Today, Ashbrook relies upon skills and values similar to those found in Richmond to succeed in the military.
“I learned from the jobs I had before serving in the Navy to always be optimistic, even when the work is challenging,” said Ashbrook.
These lessons have helped Ashbrook while serving in the Navy.
NAVSTA Mayport is one of three major Navy installations in the Jacksonville area. Mayport is home to a busy seaport as well as an air facility, and has an 8,000 ft. runway capable of handling any aircraft in DoD inventory.
The mission of NAVSTA Mayport is to sustain and enhance warfighter readiness. The Navy at Mayport covers 3,409 acres and is the third largest naval facility in the continental United States. NAVSTA Mayport is home to more than 70 tenant commands and is home to the U.S. Navy's Fourth Fleet and the Navy’s first Triton squadron, according to Navy officials.
NAVSTA Mayport was recently selected as the 2023 recipient of the Commander in Chief’s Annual Award for Installation Excellence. Put simply, Mayport was selected as the best out of all U.S. Navy installations Fleet-wide.
With 90 percent of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to trained sailors and a strong Navy.
"Our mission remains timeless - to provide our fellow citizens with nothing less than the very best Navy: fully combat ready at all times, focused on warfighting excellence, and committed to superior leadership at every single level," said Adm. Mike Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations. "This is our calling. And I cannot imagine a calling more worthy."
Serving in the Navy means Ashbrook is part of a team 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 contributes to national defense by being a show of force,” said Ashbrook. "We are present all around the world, which helps our allies feel safe and keeps our adversaries in check."
Ashbrook and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“My proudest moment in the Navy was responding to a jet crash aboard USS Carl Vinson, an aircraft carrier that was deployed at the time in the South China Sea,” said Ashbrook. “I was part of a first responder team where we medically evacuated pilots and sailors on the flight deck saving their lives.”
As Ashbrook 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 means being a part of something bigger than myself and having a purpose in life,” said Ashbrook. "Wearing this uniform also makes my family proud of me.”
Ashbrook is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank Aviation Boatswan's Mate 1st Class James Trice,” added Ashbrook. "He was a good mentor and taught me to stay motivated during difficult times in the middle of deployment.”