MILLINGTON, Tenn. - Airman Alexander Reese, a native of Priorlake, Minnesota, is one of more than 5,000 sailors serving aboard the self-contained mobile airport, USS Theodore Roosevelt.
Equipped with a full flight deck and more than 60 aircraft including attack fighter jets and helicopters, aircraft carriers are one of the largest warships in the world.
Reese is a 2022 Priorlake High School graduate. Reese joined the Navy two years ago and serves as an aviation machinist’s mate.
“I joined the Navy to help others and find new opportunities for my future," said Reese.
Skills and values learned in the Navy are similar to those found in Priorlake.
“I like that I am able to teach new sailors how to do maintenance on jet engines,” said Reese.
Aircraft carriers are the centerpiece of America's Naval forces. For more than 100 years, they have projected power, sustained sea control, bolstered deterrence, provided humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and maintained enduring commitments worldwide.
According to Navy officials, aircraft carriers are versatile and have unique mission capabilities that make them a more strategic asset for the Navy than fixed-site bases. They are often the first response in a global crisis because of their ability to operate freely in international waters anywhere on the world’s ocean. In addition, no other weapon system can deploy and operate forward with a full-sized, nuclear-powered aircraft carrier's speed, endurance, agility and the combat capability of its air wing.
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.
As a member of the Navy, Reese is part of a world-class organization focused on maintaining maritime dominance, strengthening partnerships, increasing competitive warfighting capabilities and sustaining combat-ready forces in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“The Navy contributes to national defense by showing deployability and showing its growth with allies and partners around the world,” said Reese.
Reese has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
"My favorite accomplishment in the Navy was being a part of a chief retirement ceremony," said Reese.
As Reese and other sailors continue to perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“The Navy means a lot to me,” said Reese. “It’s a stepping stone to my future and a way to help others around the world.”