VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Hospitalman Katelin Perkins, a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106, which operates the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18 Super Hornet.
Perkins graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 2021.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Tulsa.
“My hometown taught me to have compassion for others,” said Perkins. “Tulsa provided me with the passion and discipline to meet my goals. It also taught me to take pride in who I am.”
Perkins joined the Navy one year ago. Today, Perkins serves as a hospital corpsman.
“I joined the Navy to fulfill a generational tradition in my family,” said Perkins. “I’ve always had the ambition to join. Growing up in a military family made me aware of the stigma that surrounded service members and veterans. Thinking of that drove my passion to help them, so I joined.”
The Super Hornet is one of the most advanced aircraft in the world, according to Navy officials. The aircraft take off from and land aboard Navy aircraft carriers at sea and are capable of conducting air-to-air combat as well as striking targets on land.
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.
With 90% 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 recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Perkins serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“We will earn and reinforce the trust and confidence of the American people every day,” said Adm. Lisa Franchetti, chief of naval operations. “Together we will deliver the Navy the nation needs.”
Perkins has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“My proudest accomplishment in the Navy is having the honor to receive a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal,” said Perkins. “I earned recognition for my role in ensuring that a shipmate in emergency care received proper assistance and care.”
Perkins can take pride in serving America through military service.
“Serving in the Navy is everything to me,” said Perkins. “It is more than just providing for the country. I am providing for the mental and physical well-being of my shipmates. They know that I am there for them whenever they need me.”
Perkins is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my mom, Corinne Perkins, dad, Wesley Perkins and aunt, Kim Rieck,” added Perkins. “They are the ones who raised me to have pride and honor as a sailor. They taught me the ethics and discipline to be where I am now. I would also like to thank Petty Officer 1st Class Nguyen for pushing me to be a better person and guiding me to be a better hospital corpsman.”