OAK HARBOR, Wash. - Petty Officer 3rd Class Eric Getreuer, a native of Oakland, California, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 142 at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.
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| Photo by Ashley Craig |
Getreuer graduated from Covah High School in 2020.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Oakland.
“I learned the importance of teamwork and camaraderie from my time in Pacific Boychoir Academy,” said Getreuer. “I can’t do my job without everybody else here doing their job. Trusting each other and having each other’s back, especially when we were out on deployment, is crucial. It’s easier to work together when you trust each other and get along with each other.”
Getreuer joined the Navy three years ago. Today, Getreuer serves as an aviation electrician’s mate.
“I joined the Navy because my family has a history of service and I always looked up to servicemen and women,” said Getreuer. “I wanted to learn a trade. I was working in a deli at the time and it wasn’t for me. I’d gone before to the recruiting office, and I thought it wasn’t for me, but then they called the week after I quit the deli. Two months later, I shipped out for boot camp.”
VAQ-142 deploys with aircraft carriers to project electronic attack dominance anywhere in the world at any time.
The EA-18G Growler is a carrier-based electronic warfare aircraft and the cornerstone of the naval Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) mission. Its platform is derived from the combat-proven F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft and adds a sophisticated electronic warfare suite that enables it to suppress enemy air defenses as well as electronic attack operations.
The Growler has two seats, is over 60 feet long and can weigh up to 66,000 pounds when fully loaded with all missiles and electronic jammers. It can travel at speeds over 1,100 miles per hour, around 1.5 times the speed of sound.
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.
Getreuer 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.”
Getreuer has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I’m most proud of deploying,” said Getreuer. “It helped to shape the future of carrier operations and naval aviation. In the face of adversity, the entire crew showed resilience and strength.”
Getreuer can take pride in serving America through military service.
“It means service and sacrifice,” said Getreuer. “It’s a privilege to serve alongside these amazing people.”
Getreuer is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my wife, Diana,” added Getreuer. “Through all the changes, she’s remained a constant and has done her absolute best to move as smoothly through this journey as anybody could. I also want to thank my mom, Susan. My mom has always been my rock. She’s an amazing woman who I admire very much. And I want to thank my first supervisor, Aviation Electrician’s Mate 2nd Class Russell Ziggler. He’s out of the Navy now, but he taught me the foundations of what I know and how to balance the Navy and personal life so I can be the best person I can.”
Getreuer is also thankful for those he serves with.
“In the good and the bad, I appreciate those I serve with because they’ve changed my life for the better,” said Getreuer. “ Whether I do one contract or the rest of my career, I’ll always be grateful to them.”
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Oakland.
“I learned the importance of teamwork and camaraderie from my time in Pacific Boychoir Academy,” said Getreuer. “I can’t do my job without everybody else here doing their job. Trusting each other and having each other’s back, especially when we were out on deployment, is crucial. It’s easier to work together when you trust each other and get along with each other.”
Getreuer joined the Navy three years ago. Today, Getreuer serves as an aviation electrician’s mate.
“I joined the Navy because my family has a history of service and I always looked up to servicemen and women,” said Getreuer. “I wanted to learn a trade. I was working in a deli at the time and it wasn’t for me. I’d gone before to the recruiting office, and I thought it wasn’t for me, but then they called the week after I quit the deli. Two months later, I shipped out for boot camp.”
VAQ-142 deploys with aircraft carriers to project electronic attack dominance anywhere in the world at any time.
The EA-18G Growler is a carrier-based electronic warfare aircraft and the cornerstone of the naval Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) mission. Its platform is derived from the combat-proven F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft and adds a sophisticated electronic warfare suite that enables it to suppress enemy air defenses as well as electronic attack operations.
The Growler has two seats, is over 60 feet long and can weigh up to 66,000 pounds when fully loaded with all missiles and electronic jammers. It can travel at speeds over 1,100 miles per hour, around 1.5 times the speed of sound.
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.
Getreuer 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.”
Getreuer has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I’m most proud of deploying,” said Getreuer. “It helped to shape the future of carrier operations and naval aviation. In the face of adversity, the entire crew showed resilience and strength.”
Getreuer can take pride in serving America through military service.
“It means service and sacrifice,” said Getreuer. “It’s a privilege to serve alongside these amazing people.”
Getreuer is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my wife, Diana,” added Getreuer. “Through all the changes, she’s remained a constant and has done her absolute best to move as smoothly through this journey as anybody could. I also want to thank my mom, Susan. My mom has always been my rock. She’s an amazing woman who I admire very much. And I want to thank my first supervisor, Aviation Electrician’s Mate 2nd Class Russell Ziggler. He’s out of the Navy now, but he taught me the foundations of what I know and how to balance the Navy and personal life so I can be the best person I can.”
Getreuer is also thankful for those he serves with.
“In the good and the bad, I appreciate those I serve with because they’ve changed my life for the better,” said Getreuer. “ Whether I do one contract or the rest of my career, I’ll always be grateful to them.”