OAK HARBOR, Wash. - Airman Breanna Dacanay, a native of Princeton, West Virginia, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129 at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.
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| Photo by Ashley Craig |
Dacanay graduated from Princeton Senior High School in 2021.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Princeton.
“I credit my high school’s Junior ROTC program and the Civil Air Patrol with developing resilience and leadership qualities in me,” said Dacanay. “Both also taught me what it means to be part of a team and implemented qualities that I’ve carried over into the Navy.”
Dacanay joined the Navy one year ago. Today, Dacanay serves as an aviation machinist’s mate.
“My mother, father and brother were in the Navy,” said Dacanay. “I joined to prove to myself that anything is possible. Who I was prior to the Navy has blossomed into a hard-working, determined and dedicated leader. If I didn’t do this, I wouldn’t be satisfied with life. Even if I only do one contract, I know now that I can do anything.”
As a fleet replacement squadron (FRS), VAQ-129’s primary mission is to train new aircrew to conduct airborne electronic warfare in the EA-18G Growler. Once complete at the FRS, aircrew will be assigned to squadrons either attached to carrier air wings onboard aircraft carriers or expeditionary squadrons that forward deploy in direct support of Air Force and other Joint assets. Regardless of where they end up, the training they receive at the FRS enables these aircrews to project electronic attack dominance anywhere in the world at any time.
Built to replace the EA-6B Prowler, the EA-18G Growler is both a ground and carrier-based electronic warfare aircraft and is the cornerstone of the Joint Force’s Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) mission. Its platform is derived from the combat-proven F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft and adds a sophisticated sensor suite that enables the suppression of enemy air defenses along with a variety of other electronic warfare 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.
Dacanay 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.”
Dacanay has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I am most proud of being part of the career counselor’s team at VAQ-129,” said Dacanay. “The ability to help sailors with their career goal and be part of something larger than myself makes the job more than worth it.”
Dacanay can take pride in serving America through military service.
“Serving in the military means I have beat the odds and that I overcame even the toughest obstacles,” said Dacanay
Dacanay is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.“I would like to thank my husband, Joseph Cox, for being my biggest supporter and pushing me to overcome my fears,” added Dacanay.