SAN DIEGO - Petty Officer 3rd Class Kaira Hudson, a native of Port St. Lucie, Florida, serves aboard USS Abraham Lincoln, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier operating out of San Diego, California.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Joseph Sitter, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West |
Hudson graduated from Port St. Lucie High School in 2017.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Port St. Lucie.
“A lesson from my hometown that I have applied to my Navy career is to have an unwavering resolve to conquer any goal set before me,” Hudson said. “If I’m given a task, I feel like I have to do it. The determination I have to complete what I’m doing works out for the Navy because it means I always get my work done.”
Hudson joined the Navy three years ago. Today, Hudson serves as a quartermaster.
“I joined the Navy because I wanted to be a hero and have the remarkable chance to serve this magnificent country the best way I know how,” Hudson said. “I chose the Navy because it seemed like the best choice for me. I felt a calling to the Navy and a desire to be on the water.”
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 oceans. In addition, no other weapon system can deploy and operate forward with a full-sized aircraft carrier’s speed, endurance, agility and combat capability of its air wing.
The U.S. Navy is celebrating its 250th birthday this year.
According to Navy officials, “America is a maritime nation and for 250 years, America’s Warfighting Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom.”
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.
Hudson has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“An accomplishment I’m most proud of is getting the Iron Shellback after being out to sea for more than 100 days,” Hudson said. “It’s a Navy tradition, it means you officially have your sea legs. It’s something that a lot of people don’t have and can’t do.”
Hudson serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“Serving in the Navy means serving my country with honor, courage and commitment, and having an unwavering dedication to the mission,” Hudson said.
Hudson is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank the Navigation Department for helping me become the sailor I am today,” Hudson added. “They helped me grow into the fantastic QM3 I am today. Also, I want to give a shout-out to my mom for being my rock and my inspiration.”