SAN DIEGO - Petty Officer 2nd Class Josie Bopp, a native of Stirum, North Dakota, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Joey Sitter, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West |
Bopp graduated from North Sargent High School in 2020.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Sirum.
“I came from a small town where community is important,” Bopp said. “Community is really important in the Navy so it is important to me that I have my sailors’ backs.”
Bopp joined the Navy four years ago. Today, Bopp serves as an aviation structural mechanic.
“I joined the Navy to see the world and to serve my country,” Bopp said.
Members of HSC-23 fly and maintain the MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter, the Navy’s most advanced rotary wing maritime strike platform. The Navy MH-60S is able to perform many different missions. Some of the most common operations include strikes on maritime targets, submarine hunting and attack, electronic warfare, search and rescue, medical evacuations and supply support.
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.
Bopp has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I am most proud of getting to simulate being an astronaut for NASA for the Artemis recovery,” Bopp said. “I was able to be recovered by one of our helicopters. They picked me up in a basket and brought me back to the ship. I am proud of that because it is something that a lot of people don’t get to experience.”
Bopp 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 makes me proud because I get to be around friends who became family and I get to travel the world with them,” Bopp said.
Bopp is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.“I want to thank my entire family for being understanding of when I can't go home or when I can't talk to them,” Bopp added. “I also want to thank them for always being supportive of me.”