SAN DIEGO - Lt. Cmdr. Anthony Paschke, a native of Wildwood, Missouri, 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 |
Paschke graduated from Eureka High School in 2010.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Wildwood.
“High school sports helped me learn discipline and how to manage my time,” Paschke said. "In the Navy, managing your time is essential and having a strong work ethic allows you to succeed at the mission.”
Paschke joined the Navy eleven years ago. Today, Paschke serves as a pilot.
“I always wanted to be a pilot,” Paschke said. "The Navy afforded me the opportunity to go to flight school and pursue my dream of flying planes."
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.
Paschke has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“My proudest accomplishment is becoming a P-8 instructor pilot because it was the culmination of all my hard work and it reflected all the hard work my instructors put into me,” Paschke said.
Paschke serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation's prosperity and security.
“Serving the Navy means getting a dynamic group together to achieve a mission that is bigger than all of us,” Paschke said.
Paschke is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my wife, mom and dad,” Paschke added. "Deployment is a demanding time and having the support system with my wife and parents provides me the resources needed to successfully navigate it and my missions."