SAN DIEGO - Petty Officer 3rd Class Duncan Tucker, a native of New Plymouth, Idaho, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to USS Theodore Roosevelt, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier operating out of San Diego, California.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Caleb Kissner, Navy Office of Community Outreach |
Tucker graduated from Fruitland High School in 2019.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in New Plymouth.
“Growing up, I learned the importance of having a strong work ethic and a work-first mentality,” Tucker said. “Having that mindset has helped me get the majority of my qualifications and has kept me out of trouble.”
Tucker joined the Navy three years ago. Today, Tucker serves as an aviation ordnanceman.
“I joined the Navy to lay a foundation for my family,” Tucker said. “I wanted something nice and stable for us. Something that we can build on.”
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.
Among the largest warships in the world, Theodore Roosevelt is longer than three football fields at 1,092 feet. The ship is 252 feet wide and weighs more than 100,000 tons. More than 5,000 sailors serve aboard these self-contained mobile airports.
“This aircraft carrier is one of the most powerful warships in the world, but it is our sailors that give the U.S. Navy our warfighting advantage,” said Capt. Will Mathis, commanding officer of Theodore Roosevelt. “For over 250 years, sailors have built the foundation of our readiness and resolve, enabled us to keep America safe and ensured the U.S. Navy remains the strongest and most capable maritime force in the world.”
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.
Tucker has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I’m proud of going through my first deployment and advancing to petty officer third class,” Tucker said. “Getting through that first deployment was good for me because it showed me that even if I’m thousands of miles away, I can get through it. Reaching third class was a huge step for me to become a better person because adding more responsibilities is better for me overall.”
This year, the Navy is commemorating its contribution to the nation’s defense as the United States celebrates 250 years of independence. According to Navy officials, for more than 250 years, the Navy has sailed the globe defending freedom and protecting prosperity.
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.
“For me, serving in the Navy means having a strong, disciplined mindset,” Tucker said.
Tucker is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my father, who has been there for me since day one,” Tucker said. “He’s been bragging to his coworkers about me. One of his buddies at work also has a son in the Navy, so now they’re competing to see whose son will advance faster.”