LEMOORE, Calif. - Every sailor’s story of naval service is unique. For Petty Officer 2nd Class Megan Carson, this story has ties to Cumberland Furnace, Tennessee, where skills and values learned there are foundational to success in the Navy.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Mitch Meppelink |
“Things like being a good person, being kind and having good manners are some of the lessons I carry with me from home that have helped me start a good foundation in the Navy,” Carson said. “I’ve always been a sociable person. I knew I would find my way in new places and make connections to last a lifetime. I have been working since I was in high school. I had no doubt I’d be able to become accustomed to a new working environment.”
Carson graduated from Montgomery Central High School in 2010.
Carson joined the Navy 11 years ago.
“My mother and father both served in the Navy,” Carson said. “I joined to get out and see new things, meet new people and create opportunities for my future.”
Today, Carson serves as an air traffic controller assigned to Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore.
NAS Lemoore is home to Commander Strike Fighter Wing Pacific and Commander Joint Strike Fighter Wing. More than half of the Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft reside here, and it is the only Navy installation to house the F-35C Lightning II.
Carrier strike groups and the embarked aviation squadrons are the cornerstone of U.S. naval power projection and sea power. They can quickly maneuver thousands of miles with the world’s most capable warships and top-notch sailors, remaining on station in areas of interest without relying on land bases or overflight agreements. U.S. Navy aircraft carriers are the most adaptable, lethal and survivable airfields in the world and their presence serves as the most credible commitment to our allies and partners.
Naval aviation provides the Navy and our nation with a flexible, adaptable, and lethal force to preserve peace, respond in crises and win decisively in combat. The U.S. Navy maintains and operates more than 2,000 aircraft to fulfill various mission sets in order to preserve the American way of life and ensure freedom, security and 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.
Carson has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I am most proud of how I have grown as a person and the mentorship skills I have developed for more junior sailors,” Carson said. “People need guidance sometimes, or just need some help to be pointed in the right direction. I’ve been in for some time, and I have a little bit of experience to be able to help out. It always feels good to help somebody.”
Carson serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
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. More information is available here: https://www.navy.mil/navy-250/
“Serving in the Navy means that I am contributing to the overall mission,” Carson said. “I am doing my part.”
Carson is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my mom, Susan, and my dad, Russell, for their love and support over the years,” Carson said. “I don’t know what I would do without them. I also want to thank my son. Since he’s entered this world, he definitely keeps me going more than anything.”