LEMOORE, Calif. - Every sailor’s story of naval service is unique. For Petty Officer 3rd Class Ruben Jett, this story has ties to Lubbock, Texas, 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 |
“Growing up, I learned the importance of having good moral character; that honesty is a great trait; and that people will help you if you don’t complain about everything,” Jett said. “I’m thankful for my upbringing. I went through hard times. I lived from paycheck to paycheck, never being able to save. When I got to the military, I loved it. I have a lot of good people around me. The Lord always puts good people around me.”
Jett graduated from Richard Milburn Academy in 2015.
Jett joined the Navy seven years ago.
“I felt like I was being called to serve in the military, and I did what the Lord told me to do,” Jett said. “Before the Navy, I didn’t have a lot of confidence in myself, but the Navy put that dog in me. One of the things I carry with me from boot camp is that it can be done. No matter how bad you have it or how hard it seems, whatever task is in front of you can be done.”
Today, Jett serves as an aviation ordnanceman assigned to Navy Munitions Command Pacific CONUS West Division Detachment, Lemoore onboard 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.
Jett has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I’m proud of finishing my first book while in the Navy,” Jett said. “It took six years to write and publish. Sometimes you have the writer’s flow, and other days not so much, but I took it day by day and month by month. So, when I finally put down that last period and the ‘The End,’ it felt good.”
Jett 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 everything to me,” Jett said. “The Lord got me here. When I got into the Navy, I didn’t think I could do it. I struggled in boot camp because I’m not great at academics, but the running and push-ups, I knew I could push my body as hard as I needed to. I love my service. When I made third class, I was happy and thankful because that’s a huge accomplishment.”
Jett is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“The Lord has moved mountains for me, and I’m grateful,” Jett said. “I want to thank my mom, Areilla Conde. She always helped me whenever she could. She was a big influence in my life and in my military career. I want to thank my uncle, Batman. I didn’t have a dad growing up, and he took me under his wing. I also want to thank Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class Jarvis Jones. That man did more for me than most. We clashed more than anything, but at the end of the day, we’d just have an energy drink and watch a movie.”