LEMOORE, Calif. - Every sailor’s story of naval service is unique. For Petty Officer 2nd Class Chantel Wagner, this story has ties to Rockpoint, Arizona, 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 |
“I moved a lot between Arizona and New Mexico while I was growing up,” Wagner said. “I got used to making the best of situations and found it easy to make new friends and fit in. I also played volleyball, basketball as well as track and field. I really enjoyed being part of a team and having others depend on me.”
Wagner graduated from Navajo Prep High School in 2018.
Wagner joined the Navy seven years ago.
“I joined the Navy in search of a better future for myself and my family,” Wagner said. “I was looking for a challenge and knew the Navy would not only set me up for success, but push me to the limit and make me grow and become an independent sailor who could stand on their own two feet.”
Today, Wagner serves as an aviation ordnanceman assigned to Naval Munitions Command Pacific CONUS West Division, Lemoore aboard 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.
Wagner has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I am very proud of the woman and sailor I have become,” Wagner said. “The Navy has taught me so many personal as well as professional skills and helped me set myself and my future up for success.”
Wagner 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 being a part of something bigger than yourself and carrying on a tradition going back 250 years,” Wagner said. “I work hard every day to not only make my family proud but also make my fellow Americans and country proud. I wear the country's fabric on my uniform and take my job and responsibilities very seriously.”
Wagner is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my mom, Cassandra, for always being by my side and helping make me the successful woman I am today,” Wagner said. “Having people that care about you and that are in your corner makes this job that much more important.”