KEEPS NAVY WING FLYING
JOHNATHAN HAY
By Kayla Good, Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs
OAK HARBOR, Wash. – A 2015 William E. Tolman High School graduate and Pawtucket, Rhode Island native is serving in the U.S. Navy aboard Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, the premier naval air installation in the Pacific Northwest region.
Airman Johnathan Hay is an aviation structural mechanic (safety equipment) serving with Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 10.
A Navy aviation structural mechanic (safety equipment) is responsible for maintaining air conditioning and safety equipment aboard the P-3C aircraft.
???I like the security that this job offers you,??? said Hay. ???I like working with my hands and putting birds in the air.???
According to Navy officials, Wing 10 has continued to fly combat missions in direct support of the troops on the ground and delivered traditional maritime capabilities, real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
Beginning in the 1960s, the P-3C Orion, a land-based, long-range anti-submarine warfare patrol aircraft, replaced the P-2V Neptune fleet.?? After 50 years of faithful service and the 50th anniversary of Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Force, the P-3C Orion is being phased out of the fleet and replaced by the P-8A Poseidon, according to Navy officials.??
The P-8A is a modified Boeing airframe featuring a fully connected, state-of-the-art, open architecture mission system designed for long-range anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface warfare; and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, Navy officials explained.????
“Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 10 mans, trains, and equips P-3 and P-8 squadrons to deploy anywhere, anytime,??? said Capt. Robert W. Patrick, Commodore of CPRW-10. ???These forces are the nation’s first choice for broad area maritime surveillance and rapid response around the world.??This is critically important, as we are the eyes and the ears of our national defense, putting pressure on strategic locations around the world. Our sailors are the single biggest asymmetric advantage that allow us to succeed at our missions.??Without our sailors’ agility and expertise, we would not be able to do what we do.”??
Hay is part of a crew striving to be the best Naval Aviation Wing in the United States, according to Navy Officials. Their mission is to safely build and maintain a team of sailors capable of conducting prompt and sustained combat operations.
???The atmosphere of squadron life is the best part about serving here,??? Hay said. ???It’s more of a brotherhood than just a 9-to-5.???
According to Navy officials, the Navy continues to meet milestone after milestone on this world-class mission and is providing an aircraft with superior capabilities to the men and women in uniform that will have a lasting legacy promoting a global maritime strategy.
???Serving in the Navy means helping out with the country,??? Hay added. ??????It???s doing my civic duty while being able to take care of my family.???