Photo By Chief Petty Officer Amanda Gray | FACES OF THE DEEP: BANGOR, Wash. - “I joined the Navy to follow my father’s...... read more read more
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BANGOR, Wash. – A Sumrall, Mississippi, native is presently engaged in a critical mission for the security of the United States: deterring nuclear war.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Wesley Pickering, a Culinary Specialist (submarines), is serving aboard one of the world’s most advanced ballistic-missile submarines, USS Kentucky (SSBN 737) (Gold). Based at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor in Washington, Kentucky is one of 14 Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines in the Navy’s fleet.
As a Culinary Specialist, Pickering is responsible for all aspects of dining aboard the ship. Culinary Specialists work in the "heart of the ship," and are vital in maintaining high crew morale on submarines.
“I joined the Navy to follow my father’s footsteps and to gain a sense of responsibility and work ethic,” said Pickering.
The Navy’s ballistic-missile submarines, often referred to informally as “boomers,” serve as undetectable launch platforms for intercontinental ballistic missiles. They are designed specifically for stealth, extended patrols and the precise delivery of missiles, and they are the only survivable leg of the nation’s strategic nuclear forces, which also include land-based missiles and aircraft.
“Our submarine force Sailors embody the excellence and proud legacy of all those who have ruled the undersea to defend our nation’s interests throughout its history,” said Rear Adm. Doug Perry, Commander, Submarine Group Nine. “Their commitment and drive to accomplish the hard, yet rewarding work of defending our nation, in and from the undersea, never fails to impress me. All American’s can be proud and feel secure knowing these young men and women have the watch.”
As effective as the Ohio-class submarines have been over their decades-long lifetimes, the fleet is aging, with the oldest submarines now more than 30 years old, well past their planned service lives.
A new and effective successor is critical to national security, and the Navy is well into the process of designing and fielding a more advanced ballistic missile submarine, which will provide the necessary sea-based nuclear deterrence into the 2080s and beyond.
Submarine sailors are some of the most highly trained and skilled people in the Navy. The training is highly technical, and each crew has to be able to operate, maintain, and repair every system or piece of equipment on board. Regardless of their specialty, everyone also has to learn how everything on the submarine works and how to respond in emergencies to become “qualified in submarines” and earn the right to wear the coveted gold or silver dolphins on their uniforms.
“A lot of hard work and studying went into qualifying on submarines,” said Pickering. “After earning my dolphins, I truly became apart of the crew because now I was able to support my shipmates and do whatever they needed me to do.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Pickering and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes, one that will provide a critical component of the Navy the nation needs.
“I feel like being in the submarine force is like being in a very exclusive club, and I feel very proud to be apart of it,” said Pickering. “It holds a lot of pride being able to serve my country and say that I did something to help our country and our community.”
| Date Taken: | 05.22.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 05.31.2019 15:33 |
| Story ID: | 324881 |
| Location: | BANGOR, WASHINGTON, US |
| Hometown: | SUMRALL, MISSISSIPPI, US |
| Web Views: | 49 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Sumrall Native Keeping America’s Nuclear Adversaries at Bay, by CPO Amanda Gray, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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