A 2009 Jefferson City High School graduate is serving with Patrol Squadron Sixteen (VP-16), also known as the "War Eagles."
Petty Officer 2nd Class India Anderson is an aviation structural mechanic with VP-16, a Jacksonville, Florida-based squadron that operates the Navy's newly-designed maritime patrol aircraft, the P-8A Poseidon. Each aircraft has an aircrew of nine, is nearly 130 feet long, may weigh up to 188,200 pounds and can travel more than 560 miles per hour and nearly 1,380 miles on a tank of gas.
As an aviation structural mechanic, Anderson's job duties vary from maintaining aircraft airframe and structural components to working on landing gear systems, air conditioning, pressurization, visual improvement, oxygen and other utility systems.
"I pump waste out of the plane, and other times work on air conditioning systems," said Anderson.
The Navy's replacement platform for the P-3C, the P-8A Poseidon, is designed to secure the Navy's future in long-range maritime patrol capability, while transforming how the Navy's maritime patrol and reconnaissance force will man, train, operate and deploy.
"I think it is difficult because of the learning curve, but at the same time a challenge which makes it interesting," said Anderson.
The P-8A provides more combat capability from a smaller force and less infrastructure while focusing on worldwide responsiveness and interoperability with traditional manned forces and evolving unmanned sensors.
Anderson also said she is proud of the work she is doing as part of the squadron's 260-member team, helping to protect America on the world's oceans.
"The people I work with in my shop, I really enjoy working with them and the camaraderie," said Anderson.
The P-8A leverages the experience and technology of the P-3C's capabilities and assets to meet the Navy's needs of developing and fielding a maritime aircraft equipped with significant growth potential, including an extended global reach, greater payload capacity, higher operating altitude and the open systems architecture.
The War Eagles were the first squadron to deploy with the new P-8A platform. One of their first major missions had international attention as they participated in the search effort for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean.
"We were the first ones out there and dealt mainly with the fire suppression systems of the platform and pressurization and other safety precautions and measures," said Anderson.
Sailors' jobs are highly varied in VP-16. Approximately 60 officers, 200 enlisted men and women make up and keep all parts of the squadron running smoothly - this includes everything from maintaining aircraft airframes and engines, to processing paperwork, handling weaponry and flying the aircraft.
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy's newest maritime patrol aircraft platforms, Anderson and other VP-16 sailors are proud to part of a warfighting team that readily defends America at all times.