Every sailor’s story of naval service is unique.
For Chief Petty Officer Joshua Paris, this story began in Clarkson, Kentucky, where skills and values learned there would be foundational to success in the Navy.
“Growing up, my parents taught me the importance of having a hard work ethic,” Paris said. “My mom was a teacher, and she also taught me to treat everyone with respect and to understand that not everyone comes from the same background. A hard work ethic is essential in the Navy because you work long hours and you need that to get through. Having emotional intelligence and understanding that not everyone is brought up the same is important because it allows you to lead people who don’t come from the same area as you.”
Paris graduated from Grayson County High School in 2005. He joined the Navy 17 years ago.
“I joined the Navy as a way to get a fresh start out of my hometown,” Paris said. “There weren’t a lot of choices overall as far as jobs go, and I didn’t fare so well with the local community college route.”
Today, Paris serves as a yeoman assigned to Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron (VQ) 4 in Oklahoma City. Paris supports the nation’s nuclear deterrence mission at Strategic Communications Wing One (STRATCOMMWING ONE). Its “Take Charge and Move Out” (TACAMO) mission provides airborne communication links to nuclear missile units of U.S. Strategic Command.
The TACAMO mission originated in 1961 when a Marine Corps aircraft was used to test the feasibility of an airborne Very Low Frequency (VLF) communications system. Once the test was successful, funding for the program was granted, and it has continued to grow ever since.
The U.S. Navy’s presence on an Air Force base in a landlocked state may seem strange, but the position is strategic, allowing squadrons to quickly deploy around the world in support of the TACAMO mission.
The U.S. Navy is celebrating its 250th birthday this year.
According to Navy officials, “America is a maritime nation and for 250 years, America’s Warfighting Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom.”
With 90 percent 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.
Paris has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“My proudest moment was earning my first Navy Commendation Medal,” Paris said. “It came after a rough two years in Bahrain, running a shop with just two people to service all of Fifth Fleet. The recognition of my time there with that award was amazing.”
Paris serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“Serving in the Navy is a self-sacrifice and it gives me a great sense of pride and accomplishment overall,” Paris said. “It allows you to become part of a small community of people who are willing to sacrifice for the good of all.”
Paris is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my wife, Brittany, and kids, Carson, Cameron and Caira, for their love, support and patience,” Paris added. “I want to thank my parents, J.C. and Cindy Paris, for their love, support and the life lessons they taught me. Additionally, I want to thank my brother, Jamie Paris, sister-in-law, Brenda Paris, niece and nephew, Olivia and Keegan, for their support and love. I have many others to thank, who, without all of them, I never made it to where I am now.”
(Photo: Chief Petty Officer Joshua Paris, courtesy of Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class
Justin Johndro)
By Megan Lemly, Navy Office of Community Outreach
