Upland Native Exemplifies “Freedom at Work” Aboard U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier

By Petty Officer 1st Class Patricia Rodriguez, Navy Office of Community Outreach

Seaman Kayla Montes, a native of Upland, California, serves the U.S. Navy aboard one of the world’s largest warships, the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77).

Bush was commissioned in 2009 and is completing a pre-deployment work up cycle.

“Our Sailors’ hard work to return George Herbert Walker Bush to the operational fleet in 2021 was exemplary,” said Capt. Robert Aguilar, GHWB commanding officer. “They represent the best principles of service to the mission and the nation that our namesake, President George H.W. Bush, embodied.”

Montes joined the Navy one year ago. Today, Montes serves as a hospitalman.

“I have family that served in the Navy,” said Montes. “They always talked about how amazing it was and how it changed their lives. When I joined, I wanted a job that I knew would help others and hospital corpsman was a great match for me.”

Growing up in Upland, Montes attended Upland High School and graduated in 2018. Today, Montes relies upon skills and values similar to those found in Upland to succeed in the military.

“I learned respect, responsibility, how to help others and how to be part of a community from when I used to coach softball in my hometown,” said Montes.

These lessons have helped Montes while serving in the Navy.

Montes’s service aboard Bush follows the example of the ship’s namesake, the nation’s 41st President, George H.W. Bush. Bush is the only U.S. president to serve as a U.S. Navy aviator. During World War II he flew the TBF Avenger in Torpedo Squadron (VT) 51 and was stationed aboard USS San Jacinto (CVL 30). He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for a daring bombing run over the island of Chichi Jima.

The ship bearing Bush’s name is preparing for deployment amid ongoing strategic competition between the U.S. and its adversaries. In doing so, the ship and its Sailors continue the legacy of service to the nation that U.S. Navy aircraft carriers have provided for 100 years.

Since USS Langley’s (CV 1) commissioning 100 years ago this March 20th, aircraft carriers and their ability to project American power around the globe have been a consistent tool in maintaining and improving U.S. national security interest and the prosperity of the American people.

Sailors aboard USS George H.W. Bush, like Montes, continue to burnish the legacy of the aircraft carrier fleet and naval aviation by providing the national command authority a flexible, tailorable warfighting capability as the flagship of a carrier strike group that maintains maritime stability and security in order to ensure access, deter aggression and defend U.S., allied, and partner interests.

Serving in the Navy means Montes is part of a team that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.

“The Navy protects the sea,” said Montes. “We do humanitarian missions to help provide aid and relief to the world. It’s a very diverse branch that has many capabilities.”

With more than 90 percent of all trade traveling by sea, and 95 percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic carried through fiber optic cables lying on the ocean floor, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity and security of the United States is directly linked to a strong and ready Navy.

Montes and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.

“In Hospital Corpsman Basic, I received the highest grade in my class,” said Montes. “I am really proud of that, I studied every night to get that award. Hopefully that leads to me getting meritoriously promoted to a petty officer third class.”

As Montes and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.

“Serving means a lot to me,” added Montes. “I’m very proud that I’m able to do this and that I had the opportunity to serve. I feel accomplished. I have a sense of direction. I’m doing good. Even if I’m away for a long time, I know it’s for a good reason. I’m doing it to help others.”For recent information about USS George H.W. Bush and its sailors, head to the command’s Facebook www.facebook.com/ussgeorgehwbush and Instagram www.instagram.com/ghwbcvn77 pages. You can also visit its official webpage at www.airlant.usff.navy.mil/cvn77

Author: Wallace