By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jerry Jimenez, Navy Office of Community Outreach

Petty Officer 1st Class Kendrick Pope, a native of Houston, Texas, is serving with the U.S. Navy’s cutting-edge maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft squadron in Oak Harbor, Washington.

Pope joined the Navy 11 years ago. Today, Pope serves as an intelligence specialist.

Pope serves with Maritime Patrol Squadron Forty-Seven, a high-tech maritime patrol and reconnaissance squadron tasked with monitoring the world’s oceans in the state-of-the-art P-8A “Poseidon.”

Pope attended Lawrence E. Elkins High School and graduated in 2009. Today, Pope uses skills and values similar to those found in Houston.

“I learned about order and discipline,” said Pope.

These lessons have helped Pope while serving in the Navy supporting the P-8 Poseidon mission.

The P-8 Poseidon mission is to conduct maritime patrol and reconnaissance as well as long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and intelligence gathering missions. They deploy around the globe to monitor the world’s oceans wherever they are needed.

The P-8A Poseidon, the Navy’s newest maritime, patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, is a replacement aircraft for the legacy P-3C “Orion”. According to Navy officials, leveraging the experience and technology of the successful P-3C “Orion” with the needs of the fleet, the P-8A is designed to be combat-capable, and to improve an operator’s ability to efficiently conduct anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface warfare; and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

Serving in the Navy means Pope is part of a world 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.

“It maintains freedom of air and seas,” said Pope.

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.

According to Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday, four priorities will focus efforts on sailors, readiness, capabilities, and capacity.

“For 245 years, in both calm and rough waters, our Navy has stood the watch to protect the homeland, preserve freedom of the seas, and defend our way of life,” said Gilday. “The decisions and investments we make this decade will set the maritime balance of power for the rest of this century. We can accept nothing less than success.”

Pope and other sailors have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.

“I'm most proud of getting my Master Training Specialist qualification," said Pope. "It's becoming an instructor and being able to pass lessons I have learned to people coming behind me. It's really shaping other people.”

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

“It means having the opportunity to really affect the world,” added Pope.