FALLON, Nev. – Every sailor’s story of naval service is unique. For Petty Officer 3rd Class Eric Briscoe, this story has ties to Lexington Park, Maryland, where skills and values learned there are foundational to success in the Navy.
Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st
Class Mitch Meppelink
“I have many family members who have served in the military and helped explain the benefits and opportunities that the Navy provides,” Briscoe said. “Without them and their encouragement, I don’t think I would be as successful as I am today.”
Briscoe graduated from Great Mills High School in 2013.
Briscoe joined the Navy six years ago.
“Right before I joined the Navy I had my first child,” Briscoe said. “The Navy has allowed me to have a steady and safe career where I can provide for him as well as plan for retirement and our future.”
Today, Briscoe serves as a yeoman assigned to Naval Air Station (NAS) Fallon.
The air station provides joint and allied nation rotational forces the unique opportunity to train in realistic combat scenarios while employing every element of an air carrier wing. It is the only facility in the world with this ability. The aircraft stationed at NAS Fallon support aircraft carrier missions around the world.
NAS Fallon is host to 21 tenant commands, including the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC). As the Navy’s premier tactical air warfare training center, NAWDC is home to multiple weapons training schools, including TOPGUN. In 1969, TOPGUN was introduced with the mission of reducing casualties of naval aviators sustained during the Vietnam War. Within a year, this goal was reached with the United States having one casualty for every 12 enemy deaths. Since then, TOPGUN has continued to train the finest naval aviators and has inspired two blockbuster movies, one released in 1986 and its sequel released in 2022.
Carrier strike groups and the embarked aviation squadrons are the cornerstone of U.S. naval power projection and sea power. They can quickly maneuver thousands of miles with the world’s most capable warships and top-notch sailors, remaining on station in areas of interest without relying on land bases or overflight agreements. U.S. Navy aircraft carriers are the most adaptable, lethal, and survivable airfields in the world and their presence serves as the most credible commitment to our allies and partners.
Naval aviation provides the Navy and our nation with a flexible, adaptable and lethal force to preserve peace, respond in crises and win decisively in combat. The U.S. Navy maintains and operates more than 2,000 aircraft to fulfill various mission sets in order to preserve the American way of life and ensure freedom, security and prosperity.
With 90% 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.
Briscoe has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I am very proud and grateful to say I have been able to travel to places that I never thought would have been possible if not for the Navy,” Briscoe said. “I loved traveling all over Europe and hope the Navy sends me back real soon.”
Briscoe serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
This year, the Navy is commemorating its contribution to the nation’s defense as the United States celebrates 250 years of independence. According to Navy officials, for more than 250 years, the Navy has sailed the globe defending freedom and protecting prosperity. More information is available here: https://www.navy.mil/navy-250/
“Serving in the Navy means having a career that is more than a job but a new lifestyle,” Briscoe said. “Life is what you make it and I plan to make the most of every day.”
Briscoe is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my parents for always being by my side and always wanting the best for me,” Briscoe said. “Having family and friends back home makes this job that much more meaningful and helps you get through the long days when you’re across the globe serving.”
“I am very grateful that during my time in the Navy I have been able to be enrolled in a bachelor’s in cyber security at the University of Maryland Global Campus,” Briscoe said. “This is just another example of one of the amazing benefits the Navy provides for its sailors.”