Petty Officer 3rd Class Roxanne Scoville, a native of Oswego, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 125. The command is a joint strike fighter squadron located aboard the U.S. Navy’s largest master jet base.

Scoville joined the Navy four years ago. Today, she serves as an aviation structural mechanic.

“I was going to join the Army in 2011 but then life happened,” says Scoville. “My brother ended up joining the Army in 2018 as a wheeled mechanic. When he did that, I told him I would join the Navy as an aircraft mechanic and we would take the world by air, land and sea.”

Growing up in Oswego, Scoville attended Oswego High School and graduated in 2011. Today, Scoville relies upon skills and values similar to those found in Oswego to succeed in the military.

“Growing up, I learned to always work hard and push for your goals,” says Scoville. “No matter what happens in life, it’s always a step in the right direction. Everything happens for a reason.”

These lessons have helped Scoville while serving with the Navy.

Members of VFA 125 fly and maintain the F35-C Lightning II, a combat-ready fifth-generation fighter.

According to Navy officials, the F-35C is designed with the entire battlespace in mind, bringing transformational capability to the U.S. and its allies. Missions traditionally performed by specialized aircraft (air-to-air combat, air-to-ground strikes, electronic attack, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) can now be executed by a squadron of F-35s.

For the first time in U.S. naval aviation history, radar-evading stealth capability comes to the aircraft carrier deck. The F-35C carrier variant sets new standards in weapon-system integration, lethality, maintainability, combat radius and payload that bring true multi-mission power projection capability from the sea, according to Navy officials.

This year commemorates 50 years of women flying in the U.S. Navy. In 1973, the first eight women began flight school in Pensacola, Florida; one year later six of them, known as “The First Six,” earned their “Wings of Gold.” Over the past 50 years, the Navy has expanded its roles for women to lead and serve globally and today our women aviators project power from the sea in every type of Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard aircraft. Our Nation and our Navy is stronger because of their service.

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 U.S. is directly linked to trained sailors and a strong Navy.

“Our mission remains timeless — to provide our fellow citizens with nothing less than the very best Navy: fully combat ready at all times, focused on warfighting excellence, and committed to superior leadership at every single level,” says Adm. Mike Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations. “This is our calling. And I cannot imagine a calling more worthy.”

As a member of the Navy, Scoville is part of a world-class organization focused on maintaining maritime dominance, strengthening partnerships, increasing competitive warfighting capabilities and sustaining combat-ready forces in support of the National Defense Strategy.

“The Navy is important to national defense because the equipment and technology we use helps maintain stability on the homefront and overseas,” says Scoville. “Whether that’s bringing other branches to the places they need to be or them utilizing our resources as well, we have a one team one fight mentality.”

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

“My proudest accomplishment in the Navy so far is being promoted to the rank of third class petty officer,” says Scoville.

As Scoville and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the U.S. Navy.

“Serving in the Navy is a humbling and prideful experience,” says Scoville. “You carry two names on your chest. At the end of the day, you have two groups of people to make proud, the people you serve within the Navy and your family.”

Scoville is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.

“I would like to thank my brother, Scott Alton, for letting me know that, no matter where life takes you, your dreams are always within reach,” added Scoville. “I want to thank my mother, Valerie Scoville, for being my biggest encouragement and writing to me almost every day when I was going through boot camp. I would also like to thank Rosa Martinez for standing by my side since boot camp.”