Mike Long

USS John Paul Jones (DDG-53) is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer commissioned into the United States Navy on December 18, 1993. Named after the American Revolutionary War naval hero John Paul Jones, the ship has played a key role in missile defense and maritime security operations. Over its service, USS John Paul Jones has conducted numerous deployments in the Pacific and Middle Eastern regions, participating in joint exercises, freedom of navigation operations, and real-world combat missions. Notably, the ship has served as a test platform for the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense system, achieving several successful intercepts in missile defense tests.

Navy Reserve Training Center (NRTC) Orlando served as a critical hub for training and supporting Navy Reserve personnel in Central Florida. Established to provide administrative, operational, and logistical support, NRTC Orlando enabled reservists to maintain readiness and integrate seamlessly with active-duty forces. Throughout its history, the center hosted drills, professional development, and mobilization preparations for sailors assigned to various reserve units. Its presence contributed significantly to the Navy’s mission by ensuring a well-prepared reserve force ready to respond to national and global requirements.

The USS John Young (DD-973) was a Spruance-class destroyer commissioned into the United States Navy on May 20, 1978. Named in honor of Captain John Young, a decorated naval officer from the War of 1812, the ship served primarily in the Pacific Fleet. Throughout her service, the USS John Young participated in numerous operations, including deployments to the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm and maritime interdiction missions. After more than two decades of active duty, the destroyer was decommissioned on September 30, 2002, and later sunk as a target during a training exercise in 2004.

Naval Air Station (NAS) Cubi Point was a major United States Navy base located in the Philippines, adjacent to Subic Bay. Commissioned in 1956 after one of the largest earth-moving projects in U.S. military history, it served as a critical logistics, maintenance, and operations hub for U.S. naval aviation in the Pacific. During the Vietnam War and throughout the Cold War, NAS Cubi Point provided vital support to carrier air wings and deployed squadrons, enabling rapid response and sustained air operations in Southeast Asia. The base was closed in 1992 following the expiration of the U.S.-Philippines Military Bases Agreement.

Lakehurst Naval Air Base, established in 1921 in New Jersey, quickly became a pivotal center for U.S. Navy lighter-than-air operations. The base gained historical significance as the site of the Hindenburg disaster in 1937, highlighting the end of the airship era. During World War II, Lakehurst played a vital role in anti-submarine patrols and the training of airship crews. In the postwar years, it continued to support naval aviation research, particularly in launching and recovery systems for aircraft carriers. Today, it is part of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, supporting a variety of military operations and training missions.