Citta joined the Navy Reserve and attended recruit coaching in 2015. After finishing her “A” faculty in Pensacola, Florida, she returned to her hometown of Cocoa, Florida to drill with Navy Reserve Middle (NRC) Orlando. After just a few months on the NRC, Citta acquired official orders to VP-62 in Jacksonville.
“After I checked into VP-62, they instructed me that they’d put me on orders to maneuver to Jacksonville, go to VP-30 for coaching after which come again to VP-62 to get totally certified,” mentioned Citta. “As soon as I used to be totally certified, I simply determined to remain so long as I may.”
Whereas Citta mentioned she initially anticipated the transfer and project to be short-lived, her alternatives with VP-62 have continued proper as much as in the present day.
“I’m a singular Reserve Sailor within the sense that whereas I’m nonetheless SELRES on paper, I’ve been on back-to-back energetic obligation orders since 2017,” mentioned Citta. “This has been my main job since then.”
Citta’s squadron lately transitioned from working the P-3C Orion to the P-8A Poseidon, however their important mission stays the identical.
“My main job has been anti-submarine warfare on the P-3C Orion, and now the P-8A Poseidon,” mentioned Citta. “My place on the airplane as an acoustic operator is to go looking, find, observe and assault enemy submarines through frequencies we see with our sonobuoys. I, together with the remainder of our crew, will take all of our totally different items of knowledge and talk to place all of the items collectively and full the mission.”
Citta mentioned VP-62’s operational tempo permits for extra alternatives to higher join together with her shipmates on the squadron, leaving her with a way of belonging, teamwork and esprit de corps.
“What I like about working at my command is the camaraderie,” mentioned Citta. “I’ve been in a position to make loads of buddies throughout departments, together with upkeep, admin, intelligence, and naturally, on the aircrew aspect.”
Citta has had many experiences in her 5 years of service, however one stands out among the many relaxation.
“Probably the most memorable second of my Reserve profession thus far was Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) College,” mentioned Citta. “It is a faculty that every one aircrew should full. It’s a two-week lengthy course the place you study all about surviving in case your airplane goes down in enemy territory. It was the perfect coaching that I completely by no means need to do once more, but it surely makes you respect the women and men who’ve been POWs even that rather more.”
Citta mentioned she’s grateful for the numerous alternatives she’s acquired as a Navy Reserve Sailor.
“The way in which all the things panned out for me particularly is one thing I didn’t count on,” mentioned Citta. “I joined in 2015 anticipating to be a full-on Navy Reserve Sailor, drilling as soon as a month and two weeks yearly. I used to be in class to develop into a veterinary technician once I was requested to maneuver to Jacksonville. I believed that might be my path. Then, I got here right here and the Navy ended up giving me so many alternatives and advantages I didn’t assume I’d have. Staying a Navy Reserve Sailor on paper provides me just a bit extra flexibility than energetic obligation within the sense that I don’t have to choose up and transfer each couple years. I can discover a job within the civilian world at any time when I’d like, however having the Navy Reserve in my again pocket has actually made a distinction.”
