Long Island Native, Ruth Gaillou, Serves Her Country with U.S. Navy Strike Fighter Squadron

LongIsland.com

2013 Half Hollow Hills graduate Petty Officer 3rd Class Ruth Gaillou is a culinary specialist with the Warhawks of VFA 97.

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Petty Officer 3rd Class Ruth Gaillou, 2013 Half Hollow Hills graduate and Long Island native.

Photo by: Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tim Miller

Long Island, NY - June 1, 2018 - A 2013 Half Hollow Hills graduate and Long Island, New York, native is currently serving with a U.S. Navy strike fighter squadron which flies one of the world’s most advanced warplanes.
 
Petty Officer 3rd Class Ruth Gaillou is a culinary specialist with the Warhawks of VFA 97, which operates out of Naval Air Station Lemoore. A Navy culinary specialist is responsible for providing meals and making sure the quality of food is good.
 
“I learned discipline from my parents,” Gaillou said. “I feel it helped me with respect and military bearing.”
 
Members of VFA 97 work with the F/A 18 Super Hornet, one of the most advanced aircraft in the world. The Super Hornet takes off from and lands on Navy aircraft carriers at sea and is capable of conducting air-to-air combat as well as striking targets on land. It is approximately 61 feet long, has a loaded weight of 51,000 lbs., and a max speed of 1,190 miles per hour.
 
Operating from sea aboard aircraft carriers, the Super Hornet gives the Navy the power to protect America’s interests anywhere, at any time. The versatile jet has the ability to destroy targets located hundreds of miles inland, without the need to get another country’s permission to operate within its borders.
 
“Strike Fighter Wing, U. S. Pacific Fleet, based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, is the heart of Naval Aviation,” said Capt. James S. Bates, Deputy Commodore, Strike Fighter Wing, U.S. Pacific. “The sailors assigned to SFWP always exceed expectations and produce amazing results through team work and dedication to their department, squadron, the U.S. Navy and their family. Naval Aviation is a challenging occupation, but our sailors work day in and day out to provide fully mission capable aircraft and fully qualified aircrew to ensure leadership is able to answer national level tasking. I am humbled to be able to lead the sailors of SFWP and I am proud to call Lemoore my home.”
 
Gaillou has military ties with family members who have previously served and is honored to carry on the family tradition.
 
“My brother is in the Marines and my older brother is in the Army,” said Gaillou. “I felt I was not doing enough so, I joined the Navy to do more.”
 
Gaillou is also proud of receiving Culinary Specialist of the Month six months ago for working hard and helping others. She also received Blue Jacket of the Quarter last year for doing more than was expected as well as volunteer work and out-of-rate qualifications.
 
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Gaillou and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
 
“Serving in the Navy means doing more than just the bare minimum,” Gaillou said.