Ever wondered what it’s like to have one of the most dangerous jobs in the world?
Tracy native Ryan Myers, 28, doesn’t have to wonder. He’s working in the safety department on the flight deck of the USS Ronald Reagan in the Gulf of Oman, off the coast of Pakistan, which isn’t exactly a cakewalk, according to Lt. Cmdr. Ron Flanders. Myers was hand-chosen for the position.
His job is to make sure that the crew is doing everything safely, because if anything is wrong, the consequences can be deadly. He also ensures the flight crew’s efficiency. Working on the most combat-efficient carrier fleet in the world, Myers lives up to a high standard.
“It’s life-changing,” Myers said. “I can honestly say that since I have joined the Navy, I have grown exponentially. I feel like I have grown professionally, with new skills and trades, and looking out for everyone’s safety and making sure they get home.
“I’ve grown personally, with meeting a wide array of personnel not just across the country, but the world as well.”
Myers has been in the U.S. Navy since he turned 18. A week from today, he will celebrate 10 years of service.
This is his second tour on the USS Ronald Reagan. The 60-aircraft ship itself is a floating American city, with 4,500 people who live and work above and below deck, six restaurants, a barbershop, a TV station, a newspaper, a post office, police and fire stations, a Starbucks and its very own ZIP code.
The mission of the USS Ronald Reagan is to provide air support for the men and women fighting on the ground and in the sea for the United States. Each day some of the ship’s aircrafts go to Afghanistan to patrol certain areas. And if the troops need help, they dial a 9-1-1 type code, and the planes respond.
Myers’ stays in the Gulf of Oman vary. He said it all depends on when the service needs them. It could be a couple of weeks, or a couple of months.
His father, Edmund McKinley Myers Jr. was also in the Navy. He was recently buried at sea from aboard the USS Ronald Regan, and Myers was presented the flag by the ship’s commanding officer.
“It was really professional,” Myers said. “There was a 21-gun salute, and the commanding officer presented the flag. And without realizing it, I followed in his steps.”
In addition to his father, the family of the 1999 Tracy High graduate has a history of military service — Myers’ brother is in the U.S. Army.
“He comes from a very patriotic family that has served his country honorably,” Flanders said.
So when you’re wondering what it’s like to have one of the most dangerous jobs in the world, just ask Ryan Myers.
