Sailor Story: Aviation Warfare Specialist and Poet

Sailor: Yeoman 3 rd Class Vincent K. Godette, Naval Air Station (NAS) Brunswick, Maine.
Mom: Ana Godette, Providence, R.I.

Nineteen-year-old Yeoman 3rd Class Vincent K. Godette is a unique blend: He is a poet and musician, as well as an example of one of the best and brightest young sailors in the U.S. Navy. Only a year into his Navy career, Godette has done what is nearly impossible for someone his age: qualified as an Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist.

“In my 23 years of service, I have rarely seen a young sailor this squared away,” says Command Master Chief Petty Officer David Anderson, Godette’s most senior enlisted leader at Naval Air Station (NAS) Brunswick, Maine. “He is an impressive young man and continues to excel in his achievements daily.”

While growing up in Providence, R.I., Godette dreamed of following in the footsteps of his father, a musician. As crime began to permeate his Providence neighborhood, Godette grew frustrated. He wanted a better life. After the sudden death of a beloved uncle, Godette enrolled in his high school’s Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) program.

Godette flourished in his writing courses and soon began channeling his emotions into poetry. It wasn’t long before his NJROTC instructor recognized Godette’s raw talent and took him under his wing. With a supportive instructor to challenge his writing and nurture his skills, Godette decided to blend his love of writing with a career in the U.S. Navy.

At first, Ana Godette was scared for her son. After learning about Navy career options and seeing the excitement in her son’s eyes, however, she changed her mind.

“It frightened me to the core,” Ana Godette says. “This was for real, but I had to be there for him and support his decision. I raised my children to go after their dreams.”

After graduating from Boot Camp, Godette began studying to qualify as a Yeoman. He studied naval writing and correspondence at the Naval Technical Training Center Meridian, in Meridian, Miss. Godette regularly requested additional work and responsibilities, eager to prepare and post orders for his next assignment at NAS Brunswick in Brunswick, Maine.

At NAS Brunswick, Godette continued training as a yeoman, supporting Patrol Squadron Eight. His love for writing continued, but Godette was hungry for more training. Like a sponge, he soaked up any and all opportunities senior sailors gave him then, ambitiously, signed up to qualify as an Aviation Warfare Specialist, expanding his ability to support various departments and specialties while still serving as a Navy yeoman.

“To qualify in a warfare specialty, you must learn about complex weapons and engineering systems. Sailors who achieve this demanding qualification so early are what we consider hot runners,” Anderson says. “Godette is a rare one; to achieve this milestone in just one year is a testament to his dedication and the support of his squadron. In a nutshell – it’s tough!”

Capitalizing on his growing Navy résumé, Godette was sent on temporary assignment to NAS Sigonella, Sicily, supporting Combat Air Crews and aircraft flying in from all over the world. This new experience opened the eyes of a young sailor who, until then, had never left the United States. Godette’s career has taken him from Turin, Italy, to the ancient ruins of Agrigento, Sicily. As a poet, he continues to find inspiration everywhere he looks.


“If you would have asked me 10 years ago if I would have seen myself joining the Navy and going to Italy, I would have said no, in a heartbeat,” Godette says. “Kids from my town get caught up in a bad scene. They don’t realize what incredible opportunities the Navy can offer them. It is just astonishing to have the Navy in my life; all these incredible moments are an inspiration for my poetry.”

Godette returned to NAS Brunswick in June 2008, where he will continue advancing as a yeoman and begin work toward his bachelor’s degree in journalism and communications. He currently has a collection of more than 300 poems and hopes to have them published by spring 2010.

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030526-N-3122S-014 Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella, Sicily (May 26, 2003) -- A P-3C Orion aircraft assigned to the "Tigers" of Patrol Squadron Eight (VP-8) flies along the coastline of Taormina, Sicily. VP-8 is home-based in Brunswick, Maine, and is currently deployed to Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella providing logistical support for Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet and NATO forces in the Mediterranean Sea. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Shannon R. Smith. (RELEASED)