Tyler Haley, a Maryville native, is part of a select crew, protecting and defending America aboard the U.S. Navy’s nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Charlotte. Image by MC1 James Green.

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii – A 2011 Maryville High School graduate and Maryville, Tenn. native is part of a select crew, protecting and defending America aboard the U.S. Navy’s nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Charlotte.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Tyler Haley is a sonar technician submarines aboard Charlotte, one of 12 Los Angeles-class submarines based at the Navy base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

“My favorite thing about serving on this ship is that each day is different and presents its own challenges,” said Haley.

Charlotte, commissioned in 1994, is longer than a football field at 362 feet and can sail under the waves at nearly 30 mph.

Charlotte, like all attack submarines in the Navy’s fleet, can carry out an array of missions on the world’s oceans in defense of America.

“Our attack submarines can deploy for as many as six months at a time to anywhere in the world, including under the Arctic Ice,” explained Cmdr. Brook DeWalt, Submarine Force U.S. Pacific Fleet spokesperson. “Their missions can range from tracking and hunting enemy submarines, launching cruise missiles from sea to inland targets hundreds of miles away as well as surveillance and intelligence gathering.”

Because of the demanding nature of service aboard submarines, sailors like Haley are accepted only after rigorous testing and observation that can last several months. The crews have to be highly motivated, and adapt quickly to changing conditions.

“I am responsible for the navigation of the boat,” said Haley. “I love my job. I love being able to hear all of the sea life as well as manmade contacts.”

“The training to become ‘qualified in submarines’ and earn the right to wear the gold or silver dolphins on the uniform is very difficult and technical,” said DeWalt. “Each crew has to be able to operate, maintain, and repair every system or piece of equipment on board. Regardless of their job, everyone also has to learn how everything on the ship works and how to respond in emergencies.”

The training is demanding, as the crew needs to be ready to respond to any kind of situation that may arise while at sea and endure long periods of time submerged deep below the surface of the ocean.

“Attack submarines’ nuclear reactor provides a nearly limitless source of propulsion power,” said DeWalt. “Because they make their own water and oxygen, they can remain submerged and undetected almost indefinitely. They usually only have to surface for resupply of food.”

The rigorous nature of submarine service is challenging, but Haley enjoys it and believes it makes the crew tighter.

“I like how the Navy has provided me with life experiences,” said Haley.

Being an attack submarine sailor has meant spending a lot of time away from his friends and family, but Haley believes in the work he is doing.

“There is nothing more rewarding to me than mission accomplishment,” said Haley.