Lt. Travis Jacklin, a native of Royal Palm Beach, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Commander, Submarine Squadron (CSS) 20 at Naval Submarine Base (NSB) Kings Bay. As a submariner, Jacklin is part of a small percentage of Navy personnel continuing a 125-year tradition of service under the sea to help ensure Americans’ safety.
Jacklin graduated from Royal Palm Beach High School in 2015. The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Royal Palm Beach.
“Playing baseball and being on a team draws parallels to being in the Navy and working with a division to accomplish missions,” Jacklin said.
Jacklin joined the Navy seven years ago. Today, he serves as a submarine warfare officer.
“I joined the Navy because I didn’t see myself working an average job, and I knew this would be something exciting and different than what my peers were doing,” Jacklin said.
NSB Kings Bay is the homeport of the East Coast ballistic-missile and guided-missile submarines. These submarines are capable of conducting operations in the Atlantic, Arctic, Eastern Pacific and Indian oceans, as well as the Mediterranean Sea.
NSB Kings Bay is also the only Navy base with the capability to support the Trident II missile, the most sophisticated nuclear missile designed to be launched from a submarine.
Known as America’s “Apex Predators,” the Navy’s submarine force operates a large fleet of technologically advanced vessels. These submarines are capable of conducting rapid defensive and offensive operations around the world, in furtherance of U.S. national security.
Strategic deterrence is the nation’s ultimate insurance program, according to Navy officials. As a submariner, Jacklin is part of a small percentage of Navy personnel serving aboard a platform capable of bringing the fight to enemies in defense of America and its allies.
Jacklin has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“My proudest accomplishment in the Navy is earning my ‘fish’ or submarine warfare device,” Jacklin said. “I’m proud of that because it took a lot of hard work and was very rewarding when I finally got them.”
Jacklin serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“Serving in the Navy means being selfless in your choices,” Jacklin explained. “You can’t be selfish. You have to do what is right for the people standing next to you.”
Jacklin is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to give a shoutout to my wife, Alex, who has been with me my entire adult life,” Jacklin said. “We met at Florida State University, and she has always rolled with the punches. She works just as hard, if not harder than me. I also want to give a shoutout to my sister, Tiffany, and her three kids, for being the reason why I do this. I try to make them proud and be a good role model for them. Lastly, I want to thank my parents, Ron and Frances, for always being a listening ear and shoulder if I need it, even if they don’t fully understand what I do.”
