NORFOLK, Va. - Petty Officer 2nd Class Isaiah Espinozamontes, a native of San Jacinto, California, serves aboard a U.S. Navy warship operating out of Norfolk, Virginia.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Beverly Taylor, Navy Office of Community Outreach |
Espinozamontes graduated in 2020 from Tahquitz High School.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in San Jacinto.
“Growing up, I learned not to rely on others to get work done that I could do myself,” said Espinozamontes.
Espinozamontes joined the Navy three years ago. Today, Espinozamontes serves as a quartermaster aboard USS Ross.
“I joined the Navy because I wanted to gain some work experience,” said Espinozamontes. “I also wanted to mature and become an adult.”
Ross, a guided-missile destroyer, provides a wide range of warfighting capabilities in multi-threat air, surface and subsurface environments.
A destroyer is a multi-mission ship that can operate independently or as part of a larger group of ships at sea. The ship is equipped with tomahawk missiles, torpedoes, guns and a phalanx close-in weapons system.
More than 300 sailors serve aboard Ross. Their jobs are highly specialized, requiring both dedication and skill. Their jobs range from maintaining engines to handling weaponry, alongside a multitude of other assignments that keep the ship mission-ready at all times, according to Navy officials.
Serving in the Navy means Espinozamontes is part of a team that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“The Navy is like the ocean’s police force,” said Espinozamontes. “We help ensure free trade among the nations around the world.”
With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to trained sailors and a strong Navy.
Espinozamontes has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I am now proficient with my job,” said Espinozamontes. “When we go underway, I’m up on the bridge by myself giving recommendations to the officer of the deck on what we should do. I can calculate what speed we need to be going to arrive at our destination on time.”
As Espinozamontes and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the U.S. Navy.
“The Navy has given me a way forward in life,” said Espinozamontes. “It’s helped me accomplish my goals and when I get out, I will be able to succeed.”
Espinozamontes is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“My father was in the Army and told me the benefits of being in the military,” added Espinozamontes. “I read about the different rates and saw quartermaster, which really interested me. I really love it.”