NORFOLK, Va. - Petty Officer 3rd Class Julio Agostolaureano, a sailor from Caguas, Puerto Rico, serves aboard USS Gerald R. Ford, homeported in Norfolk, Virginia.
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Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Adriones Johnson, Navy Office of Community Outreach |
Agostolaureano graduated from Vocacional Republica de Costa Rica in 2012.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Puerto Rico.
“Growing up, I learned discipline and hard work were most important,” said Agostolaureano. "I learned to be optimistic during hard times and the ‘work-smarter-not-harder’ mentality of the Navy fits me very well."
Agostolaureano joined the Navy three years ago. Today, Agostolaureano serves as a boatswain's mate.
“I joined the Navy after college jobs were hard to come by and I wanted to travel the world,” said Agostolaureano. "The Navy also gave me a means to take care of my family."
The crew recently completed an eight-month deployment, which was the first deployment for the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier.
The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group was extended 76 days following the outbreak of conflict in Israel and operated in the Mediterranean Sea to deter further escalation and support Israel in its right to self-defense.
While in the Mediterranean, the carrier strike group participated in and supported numerous multinational exercises and vigilance activities to increase NATO capability and deter aggression in the region. The carrier visited ports in Croatia, Greece, Italy, Norway and Türkiye. Other ships in the strike group visited Belgium, Cyprus, Montenegro, Spain, and Sweden.
“The Gerald R. Ford is everything our nation hoped it would be, and more. I am so proud of the crew, who breathed life into the world’s most technologically advanced warship and stood the watch in defense of our national interests,” said Capt. Rick Burgess, Gerald R. Ford’s commanding officer. “Though extended, we were the right ship at the right time to answer the call, and our sailors performed admirably. Ford sailors honored our namesake’s legacies of hard work, integrity, and courage.”
In 239 days underway, the ship’s crew conducted 43 underway replenishments, logged more than 17,826 flight hours and 10,396 sorties, sailed more than 83,476 nautical miles, and safely transferred 20.7 million gallons of fuel with zero mishaps. The Ford crew conducted 33,444 flight deck moves, 3,124 hangar bay aircraft moves, 2,883 aircraft elevator moves, 16,351 aircraft fueling evolutions, and transferred 8,850 pallets of cargo and mail. The Gerald R. Ford culinary team prepared and served 3.1 million meals, which included approximately 48,000 dozen eggs, 24,000 gallons of milk, 131,000 hamburgers, 367,000 pounds of chicken, and Gerald R. Ford’s favorite, 79,000 chocolate chip cookies.
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 recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Agostolaureano serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation's prosperity and security.
"We will earn and reinforce the trust and confidence of the American people every day," said Adm. Lisa Franchetti, chief of naval operations. "Together we will deliver the Navy the nation needs."
Agostolaureano has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I am most proud of getting promoted to E-4 in my first year and receiving a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for helping anchor the ship during the deployment,” said Agostolaureano. "I also became the training petty officer six months ago."
Agostolaureano can take pride in serving America through military service.
“Serving in the Navy means a lot because I get to make my family proud and my daughter sees me as a hero,” said Agostolaureano. "It was the best feeling ever seeing my daughter, Gemma, and my wife, Leslie, on the pier when we returned from deployment. It made all of the hard work and time away worth it."
Agostolaureano is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“My family has supported me from the beginning,” added Agostolaureano. “Especially my mother, mother-in-law and grandfather, who served in the Army during the Vietnam War. He always tells me that a better paycheck comes with greater responsibility. He has always told me to lead by example and treat everyone with dignity and respect."