SAN DIEGO - Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Contreras, a native of El Paso, Texas, serves aboard USS Essex, a U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship operating out of San Diego, California.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Joey Sitter, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West |
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in El Paso.
“One of the things that sticks with me is that even though everyone’s grown up with different backgrounds, you can still come together as a community,” Contreras said. “You can bump heads, but when it matters the most you can come together as a whole. I feel like it’s the same thing on a ship or any command you go to. It takes understanding as well, a lot of people are hard-headed, but once you put that aside, that’s when you can start coming together.”
Contreras joined the Navy eight years ago. Today, Contreras serves as an aviation support equipment technician.
“I joined the Navy for more opportunities,” Contreras said. “The Navy wasn’t my first choice, but my stepdad was in the Navy and would tell me stories. He was always glad he did it. He said if I joined the Navy, it wouldn’t be a vacation, that there would be parts I wouldn’t like, but it would be a career. I had other options, but once I met with a recruiter, it was head-on.”
Amphibious assault ships, such as Essex, project power and maintain presence by serving as the cornerstone of the Amphibious Readiness Group / Expeditionary Strike Group.
Resembling a small aircraft carrier, amphibious assault ships offer the Marine Corps with a means of ship-to-shore movement, provide humanitarian assistance and support major combat operations. More than 1,000 serve aboard Essex with an additional 1,200 Marines capable of being embarked.
The U.S. Navy is celebrating its 250th birthday this year.
According to Navy officials, “America is a maritime nation and for 250 years, America’s Warfighting Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom.”
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.
Contreras has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I’m grateful for my career and that my family is doing very well,” Contreras said. “My fiancée is doing good and my son is doing good. I think my younger self would be very proud. Everything I was dreaming of when I was at MEPS, I’m doing it now. You don’t think about how far you’ve come, but once you slow down you’re able to realize all the accomplishments you’ve had.”
Contreras 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, to me, means professionalism, appearance and thinking about actions before you do them,” Contreras said. “It means doing the right thing, especially when no one is looking.”
Contreras is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I definitely want to thank my mom and dad, Sylvia and Eddie,” Contreras added. “There were times when I didn’t believe in myself and they helped me get my head on straight. I also want to thank my fiancée, Samantha, and stepson, Elijah, for their love and support through everything. I’m thankful to my friends for supporting me. It’s that phone call back home or hearing a familiar voice that matters.”