SAN DIEGO - Petty Officer 1st Class Justin Touchard, a native of Marrero, Louisiana, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Naval Base Point Loma.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Joey Sitter, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West |
Touchard graduated from Lake Forest High School in 2006.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Marrero.
“Growing up, I learned to always work hard for what you want and don’t take no for an answer,” Touchard said. “If you go to someone for help, a lot of people will just brush you off, rather than trying to find the answer. One of my chiefs always told me, ‘There’s always a way to yes, it’s up to you to find it.’ People work hard back home, and hard work is something everyone values. I just brought that with me to the military, and it’s helped me a lot along the way.”
Touchard joined the Navy 15 years ago. Today, Touchard serves as a mineman and is over the ‘A’ school students at the Mine Warfare Training Center.
“I joined the Navy because I wanted to serve my country like my dad, who was in the Air Force,” Touchard said. “I knew I wanted to join the military from a young age. My grandpa owned a tug boat company, and I knew I wanted to be on the water. The Navy seemed like the best fit.”
Naval Base Point Loma provides support to 70 U.S. Pacific Fleet commands headquartered on the base, including five nuclear-powered fast-attack submarines. The base is also home to Cabrillo National Park and the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, which averages more than 1.2 million visitors annually.
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.
Touchard has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I’m proud to be in a position where I can mentor and guide newer junior sailors,” Touchard said. “That’s my passion and the whole reason I picked the schoolhouse. They told me I couldn’t be in charge of the students initially, but I kept telling everyone that this was what I wanted to do, and now I’m in charge of all the ‘A’ school students. I want to give the newer sailors more guidance. Being able to make them feel comfortable enough to come up to me to ask questions is really rewarding. More than anything else, my sense of pride comes from that.”
Touchard 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 gives me a sense of pride and purpose,” Touchard said. “Every time I put on my uniform, I’m proud. Every time I go out with my family in uniform, people look at me and know that my family raised a good one.”
Touchard is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.“There are too many people to thank for showing me how to be the leader I want to be, but I do want to give a shout-out to retired Senior Chief Mark Brandt,” Touchard added. “He’s from Louisiana, about 20 minutes from where I’m from. He retired after 26 years in the Navy and showed me a lot of good qualities about the kind of chief I want to be. I also want to thank my family for their support over the years.”
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Marrero.
“Growing up, I learned to always work hard for what you want and don’t take no for an answer,” Touchard said. “If you go to someone for help, a lot of people will just brush you off, rather than trying to find the answer. One of my chiefs always told me, ‘There’s always a way to yes, it’s up to you to find it.’ People work hard back home, and hard work is something everyone values. I just brought that with me to the military, and it’s helped me a lot along the way.”
Touchard joined the Navy 15 years ago. Today, Touchard serves as a mineman and is over the ‘A’ school students at the Mine Warfare Training Center.
“I joined the Navy because I wanted to serve my country like my dad, who was in the Air Force,” Touchard said. “I knew I wanted to join the military from a young age. My grandpa owned a tug boat company, and I knew I wanted to be on the water. The Navy seemed like the best fit.”
Naval Base Point Loma provides support to 70 U.S. Pacific Fleet commands headquartered on the base, including five nuclear-powered fast-attack submarines. The base is also home to Cabrillo National Park and the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, which averages more than 1.2 million visitors annually.
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.
Touchard has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I’m proud to be in a position where I can mentor and guide newer junior sailors,” Touchard said. “That’s my passion and the whole reason I picked the schoolhouse. They told me I couldn’t be in charge of the students initially, but I kept telling everyone that this was what I wanted to do, and now I’m in charge of all the ‘A’ school students. I want to give the newer sailors more guidance. Being able to make them feel comfortable enough to come up to me to ask questions is really rewarding. More than anything else, my sense of pride comes from that.”
Touchard 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 gives me a sense of pride and purpose,” Touchard said. “Every time I put on my uniform, I’m proud. Every time I go out with my family in uniform, people look at me and know that my family raised a good one.”
Touchard is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.“There are too many people to thank for showing me how to be the leader I want to be, but I do want to give a shout-out to retired Senior Chief Mark Brandt,” Touchard added. “He’s from Louisiana, about 20 minutes from where I’m from. He retired after 26 years in the Navy and showed me a lot of good qualities about the kind of chief I want to be. I also want to thank my family for their support over the years.”