VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Seaman Jeremiah Hardeman, a native of New Boston, Texas, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Maritime Expeditionary Security Group (MESG) 2, part of the Navy’s expeditionary force.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Marieliza Rosales Navy Public Affairs Support Element East |
Hardeman graduated from New Boston High School in 2023.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in New Boston.
“Being an athlete while I was growing up helped me overcome any adversity that’s been thrown my way,” Hardeman said. “I played football, basketball and ran track, which taught me to overcome obstacles. The Navy has a lot of small steps you have to overcome to get to where you want to be and to your end goal of what you want to accomplish.”
Hardeman joined the Navy one year ago. Today, Hardeman serves as a quartermaster.
“I joined the Navy because I always wanted to serve and protect my country,” Hardeman said. “I was initially interested in the Air Force, but the Navy was more accepting. The recruitment process was way faster with the Navy than the Air Force, and it was more welcoming.”
MESG-2, headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia, delivers the Navy’s front line of defense in coastal waters and ports around the globe. Its sailors are trained to patrol harbors, escort high-value ships, and guard maritime chokepoints where danger is most likely to appear. Whether operating from fast patrol craft or shoreside security positions, they ensure freedom of movement for U.S. and allied forces in contested environments.
MESG-2’s mission is built on vigilance and quiet strength. Their presence may not always make headlines, but their work underpins the safety of every operation that begins or ends at sea. In the littorals — where a small gap in security can have outsized consequences — MESG-2 stands as a constant, capable force, committed to keeping the Navy’s lifelines secure.
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.
Hardeman has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“My proudest accomplishment is graduating from boot camp,” Hardeman said. “The hardest part was being away from home. It was my first time away from my family and home, and it was a new experience. It was fun. I’m looking forward to accomplishing higher pay grades, getting to go on deployments and seeing the world.”
Hardeman 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 a lot to me,” Hardeman said. “It means I’m being held to the highest standards of virtue.”
Hardeman is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank God first,” Hardeman said. “I also want to thank my mom, Deborah Williams, and my dad, Jerical Hardeman Sr. They helped mold me into the man I am today, and that transferred into me joining the military. They got me into the structure of the military. My dad retired from the Army and my mom works for the Army, so I knew what to expect. I also want to thank my family and friends for their support.”