Thursday, March 7, 2019

Tucson Sailor earns Navy Recruiting Spotlight

Story by: Burrell Parmer, Navy Recruiting District San Antonio Public Affairs

SAN ANTONIO – (Feb. 26, 2019) Maintaining a leader mentality and yearning to become a more effective leader in America’s Navy are two of the goals of Engineman 1st Class Yong Yo, 26, a Naval Special Operations/Naval Special Warfare (NSO/NSW) scout assigned to Navy Recruiting Station (NRS) North Austin, Navy Recruiting District (NRD) San Antonio. 

A native of Tucson, Ariz., Yo joined the Navy 2011 to take advantage of career opportunities and broaden his skill sets.

“Growing up, my dream was to go to college and pursue a career,” said Yo, who was recruited from NRS Saguaro Valley. “I was always different and did not want to take the paved road and instead blaze my own trail.”

Yo, who has been supporting recruiting for two years, works directly with candidates who pursue being Navy SEALs and Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen (SWCC).

“I want to provide the Navy with quality Sailors for the NSO/NSW community,” said Yo. “I came to recruiting to help people and give them the same opportunities I was looking for. One of my highlights is when Sailors I helped recruit call and thank me for helping them achieve their goals.”

According to Yo, the Navy has taught him how to become a more effective leader by giving him the opportunity to lead Sailors from all over the world.

“The best part about being in the Navy is its diversity,” said Yo. “I get to work with and learn from different people with different personalities.”

Before being assigned to NRD San Antonio, Yo served on USS PEARL HARBOR (LSD-52), and with Mine Countermeasures (MCM) Crew Fearless on the several MCM vessels.

In addition to his recruiting duties, Yo conducts community service by supporting the Salvation Army, mentoring Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets, and participating in 5K races.

His personal goals include attaining a degree, purchasing a home, investing in real estate, and creating a solid foundation for his daughter.

“The Navy has provided me with structure and a steady foundation to build my family,” said Yo. “I would do anything for my wife and daughter; they are my motivation and the reason I put on a uniform every day.”

NRD San Antonio’s area of responsibility includes more than 30 Navy Recruiting Stations and Navy Officer Recruiting Stations spread throughout 144,000 square miles of Central and South Texas territory.

Navy Recruiting Command consists of a command headquarters, two Navy Recruiting Regions, 20 Navy Recruiting Districts and six Navy Talent Acquisition Groups that serve more than 1,300 recruiting stations across the country.