SAN DIEGO – Seaman Jaritza Saldana, a native of Boston, was inspired by family history to join the military.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson Brown |
Now, nine months later, Saldana serves aboard one of the Navy’s amphibious ships at Naval Base San Diego.
“Life aboard the Essex is really good so far,” said Saldana. “I am new to the Navy and have been doing a lot of training on navigation aboard the ship.”
Saldana, a 2018 graduate of Greater Lowell Technical High School, is a quatermaster aboard USS Essex, one of four Wasp-class amphibious assault ships in the Navy, homeported in San Diego.
“I am responsible for navigating the ship,” said Saldana. “I am in charge of ordering parts for the ship as a repair petty officer aboard Essex.”
Saldana credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Boston.
“I have learned to work independently and learned the importance of friendship, friends are like family,” said Saldana.
Essex is designed to deliver U.S. Marines and their equipment where they are needed to support a variety of missions ranging from amphibious assaults to humanitarian relief efforts. Designed to be versatile, the ship has the option of simultaneously using helicopters, Harrier jets, and Landing Craft Air Cushioned (LCAC), as well as conventional landing craft and assault vehicles in various combinations.
Because of their inherent capabilities, these ships have been and will continue to be called upon to support humanitarian and other contingency missions on short notice.
Sailors' jobs are highly varied aboard Essex. More than 1,000 men and women make up the ship's crew, which keeps all parts of the ship running smoothly, from handling weaponry to maintaining the engines. An additional 1,200 Marines can be embarked.
“You get to meet a lot of people here," said Saldana. "There is a lot of diversity, people from different countries and different places around the world.”
“Life aboard the Essex is really good so far,” said Saldana. “I am new to the Navy and have been doing a lot of training on navigation aboard the ship.”
Saldana, a 2018 graduate of Greater Lowell Technical High School, is a quatermaster aboard USS Essex, one of four Wasp-class amphibious assault ships in the Navy, homeported in San Diego.
“I am responsible for navigating the ship,” said Saldana. “I am in charge of ordering parts for the ship as a repair petty officer aboard Essex.”
Saldana credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Boston.
“I have learned to work independently and learned the importance of friendship, friends are like family,” said Saldana.
Essex is designed to deliver U.S. Marines and their equipment where they are needed to support a variety of missions ranging from amphibious assaults to humanitarian relief efforts. Designed to be versatile, the ship has the option of simultaneously using helicopters, Harrier jets, and Landing Craft Air Cushioned (LCAC), as well as conventional landing craft and assault vehicles in various combinations.
Because of their inherent capabilities, these ships have been and will continue to be called upon to support humanitarian and other contingency missions on short notice.
Sailors' jobs are highly varied aboard Essex. More than 1,000 men and women make up the ship's crew, which keeps all parts of the ship running smoothly, from handling weaponry to maintaining the engines. An additional 1,200 Marines can be embarked.
“You get to meet a lot of people here," said Saldana. "There is a lot of diversity, people from different countries and different places around the world.”
Serving in the Navy means Saldana is part of a world that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
A key element of the Navy the nation needs is tied to the fact that America is a maritime nation, and that the nation’s prosperity is tied to the ability to operate freely on the world’s oceans. More than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water; 80 percent of the world’s population lives close to a coast; and 90 percent of all global trade by volume travels by sea.
“Our priorities center on people, capabilities and processes, and will be achieved by our focus on speed, value, results and partnerships,” said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. “Readiness, lethality and modernization are the requirements driving these priorities.”
Though there are many ways for sailors to earn distinction in their command, community, and career, Saldana is most proud of graduating basic training.
“It was a career goal of mine to join the military, graduating basic training makes me very proud and happy,” said Saldana.
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Saldana and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes contributing to the Navy the nation needs.
“I have a lot of pride serving in the Navy," said Saldana. "It means a lot to me to carry on my family tradition of serving in the armed forces.”