SAN DIEGO - Petty Officer 2nd Class Iliana Ortiz, a native of East Mesa, Arizona, was inspired to join the Navy for personal development and travel opportunities.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson Brown |
“It meant being able to truly be independent and travel the world,” Ortiz said. “Out of all the branches the Navy had more options for females.”
Now, three years later, Ortiz serves aboard one of the Navy's amphibious ships at Naval Base San Diego.
“It's fast paced here,” Ortiz said. “You definitely work hard all the time. It's really easy on a big ship to get to know people. It's like a giant network.”
Ortiz, a 2016 graduate of Primavera Online High School, is a cryptologic technician (collection) aboard USS Essex, one of four Wasp-class amphibious assault ships in the Navy, homeported in San Diego.
“I am a signals analyst,” Ortiz said. “I detect and analyze signals intelligence data. So basically I'm a computer nerd.”
Ortiz credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in East Mesa.
“I'm a military brat,” Ortiz said. “My mom and my dad were both in the Army. They taught me how to adapt to any environment I'm in.”
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.
“The Marines help instill a lot of camaraderie,” Ortiz said. “They're all very close.”
Serving in the Navy means Ortiz 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, Ortiz is most proud of earning the Information Warfare Pin and being promoted to second class petty officer.
“It was not an easy feat,” Ortiz said. “Earning my pin was my proudest accomplishment becaue I worked really hard to get it. There was a lot of studying. It was mentally straining. Earning a promotion to second class was probably my number one goal when I got here.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy's most relied upon assets, Ortiz and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes contributing to the Navy the nation needs.
“Serving in the Navy means family,” Ortiz said. “I've been able to find myself and find acceptance from others and form my friend 'family' of people I can turn to when things get rough.”
Now, three years later, Ortiz serves aboard one of the Navy's amphibious ships at Naval Base San Diego.
“It's fast paced here,” Ortiz said. “You definitely work hard all the time. It's really easy on a big ship to get to know people. It's like a giant network.”
Ortiz, a 2016 graduate of Primavera Online High School, is a cryptologic technician (collection) aboard USS Essex, one of four Wasp-class amphibious assault ships in the Navy, homeported in San Diego.
“I am a signals analyst,” Ortiz said. “I detect and analyze signals intelligence data. So basically I'm a computer nerd.”
Ortiz credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in East Mesa.
“I'm a military brat,” Ortiz said. “My mom and my dad were both in the Army. They taught me how to adapt to any environment I'm in.”
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.
“The Marines help instill a lot of camaraderie,” Ortiz said. “They're all very close.”
Serving in the Navy means Ortiz 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, Ortiz is most proud of earning the Information Warfare Pin and being promoted to second class petty officer.
“It was not an easy feat,” Ortiz said. “Earning my pin was my proudest accomplishment becaue I worked really hard to get it. There was a lot of studying. It was mentally straining. Earning a promotion to second class was probably my number one goal when I got here.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy's most relied upon assets, Ortiz and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes contributing to the Navy the nation needs.
“Serving in the Navy means family,” Ortiz said. “I've been able to find myself and find acceptance from others and form my friend 'family' of people I can turn to when things get rough.”