By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Theodore Quintana, Navy Office of Community Outreach
MILLINGTON, Tenn. – As Americans reflect on the service of military men and women this Veterans Day, some may not realize that they are fellow residents with those who serve in the U.S. Navy Reserve.
Petty Officer 1st Class Francisco Adorno, a resident of Tallahassee, Florida, supports and defends freedom around the world, as a Navy master-at-arms, who is responsible for being the command anti-terrorism officer.
Adorno is a 2006 James I Oneill High School graduate and native of Highland Falls, New York.
Reservists seamlessly support and actively aid military missions while continuing to lead their own independent lives in the civilian world, according to Navy officials.
“The Navy Reserve is a 100K strong team of sailors embedded across the fabric of society, loyal and dedicated patriots, serving both in uniform and civilian jobs, ready to defend the homeland and deploy across the world in a moment’s notice,” said Vice Adm. Luke McCollum, Chief of Navy Reserve.
The Navy Reserve provides strategic depth to America’s Navy as it protects the American homeland and advances economic prosperity by preserving freedom of the seas.
In addition to serving in the Navy Reserve, Adorno has worked at his civilian job for the past five years.
“The hardest part about balancing my civilian life with my Navy service is family,” said Adorno. “They don't always understand why daddy has to leave for so long. They get really upset when daddy leaves to work cause the don't know if dad will be home in the afternoon or a year later. So what we do in our family is just try and communicate as much as possible, talk to the children and try and help them understand that our family's sacrifice helps make our country great.”
As a Navy reservist, Adorno serves with Navy Operational Support Center Tallahassee responsible for managing, training and developing a 128 member command anti-terrorism force protection program. Adorno workes with outside agencies, like the Tallahassee Swat Team, to conduct vulnerability and threat assessments and then train and develop the command to help combat and mitigate those threats
Adorno is playing an important part 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, according to Navy officials, 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, Adorno is most proud of earning his first Navy Commendation Medal.
“This award is rarely given to someone that junior in the military,” said Adorno. “I received it for meritorious service during my first deployment to Afghanistan. Going to war at age 23 is no easy task and being recognized for my hard work at such a young age made me proud to serve.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Adorno and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“Serving in the Navy means I did something,” said Adorno. “I did something for my family, my country and the world. When my time comes to an end on this planet I can look back and tell my grandkids I served, I served in the greatest military in the world.”