SAN DIEGO- Three years ago, Petty Officer 2nd Class Dakota Wisinger joined the Navy because he wanted to travel. Today, Wisinger is serving aboard USS Boxer, stationed in San Diego.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tim Miller |
Wisinger is a cryptologic technician responsible for analyzing encrypted electronic communications to provide situational awareness that helps the commander complete the mission.
“I get to see the bigger picture of what we do on deployment,” said Wisinger. "It's rewarding to see how everything comes together and how the ship comes together as a team."
Wisinger is a 2016 Mount Pleasant High School graduate and native of Mount Pleasant, Texas.
According to Wisinger, the values required to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Mount Pleasant.
“I learned back home to always strive for the best and to always help others strive for their best,” said Wisinger. “This has followed me into my Navy career, aiding me to get to where I am today.”
With more than 90 percent of all trade traveling by sea, and 95 percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic carried through fiber optic cables lying on the ocean floor, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity and security of the United States is directly linked to a strong and ready Navy.
Boxer is an amphibious assault ship that has recently returned from a Western Pacific-Indian Ocean-Persian Gulf deployment. It is the sixth ship to carry the name Boxer.
Amphibious assault ships are used to transfer Marines, equipment and supplies and can support helicopters or other aircraft. They also are capable of accessing 75% of the world’s beaches.
According to Admiral Mike Gilday, the Chief of Naval Operations, the focus of today’s Navy is squarely on warfighting, warfighters and the capabilities needed for the Navy of the future.
“I am confident we will maximize the Navy we have today while delivering the Navy that our nation will rely upon tomorrow,” said Gilday. “And we will do so with urgency. Our fleet will be a potent, formidable force that competes around the world every day, deterring those who would challenge us while reassuring our allies and partners.”
There are many opportunities for sailors to earn recognition in their command, community and careers. Wisinger is most proud of earning a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal in 2019.
“During our recent deployment to the Pacific Ocean and Middle East, I was the watch supervisor where we processed signals and provided time-sensitive reports required to complete our mission,” said Wisinger.
For Wisinger, serving in the Navy is a tradition passed down from generations and one Wisinger hopes to continue.
“I have an older brother who joined the Army two years before I joined the Navy,” said Wisinger.
“I get to see the bigger picture of what we do on deployment,” said Wisinger. "It's rewarding to see how everything comes together and how the ship comes together as a team."
Wisinger is a 2016 Mount Pleasant High School graduate and native of Mount Pleasant, Texas.
According to Wisinger, the values required to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Mount Pleasant.
“I learned back home to always strive for the best and to always help others strive for their best,” said Wisinger. “This has followed me into my Navy career, aiding me to get to where I am today.”
With more than 90 percent of all trade traveling by sea, and 95 percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic carried through fiber optic cables lying on the ocean floor, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity and security of the United States is directly linked to a strong and ready Navy.
Boxer is an amphibious assault ship that has recently returned from a Western Pacific-Indian Ocean-Persian Gulf deployment. It is the sixth ship to carry the name Boxer.
Amphibious assault ships are used to transfer Marines, equipment and supplies and can support helicopters or other aircraft. They also are capable of accessing 75% of the world’s beaches.
According to Admiral Mike Gilday, the Chief of Naval Operations, the focus of today’s Navy is squarely on warfighting, warfighters and the capabilities needed for the Navy of the future.
“I am confident we will maximize the Navy we have today while delivering the Navy that our nation will rely upon tomorrow,” said Gilday. “And we will do so with urgency. Our fleet will be a potent, formidable force that competes around the world every day, deterring those who would challenge us while reassuring our allies and partners.”
There are many opportunities for sailors to earn recognition in their command, community and careers. Wisinger is most proud of earning a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal in 2019.
“During our recent deployment to the Pacific Ocean and Middle East, I was the watch supervisor where we processed signals and provided time-sensitive reports required to complete our mission,” said Wisinger.
For Wisinger, serving in the Navy is a tradition passed down from generations and one Wisinger hopes to continue.
“I have an older brother who joined the Army two years before I joined the Navy,” said Wisinger.
“I've always looked up to my brother, and he inspired me through his choice to join. I saw all the opportunities that were available to him and wanted to explore those for myself. To this day, I still look up to him even though we're in different branches of the military.”
As a member of the U.S. Navy, Wisinger, as well as other sailors, know they are a part of a service tradition providing unforgettable experiences through leadership development, world affairs and humanitarian assistance. Their efforts will have a lasting effect around the globe and for generations of sailors who will follow.
“Serving in the Navy means everything to me,” said Wisinger. "Without the Navy I'm not sure what I would have done with my life. The Navy has opened a world of opportunities for me allowing me to achieve anything I want in life."
As a member of the U.S. Navy, Wisinger, as well as other sailors, know they are a part of a service tradition providing unforgettable experiences through leadership development, world affairs and humanitarian assistance. Their efforts will have a lasting effect around the globe and for generations of sailors who will follow.
“Serving in the Navy means everything to me,” said Wisinger. "Without the Navy I'm not sure what I would have done with my life. The Navy has opened a world of opportunities for me allowing me to achieve anything I want in life."