SAN DIEGO – Seaman Apprentice Juan Buritica, a native of Medellin, Colombia, serves in the U.S. Navy in San Diego, California.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jesse Hawthorne |
“I wanted to do something more and the Navy was the perfect way for me to do that,” said Buritica. “It requires a lot of commitment and responsibility, but I’m so glad I joined.”
Buritica joined the Navy almost a year ago. Today, Buritica serves with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron EIGHT (HSC 8) in San Diego, working with one of the Navy’s most advanced helicopters, the MH-60S Seahawk.
Today, Buritica uses the same skills and values learned in Medellin to succeed in the military.
“I'm not ok with just doing the basics,” said Buritica. “I go above and beyond in every aspect of my life.”
That lesson has helped Buritica while serving in the Navy.
Navy pilots and aircrew at HSC 8 constantly train to ensure they are prepared for peacetime and warfighting missions. The mission set of the MH-60S includes anti-surface warfare, search and rescue, vertical replenishment, logistics support, personnel transport, humanitarian disaster relief, medical evacuation, support to Naval Special Warfare and organic airborne mine countermeasures. MH-60S helicopters are also equipped with the ability to conduct replenishments at sea, search and rescue missions and enable other operations for the carrier strike group.
Serving in the Navy means Buritica is part of a team that is taking on new importance in America’s focus, rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“The Navy is all around the world, projecting power,” said Buritica. “Our carriers, destroyers and squadrons reassure people that they will be safe.”
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.
According to Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday, four priorities will focus efforts on sailors, readiness, capabilities, and capacity.
“For 245 years, in both calm and rough waters, our Navy has stood the watch to protect the homeland, preserve freedom of the seas, and defend our way of life,” said Gilday. “The decisions and investments we make this decade will set the maritime balance of power for the rest of this century. We can accept nothing less than success.”
Buritica and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“I started boot camp as a seaman recruit but I was promoted because of my hard work,” said Buritica. “I’m proud to say that I graduated from boot camp as a seaman apprentice.”
As Buritica and other sailors continue to train and perform the missions they are tasked with, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“I was born in Columbia so it makes me proud to serve in the most powerful Navy in the world,” added Buritica.