SAN DIEGO - A native of Downey, California, is serving in the U.S. Navy aboard the guided-missile cruiser, USS Cowpens.
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Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Sang Kim, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West |
Petty Officer 2nd Class Shirley Lorente, a 2015 Warren High School graduate, joined the Navy six years ago.
“Serving in the Navy is a chance to experience something that not a lot of people get to experience,” said Lorente. “It's a great stepping stone professionally. I get to work with people that I wouldn't otherwise have a chance to meet.”
Today, Lorente serves as a yeoman.
A yeoman is an administrative position. Yeomen work with leadership, and schedule, administrate and execute events.
Lorente relies upon skills and values from lessons learned in Downey to succeed in the military.
“Growing up, my mom always preached that you do everything as if you're doing it for God,” said Lorente. “I've carried that over day in and day out. I do my job like I'm doing it for the Lord. I do it with a lot of passion, respect and diligence every day.”
Homeported in San Diego, California, USS Cowpens is named after the Revolutionary War Battle of Cowpens, a major American victory near Cowpens, South Carolina. The historic battle weakened British attempts to wrest the southern colonies from American control.
Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers are tactical multi-mission surface combatants capable of conducting anti-air warfare, anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare, as well as humanitarian assistance, according to Navy officials.
Fast, maneuverable, and technically advanced, cruisers provide the required warfighting expertise and operational flexibility to execute any task overseas.
Serving in the Navy means Lorente is part of a world that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on strengthening alliances, modernizing capabilities, increasing capacities and maintaining military readiness in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“The Navy helps us protect international and foreign waters – that's the reason for our deployments and detachments,” Lorente said. “We train like we fight.”
More than 90 percent of all trade travels by sea, and fiber optic cables on the ocean floor carry 95 percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic.
Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity and security of the United States is directly linked to ready sailors and a strong Navy.
“Maintaining the world’s best Navy is an investment in the security and prosperity of the United States, as well as the stability of our world,” said Adm. Mike Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations.“The U.S. Navy – forward deployed and integrated with all elements of national power – deters conflict, strengthens our alliances and partnerships and guarantees free and open access to the world’s oceans. As the United States responds to the security environment through integrated deterrence, our Navy must continue to deploy forward and campaign with a ready, capable, combat-credible fleet.”
“The Surface Force will continue to meet the challenge of strategic competition and respond to the realities of the modern security environment,” said Commander of Naval Surface Forces Vice Adm. Roy Kitchener. “Our efforts are critical to preserve freedom of the seas, deter aggression and win wars.”
Sailors like Lorente have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“Taking on my first ship billet has really helped me showcase all of the skills that I accumulated prior to coming to this command,” Lorente said. “I've adjusted to a fast-paced environment. I've learned about damage control and ship maintenance, that has put another tool in my toolbox.”
As Lorente and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“Serving in the Navy for me, means getting a glimpse of what Christ did for us when he walked the earth,” Lorente added. “Even if the days are long and the days are hard, I know in the end, that my hard work is a contribution to something greater than myself.”