MAYPORT, Fla. - Ensign Abbigail Sharma, a native of Fullerton, California, is serving aboard USS Winston S. Churchill, a U.S. Navy warship, operating out of Mayport, Florida.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Bryan Niegel, Navy Office of Community Outreach |
Sharma, a 2017 graduate of Troy High School, joined the Navy one year ago. Additionally, Sharma graduated from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree.
“I joined the Navy to continue my family tradition of serving our nation and to give back to the country that has given me more than I could ever deserve,” said Sharma. “My father, Ravi Sharma, previously served as a lieutenant in the Explosive Ordnance Disposal. My sister, Anjali, will commission as a Marine Corps officer next year.”
Today, Sharma relies upon skills and values similar to those found in Fullerton to succeed in the military.
“The biggest lesson I learned from my hometown is to treat everyone with dignity and to understand that we all come from different walks of life,” said Sharma. “However, if we all come together, we can accomplish amazing feats.”
These lessons have helped Sharma while serving in the Navy.
Winston S. Churchill is a guided-missile destroyer that provides a wide range of warfighting capabilities. The destroyer is a multi-mission ship that can operate independently or as part of a larger group of ships at sea. The ship is equipped with tomahawk missiles, torpedoes, guns and a phalanx close-in weapons system.
More than 300 sailors serve aboard Winston S. Churchill. Their jobs are highly specialized, requiring both dedication and skill. The jobs range from maintaining engines to handling weaponry along with a multitude of other assignments that keep the ship mission-ready at all times, according to Navy officials.
With 90 percent of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to trained sailors and a strong Navy.
"Our mission remains timeless - to provide our fellow citizens with nothing less than the very best Navy: fully combat ready at all times, focused on warfighting excellence, and committed to superior leadership at every single level," said Adm. Mike Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations. "This is our calling. And I cannot imagine a calling more worthy."
Serving in the Navy means Sharma is part of a team 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 is the ultimate force guarding our seas and coasts while instilling the ideals of freedom and democracy,” said Sharma.
Sharma and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“I’m most proud of commissioning as an officer and being given the opportunity to lead,” said Sharma.
As Sharma 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 is something that I’ve always dreamed about since I was young, seeing my family in uniform,” said Sharma. “It also means hard work and dedication towards every task you are given.”
Sharma is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my dad for always believing in me and being my biggest inspiration to join the Navy,” added Sharma. “He taught me that hard work and resilience will allow me to do anything I put my mind to.”