MAYPORT, Fla. - Ensign Morgan Bertoldi, a native of Mount Juliet, Tennessee, 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 |
Bertoldi, a 2018 graduate of Wilson Central High School and a 2022 graduate of the University of Arizona, joined the Navy one year ago.
“I joined the Navy because I wanted to lead, help sailors and meet a wide variety of people,” said Bertoldi. "I couldn't imagine not traveling and meeting new people. The Navy gave me an opportunity to move past a smaller town for both college and my career."
Today, Bertoldi relies upon skills and values similar to those found in Mount Juliet to succeed in the military.
“I learned in Mount Juliet humility,” said Bertoldi. "Where I am from, people don't really have diversity in life experiences and I learned that, while people from your hometown are similar to you, the world is much bigger."
These lessons have helped Bertoldi 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 Bertoldi 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 supports national defense by providing a constantly trained and ready-to-deploy fleet to project and protect the ideas and values of the country,” said Bertoldi.
Bertoldi and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“I am most proud of commissioning,” said Bertoldi. "I had a lot of crazy obstacles in college that could have changed my path but I overcame them and earned my commission despite the cards I was dealt."
As Bertoldi and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“It's very rewarding to serve not only our country but the sailors I lead,” said Bertoldi. "Shout out to the Churchill admin department."
Bertoldi is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I'd like to thank my friends and family and friends for their continuous support,” added Bertoldi.