MILLINGTON, Tenn. - Ensign Madison Beason, a native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, recently graduated from Search and Rescue (SAR) Swimmer school serving aboard the U.S. Navy warship, USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112), operating out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Beason, a 2019 graduate of Benilde-St. Margaret's High School, joined the Navy one year ago. Additionally, Beason graduated from the University of Arizona in 2023.
"I wanted to serve my country in a unique way, and I felt my skill sets suited the challenges of surface Navy military duty," said Beason.
Becoming a SAR swimmer is highly challenging and demanding. Candidates must undergo rigorous physical and mental training, including swimming, running, strength training and water survival exercises. The training program is designed to test candidates' endurance, resilience and ability to perform under extreme conditions.
"I grew up swimming competitively and my interest in becoming a Search and Rescue swimmer started when my command brought up the opportunity and told me I'd be a great candidate," said Beason. "SAR school was very challenging, but I had a lot of support from my fellow junior officers and the other Search and Rescue swimmers at the schoolhouse."
SAR swimmers are responsible for performing search and rescue missions in various environments, including open ocean, coastal areas and confined spaces. They are trained to provide emergency medical treatment to survivors, operate rescue equipment and perform helicopter hoist operations.
"Being a Search and Rescue swimmer represents having another empowering skill set that will enable me to save the lives of my fellow shipmates and better support the mission of USS Michael Murphy as we head out on a Seventh Fleet deployment," added Beason.
USS Michael Murphy was named in honor of Lt. Michael P. Murphy, a Navy SEAL, who selflessly gave his life for his shipmates during a reconnaissance mission in Afghanistan as a part of Operation Red Wings. Murphy was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions and his legacy lives on with USS Michael Murphy and her crew of 337 sailors and officers.
According to Navy officials, Michael Murphy is an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer that provides a wide range of warfighting capabilities. A Navy 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.
As Beason and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the U.S. Navy.