SEATTLE - Petty Officer 2nd Class Sait De La Cruz Ortiz, a native of Las Vegas, Nevada, serves aboard USS Barry, a U.S. Navy warship homeported at Naval Station Everett, Washington. The ship is currently in a Seattle shipyard undergoing routine maintenance.
De La Cruz Ortiz graduated from the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts in 2020.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Las Vegas.
“Working summers with my Dad on roofs taught me that not everything is easy, but anything can get accomplished, you just have to find the way,” said De La Cruz Ortiz.
De La Cruz Ortiz joined the Navy three years ago. Today, De La Cruz Ortiz serves as a fire controlman.
“I joined the Navy because I wanted to make a difference,” said De La Cruz Ortiz. “I also wanted to see the world.”
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| Photo by Ensign Siennah Spriggs |
De La Cruz Ortiz graduated from the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts in 2020.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Las Vegas.
“Working summers with my Dad on roofs taught me that not everything is easy, but anything can get accomplished, you just have to find the way,” said De La Cruz Ortiz.
De La Cruz Ortiz joined the Navy three years ago. Today, De La Cruz Ortiz serves as a fire controlman.
“I joined the Navy because I wanted to make a difference,” said De La Cruz Ortiz. “I also wanted to see the world.”
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.
More than 300 sailors serve aboard Barry. 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% 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 recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
“We will earn and reinforce the trust and confidence of the American people every day,” said Adm. Lisa Franchetti, chief of naval operations. “Together we will deliver the Navy the nation needs.”
De La Cruz Ortiz has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“Making my current rank of petty officer second class was huge for me because it was a goal I had been chasing since I finished my last technical school,” said De La Cruz Ortiz. “It wasn’t an easy road to get here, but when I heard my name selected, I knew it was all worth it.”
De La Cruz Ortiz serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“Serving in the Navy means protecting and keeping not just my family safe but everyone safe,” said De La Cruz Ortiz. “Not many get this opportunity that I do, and it makes me a better person and leader.”
De La Cruz Ortiz is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my parents, Federico and Patricia, for everything they’ve done for me,” added De La Cruz Ortiz. “They’ve made countless sacrifices to help me get to where I am now. I also want to send a shoutout to my brother, Bryan.”