SEATTLE - Seaman Apprentice McKenzie Fuhlrodt, a native of Omaha, Nebraska, 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.
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| Photo by Ensign Siennah Spriggs |
Fuhlrodt graduated from Millard North High School in 2023.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Omaha.
“Growing up, I learned not to give up and to accept that sometimes things aren’t great,” said Fuhlrodt. “There have been so many times when I said, ‘I don’t want to do this anymore,’ but I know I have to keep going.”
Fuhlrodt joined the Navy one year ago. Today, Fuhlrodt serves as a surface sonar technician.
“I joined the Navy because I wanted to continue my family’s legacy,” said Fuhlrodt. “I’m fifth-generation military. My dad was an aviation equipment boatswain’s mate, my grandfather served in the Air Force and taught at nuke school, my great-grandfather served in the Marine Corps in World War II at Okinawa and my great-great-grandfather served in the Navy as well. I wanted to carry on that tradition. I’d been landlocked in Nebraska for my whole life and I wanted to travel and do something with my life and be successful. This was my chance to get out and live my own life.”
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.”
Fuhlrodt has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I’m most proud of not giving up on the Navy when I had so many opportunities to do so,” said Fuhlrodt. “I got injured at boot camp and spent four months there, two of them in medical holding. It was sad and depressing. In boot camp, you’re always busy, but in medical holding, you can’t do anything. You have to know that one day you’re going to heal and you’re going to get out of there. I had another medical situation in January when I was in ‘A’ School, but I pushed through because I wanted to be here. I want to be a sonar technician. I refuse to be removed from the military unless it’s my choice.”
Fuhlrodt serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“I think serving in the Navy is a huge learning opportunity,” said Fuhlrodt. “You learn about yourself, others, the world and more.”
Fuhlrodt is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my dad, Aaron,” said Fuhlrodt. “He’s a really big influence in my life. There’ve been so many times when I’ve had a situation come up and I’d call him and he’d give really great advice. I also want to thank my female military role models. I didn’t have any positive female role models I could look up to growing up. However, Aviation Maintenance Administrationman 1st Class Dummonds was someone I looked up to in boot camp. I want to be that person when I get into leadership. If someone new comes in, I want them to know they’re safe with me and I want to guide them the way I was guided when I got here.”
Fuhlrodt offered words of encouragement for anyone looking for their path in life.
“Don’t give up and don’t let people dictate how you live your life,” added Fuhlrodt. “You have to live for yourself.”