SEATTLE - Ensign Siennah Spriggs, a Virginia Tech graduate, 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 Alvin Plexico |
Spriggs earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Virginia Tech in 2022.
Spriggs joined the Navy one year ago. Today, Spriggs serves as a first lieutenant and is training to become a surface warfare officer.
“Both of my grandfathers were Army and Air Force and my dad is a Navy civilian, so I’ve always lived in military communities,” said Spriggs. “A lot of my family friends are naval officers and that helped inspire me to join. I wanted to become a surface warfare officer because I didn’t want a desk job. I wanted to do something fun and outside of my comfort zone.”
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.”
Spriggs has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“There’s a big inspection that happens every five years on the ship called INSURV and I checked in two to three weeks before that aboard the ship,” said Spriggs. “I hopped in right away, taking on tasks and helping however I could. I’ve taken on public affairs duties and being a Sexual Assault and Prevention Response (SAPR) advocate. I’m proud of myself for always wanting to do what I could to help others.”
Spriggs serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“I’m a servant leader and I will do everything for my sailors before doing it for myself,” said Spriggs. “I do that by helping out as many people as I can, and being a good division officer by making sure my sailors’ careers are set up and that they’re doing the things that they need to do.”
Spriggs is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my two mentors, Lt. Cmdr. Kari Tereick and Master Sgt. Bekah Thorne,” added Spriggs. “They helped me in my process to join the Navy. While at Officer Candidate School, they were my biggest supporters since they lived in Newport. They both inspire me in two different ways, to keep serving and to just try to be a very humble leader.”
“Both of my grandfathers were Army and Air Force and my dad is a Navy civilian, so I’ve always lived in military communities,” said Spriggs. “A lot of my family friends are naval officers and that helped inspire me to join. I wanted to become a surface warfare officer because I didn’t want a desk job. I wanted to do something fun and outside of my comfort zone.”
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.”
Spriggs has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“There’s a big inspection that happens every five years on the ship called INSURV and I checked in two to three weeks before that aboard the ship,” said Spriggs. “I hopped in right away, taking on tasks and helping however I could. I’ve taken on public affairs duties and being a Sexual Assault and Prevention Response (SAPR) advocate. I’m proud of myself for always wanting to do what I could to help others.”
Spriggs serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“I’m a servant leader and I will do everything for my sailors before doing it for myself,” said Spriggs. “I do that by helping out as many people as I can, and being a good division officer by making sure my sailors’ careers are set up and that they’re doing the things that they need to do.”
Spriggs is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my two mentors, Lt. Cmdr. Kari Tereick and Master Sgt. Bekah Thorne,” added Spriggs. “They helped me in my process to join the Navy. While at Officer Candidate School, they were my biggest supporters since they lived in Newport. They both inspire me in two different ways, to keep serving and to just try to be a very humble leader.”