MILLINGTON, Tenn. – Retired U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Freddie Jordan, a native of Marion, Indiana, recently started with the U.S. Navy as a civilian employee assigned to Naval Medical Readiness Logistics Command (NMRLC) Williamsburg, Virginia.
Jordan is a 1981 graduate of Marion High School and served in the Navy for 22 years as a personnel specialist before retiring.
"The youngest of 13 children, I first joined the Naval Reserves and then joined the Navy following in my older brother's footsteps while making my own path," Jordan said.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Marion.
"I grew up in a small town in Marion," Jordan said. "During my time in my small town, I started working at the age of 15 through summer jobs in the corn fields and eventually, I advanced and started working for the Boys club. I wanted to see the world, so I joined the Navy where my hard work ethic paid off."
Today, Jordan serves as a civilian supporting the Navy at NMRLC as a financial management specialist.
"I started my naval career as an electronic warfare technician and later switched to a personnel specialist," Jordan said. "As a financial management specialist, I can do what I did in the Navy to help people with their pay and benefits while they advance through their military career."
Headed by Capt. Christopher Barnes, NMRLC develops, acquires, produces, fields, sustains, and provides enduring lifecycle support of medical materiel solutions to the Fleet, Fleet Marine Force, and Joint Forces in high-end competition, crisis, and combat. At the forefront of Navy Medicine’s strategic evolution, NMRLC is well positioned to be the Joint Force’s premier integrated medical logistics support activity.
The U.S. Navy is celebrating its 250th birthday this year.
According to Navy officials, “America is a maritime nation and for 250 years, America’s Warfighting Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom.”
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.
Jordan serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation's prosperity and security.
Jordan has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
"While I was in the Navy, I was able to complete my associate's degree in liberal arts from Saint Leo University, which launched my career after retirement to receive my bachelor's degree and master's degree in business administration graduating from Saint Leo University in 2021," Jordan said. "Additionally, while working at Langley Air Force Base as the overall Agency Program Coordinator for the Government Travel Charge Card program, I led and received a perfect score on the Government Travel Charge Card program audit for three years straight and received financial compensation back to the command, in which I received a reward for my accomplishments."
Jordan can take pride in serving America.
President John F. Kennedy, who Jordan admires, said, "Any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction, 'I served in the United States Navy.'"