SAN DIEGO - Petty Officer 1st Class Sherry Mares, a native of Alhambra, California, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Naval Base Point Loma.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Joey Sitter, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West |
Mares graduated from Alhambra High School in 2015. Mares earned an associate degree in criminal justice in 2023 and a bachelor’s degree in cyber security in 2024, both from the University of Maryland Global Campus. Additionally, Mares is working toward a master’s degree in homeland security through the University of Maryland Global Campus.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Alhambra.
“Growing up, my area was very diverse and people had different backgrounds, so you have to be accepting and understanding of different beliefs and upbringings,” Mares said. “The Navy is also very diverse. People come to the Navy from different places and sometimes different countries, so you have to be understanding of where they’re coming from as well.”
Mares joined the Navy eight years ago. Today, Mares serves as a master-at-arms.
“I joined the Navy because I wanted to travel and use the benefits that the military provides,” Mares said. “I wanted to branch out from the area I knew and experience something different.”
Naval Base Point Loma provides support to 70 U.S. Pacific Fleet commands headquartered on the base, including five nuclear-powered fast-attack submarines. The base is also home to Cabrillo National Park and the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, which averages more than 1.2 million visitors annually.
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.
Mares has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I’m most proud of obtaining my two degrees in 2 and a half years,” Mares said. “I was in college for a year before I joined, but I left because I didn’t think college was right for me. I think the Navy has helped me mature and grow into adulthood. So, I went back to school and finished my associate's and bachelor’s degrees, and now I’m working on a master’s degree.”
Mares 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 I’m part of the 1% who are willing to get up and do this every single day,” Mares said. “Not everyone wants to do this. I’m not doing this for myself, I’m doing this because I love leading junior sailors and guiding them. Seeing junior sailors succeed in their careers is very rewarding to me.”
Mares is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my family for being my support system,” Mares added. “I also want to thank my mentors, Chief Master-at-Arms Delise, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Rice and Lt. j.g. Thurston. They’ve definitely helped me throughout my career and were people I could call anytime if I needed help, no judgment, and they would give me the help I needed. I lead in an old-school way even if I haven’t been in that long, and I want to pass that along to my junior sailors. I also want to thank the leaders I’ve had in the past because they’ve all ingrained something in me that I can pass along to my junior sailors.”