MILLINGTON, Tenn. – Petty Officer 2nd Class Joshua Brians, a native of Imperial Beach, California, will return to San Diego from a seven-month deployment serving aboard USS Stockdale, a U.S. Navy warship that recently conducted operations in the Middle East.
Brians, a 2019 graduate of Mar Vista High School, joined the Navy three years ago.
“My grandfather served in the Navy for 31 years,” Brians said. “He would tell his stories of all the memories he made. I thought it sounded amazing and wanted to create my own memories while traveling the world.”
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Imperial Beach.
“Being a part of sports growing up helped me to be a well-rounded team player while putting others before myself,” said Brians.
While on its seven-month deployment, USS Stockdale conducted combat operations against the Iranian-backed Houthis in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb, and Gulf of Aden, maintaining free and open sea lanes and regional stability. Stockdale also built continuing relationships with the militaries of Egypt and the Republic of Maldives, important partners of the United States.
“Leading up to deployment, we did several scenarios to get us ready for whatever could come at us,” Brians said. “The training we had done day-by-day paid off, and I couldn't be more proud of the ship for what we have done.”
Homeported in San Diego, Stockdale is a guided-missile destroyer and the third U.S. Navy ship named in honor of Vice Adm. James Bond Stockdale, an aviator who was awarded the Medal of Honor based on his service in the Vietnam War, during which time he was a prisoner of war for over seven years.
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.
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.
Brians can take pride in serving America through military service.
“Serving in the Navy means so much to me,” Brians said. “Being able to enlist into the military not only made me proud, but it also made my grandpa happy knowing that someone after him was able to do it and able to share stories of what we have done.”