SAN DIEGO - Petty Officer 2nd Class Jack Diaz-Sturgis, a native of Montevallo, Alabama, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 41.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Joey Sitter, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West |
Diaz-Sturgis graduated from Montevallo High School in 2019.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Montevallo.
“I learned discipline and respect from my dad growing up,” Diaz-Sturgis said. “Discipline is important in the Navy because that is what the military is all about. Discipline is the stepping stone you need to be able to succeed.”
Diaz-Sturgis joined the Navy five years ago. Today, Diaz-Sturgis serves as an aviation maintenance administrationman.
“I joined the Navy for the educational benefits and to travel,” Diaz-Sturgis said.
Members of HSM 41 fly and maintain the MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter, the Navy’s most advanced rotary wing maritime strike platform. The Navy MH-60R is able to perform many different missions. Some of the most common operations include strikes on maritime targets, submarine hunting and attack, electronic warfare, search and rescue, medical evacuations and supply support.
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.
Diaz-Sturgis has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I am most proud of making the rank of petty officer second class,” Diaz-Sturgis said. “I am proud of that because I studied hard and picked it up on the first try. I worked really hard for it and thought I deserved it.”
Diaz-Sturgis 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 duty to my country,” Diaz-Sturgis said. “I am pretty patriotic so it is a way for me to do my time.”
Diaz-Sturgis is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Juan Villa Garcia, Aviation Maintenance Administrationman 1st Class Kia Jones and Aviation Maintenance Administrationman 1st Class Chantra Eang, for their leadership advice and for looking out for me,” Diaz-Sturgis added.