SAN DIEGO - Seaman Glory Anderson, a native of Rosemount, Minnesota, serves aboard USS Abraham Lincoln, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier operating out of San Diego, California.
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Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Joseph Sitter, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West |
Anderson graduated from Rosemount High School in 2023.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Rosemont.
“The community aspect of Rosemount was the most applicable to my experiences in the Navy,” Anderson said. "I grew up in the suburbs of the Twin Cities where it was a tight-knit community. Growing up there was very similar to operating in the Navy in the sense that we worked together to achieve a common goal while dealing with dynamic environments.”
Anderson joined the Navy one year ago. Today, Anderson serves as a mass communication specialist.
“I ended up joining because I wanted to go to school, but I didn't have the funds to,” Anderson said. "My siblings had also joined the military so I knew how it worked and the opportunities it provided. I saw the Navy as as a stepping stone to have educational opportunities and life experiences I wouldn't have had otherwise."
Aircraft carriers are the centerpiece of America’s Naval forces. For more than 100 years, they have projected power, sustained sea control, bolstered deterrence, provided humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and maintained enduring commitments worldwide.
According to Navy officials, aircraft carriers are versatile and have unique mission capabilities that make them a more strategic asset for the Navy than fixed-site bases. They are often the first response in a global crisis because of their ability to operate freely in international waters anywhere on the world’s oceans. In addition, no other weapon system can deploy and operate forward with a full-sized aircraft carrier’s speed, endurance, agility and combat capability of its air wing.
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.
Anderson has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I am definitely most proud of the recent deployment I did,” Anderson said. "Coming into my first deployment, I had a lot of expectations, such as port calls. However, I had to learn to adapt and be ready for any change that may come. Despite difficult circumstances, I learned how to overcome 107 days straight at sea. I was proud walking off that ship to see my family, knowing that I was able to successfully navigate this deployment and that I could do any deployment or task that may come. I am now looking forward to my next deployment.”
Anderson 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 with my family provides a common ground amidst all my siblings,” Anderson said. "Here, I can notice the difference we make both internally to the ship, and externally for the country. I get a feeling of accomplishment every time I see what we are able to do as a team from workups to deployment. My time in the Navy has created memories that I will cherish for a lifetime. I am excited to continue to work towards the opportunity to lead sailors one day.”
Anderson is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my siblings,” Anderson added. "Going into the military is a daunting experience if you don't understand how it works. My mother originally pushed me to join, and my siblings who all joined guided me along the path. They helped propel me to where I am today. There are so many different capacities to serve and I am happy to serve in the capacity that I do. Having the opportunity to explore my creativity while in the military has been an experience unlike any other."