SAN DIEGO - Petty Officer 3rd Class Shereena Morrison, a native of Stratford, Connecticut, 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 |
Morrison graduated from Warren Harding High School in 2013.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Stratford.
“I learned growing up that patience is the biggest virtue,” Morrison said. "This past deployment we were at sea for 107 straight days. I was able to maintain a positive mindset because of the patience I had acquired from my youth."
Morrison joined the Navy six years ago. Today, Morrison serves as a culinary specialist.
“I joined the Navy to travel and go back to school,” Morrison said. "The Navy has afforded me the opportunity to see more of the world than I imagined, and now I have the opportunity to pursue higher education for free."
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.
Morrison has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“My proudest moment was singing the national anthem as we pulled into port,” Morrison said. "To have the opportunity for my family to watch me on the news singing before the entire ship while we pulled in was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. That made my family and daughter proud.”
Morrison 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 allows me to create a safer world for my daughter and my family,” Morrison said. "I know I am positively contributing to the world and am promoting freedom for my family and our country."
Morrison is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my daughter, first and foremost, as well as the rest of my family,” Morrison added. "I would also like to thank: my mom, dad, grandma, sisters, cousins and brothers. My family has always supported me every step of the way. I wouldn't be able to make a positive impact in the world today without them. It is hard being away from my family, but I am able to do so because of all the love and support I receive.”