By Alvin Plexico, Navy Office of Community Outreach
McGarry graduated from Labrae High School in 2024.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Newton Falls.
“Growing up, I learned the importance of a strong work ethic and to always keep the door open for new opportunities,” McGarry said.
McGarry joined the Navy one year ago. Today, McGarry serves as an intelligence specialist.
“I joined the Navy to make a difference in my life and to abstain from going the ‘commonly traveled’ route,” McGarry said.
Theodore Roosevelt is the fourth Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and is named in honor of the 26th president of the United States.
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.
The Navy’s aircraft carriers are among the largest warships in the world. Roosevelt is longer than three football fields at 1,092 feet. The ship is 252 feet wide and weighs more than 100,000 tons. More than 5,000 sailors serve aboard these self-contained mobile airports.
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.
McGarry has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I’m proud to be that person that people turn to, and I'm grateful to make connections with people from all walks of life,” McGarry said.
McGarry 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 now own my own life,” McGarry said. “It’s time for me to find out who I want to be as a person.”
McGarry is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I wouldn’t have been able to do this without my mom,” McGarry added. “She’s my rockstar and my motivation.”