GULFPORT, Miss. — Petty Officer 2nd Class Wesley Mcfarland-Barrs, a native of Charleston, South Carolina, serves in the U.S. Navy assigned to Naval Construction Group 2 in Gulfport, Mississippi, home to the Atlantic Fleet Seabees.
McFarland-Barrs graduated from Thousand Islands High School in 2017.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Charleston.
“I learned people skills,” McFarland-Barrs said. “This helped me adjust to talking to different people.”
McFarland-Barrs joined the Navy six years ago. Today, McFarland-Barrs serves as an equipment operator.
“I joined the Navy in the footsteps of the generations before me. My grandfather was in the Navy for 32 years,” McFarland-Barrs said. “I joined not only for job security, but I also want to be a part of something bigger.”
Navy Seabees, formally known as naval construction forces, provide a wide range of construction in support of operating forces, including roads, bridges, bunkers, airfields and logistics bases. Additionally, they provide responsive support for disaster recovery operations, perform civic action projects to improve relations with other nations, and provide anti-terrorism and force protection for personnel and construction projects.
Whether serving in the construction force or in a supporting role, the sailors in Gulfport personify the “Can Do” attitude of Seabees and are ready to serve and support warfighters globally.
McFarland-Barrs has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I got extended on my first deployment to support the refugees to build tents and beds and help them get settled in,” McFarland-Barrs said. “When I was deployed to Romania in 2024, I assisted in building a playground for an orphanage that was full of orphans from the war in Ukraine.”
McFarland-Barrs serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“I’m proud of the work I do,” McFarland-Barrs said. “I like the relationship with the local community and educating the new sailors about the proper and safe way to accomplish their goals and tasks.”
This year, the Navy is commemorating its contribution to the nation’s defense as the United States celebrates 250 years of independence. According to Navy officials, for more than 250 years, the Navy has sailed the globe defending freedom and protecting prosperity.
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.
McFarland-Barrs is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my dad, Thomas, for giving me words of advice and encouragement,” McFarland-Barrs said. “I go to him for all the questions. Even though he was in the Army, he understands what I’m going through. I want to thank my granddad, Roger, for pointing me in the right direction on how to approach from different directions that are the best for my career.”
McFarland-Barrs was able to have many experiences in the Navy.
“I’ve driven a mine-resistant ambush protected vehicle during a wildfire,” McFarland-Barrs said. “It became the core memory of my career of the things that I would’ve never done if I didn’t join. I was able to see different refugees and how to communicate with them. When I was in Romania, I worked with the special forces on the demolition and pack construction for their facilities.”
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Hunter Harwell, Navy Office of Community Outreach |
McFarland-Barrs graduated from Thousand Islands High School in 2017.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Charleston.
“I learned people skills,” McFarland-Barrs said. “This helped me adjust to talking to different people.”
McFarland-Barrs joined the Navy six years ago. Today, McFarland-Barrs serves as an equipment operator.
“I joined the Navy in the footsteps of the generations before me. My grandfather was in the Navy for 32 years,” McFarland-Barrs said. “I joined not only for job security, but I also want to be a part of something bigger.”
Navy Seabees, formally known as naval construction forces, provide a wide range of construction in support of operating forces, including roads, bridges, bunkers, airfields and logistics bases. Additionally, they provide responsive support for disaster recovery operations, perform civic action projects to improve relations with other nations, and provide anti-terrorism and force protection for personnel and construction projects.
Whether serving in the construction force or in a supporting role, the sailors in Gulfport personify the “Can Do” attitude of Seabees and are ready to serve and support warfighters globally.
McFarland-Barrs has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I got extended on my first deployment to support the refugees to build tents and beds and help them get settled in,” McFarland-Barrs said. “When I was deployed to Romania in 2024, I assisted in building a playground for an orphanage that was full of orphans from the war in Ukraine.”
McFarland-Barrs serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“I’m proud of the work I do,” McFarland-Barrs said. “I like the relationship with the local community and educating the new sailors about the proper and safe way to accomplish their goals and tasks.”
This year, the Navy is commemorating its contribution to the nation’s defense as the United States celebrates 250 years of independence. According to Navy officials, for more than 250 years, the Navy has sailed the globe defending freedom and protecting prosperity.
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.
McFarland-Barrs is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my dad, Thomas, for giving me words of advice and encouragement,” McFarland-Barrs said. “I go to him for all the questions. Even though he was in the Army, he understands what I’m going through. I want to thank my granddad, Roger, for pointing me in the right direction on how to approach from different directions that are the best for my career.”
McFarland-Barrs was able to have many experiences in the Navy.
“I’ve driven a mine-resistant ambush protected vehicle during a wildfire,” McFarland-Barrs said. “It became the core memory of my career of the things that I would’ve never done if I didn’t join. I was able to see different refugees and how to communicate with them. When I was in Romania, I worked with the special forces on the demolition and pack construction for their facilities.”