SAN DIEGO - Seaman Lorenzo Mercado, from Manila, Philippines, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to USS Theodore Roosevelt, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier operating out of San Diego, California.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Caleb Kissner, Navy Office of Community Outreach |
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in the Philippines, where many of Mercado’s family members still reside.
“Some of the lessons that I learned from my hometown were to be patient and to always take care of the people around you,” Mercado said. “I have worked for a long time, which has given me a lot of experience. It’s all about the attitude and how you react to certain things. You have to be positive. Even when things aren’t good and when people aren’t treating you well, don’t give them an attitude. Just remember that the person may be experiencing some hardship. So, be patient with people and treat them how you’d want to be treated.”
Mercado moved to the United States and is a 2012 graduate of Niles West High School in Chicago, Illinois. Additionally, Mercado earned an associate degree in arts from Oakton Community College in 2016 and is working on a bachelor’s degree in computer science through Western Governors University.
Mercado joined the Navy seven months ago. Today, Mercado serves as a personnel specialist.
“My family was my inspiration to join the Navy,” Mercado said. “I want to be able to provide and give them the best life experience. I was also inspired by movies about the Navy.”
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.
Among the largest warships in the world, Theodore 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.
“This aircraft carrier is one of the most powerful warships in the world, but it is our sailors that give the U.S. Navy our warfighting advantage,” said Capt. Will Mathis, commanding officer of Theodore Roosevelt. “For over 250 years, sailors have built the foundation of our readiness and resolve, enabled us to keep America safe and ensured the U.S. Navy remains the strongest and most capable maritime force in the world.”
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.
Mercado has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I am proud of the day I graduated from boot camp and accomplished all of the challenges I faced,” Mercado said. “I was so stressed out from being separated from my wife while I was there. That was the hardest part for me. All the other challenges were doable.”
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.
“The Navy means everything to me because it gives me benefits for my family, and it lets me protect everyone,” Mercado said.
Mercado is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my wife, Jesrelle, for supporting me in every situation we are in,” Mercado said. “I also want to thank my parents. They got me into the United States, and they put me in school. They have always provided me with the tools I’ve needed to get where I am right now.”