LEMOORE, Calif. - Every sailor’s story of naval service is unique. For Petty Officer 2nd Class Jesus Briseno, this story has ties to Santa Paula, California, where skills and values learned there are foundational to success in the Navy.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Mitch Meppelink |
“Growing up I had a Navy SEAL mentor who constantly told me all of the amazing opportunities the Navy had for me and how it could advance my career and life,” Briseno said.
Briseno graduated high school in 2017 and joined the Navy eight years ago.
“I joined the Navy looking to give back to my country and serve my fellow Americans,” Briseno said. “I wanted to give back to the country that has given me and my family so many freedoms and opportunities.”
Today, Briseno serves as an aviation ordnanceman assigned to the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit Lemoore onboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore.
NAS Lemoore is home to Commander Strike Fighter Wing Pacific and Commander Joint Strike Fighter Wing. More than half of the Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft reside here, and it is the only Navy installation to house the F-35C Lightning II.
Carrier strike groups, and the embarked aviation squadrons, are the cornerstone of U.S. naval power projection and sea power. They can quickly maneuver thousands of miles with the world’s most capable warships and top-notch Sailors, remaining on station in areas of interest without relying on land bases or overflight agreements. U.S. Navy aircraft carriers are the most adaptable, lethal, and survivable airfields in the world and their presence serves as the most credible commitment to our Allies and partners.
Naval aviation provides the Navy and our nation with a flexible, adaptable, and lethal force to preserve peace, respond in crises, and win decisively in combat. The U.S. Navy maintains and operates more than 2,000 aircraft to fulfill various mission sets in order to preserve the American way of life and ensure freedom, security and 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.
Briseno has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I am very proud of the man and sailor I have become and everything I have learned in my career,” Briseno said. “This has been the most rewarding career I could imagine and I am so proud that I have mastered so many qualifications that allow me to give back to junior sailors as well as being named Sailor of the Quarter for quarter two, 2026.”
Briseno serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
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. More information is available here: https://www.navy.mil/navy-250/
“Serving in the Navy means giving back to this country and giving back to my family and fellow Americans,” Briseno said. “I feel that while I am contributing to a larger tradition, I am possibly starting my own family tradition of serving in the military. Maybe my kids or grandkids will follow in my footsteps.”
Briseno is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my wife, Brianna, for always being by my side and making this job that much more impactful,” Briseno said. “I would also like to thank all of my fellow sailors out here in the fleet who serve alongside me.”