I was only 17 when I joined the Navy. Those who know me now might laugh to hear it but I had zero leadership skills or experience just out of high school. I always felt the need to make everyone happy and avoided conflict at all cost. I didn’t have any strong desires or designs for my future. It was the events of 9/11 that created a patriotic pull convincing me the military was a noble way to spend four years figuring out what “I wanna be when I grow up.”
Continue reading “Honoring LT Alicia Oberholtzer, Cryptologic Warfare Officer, USN”
I left for MEPS with my recruiter in August 1999. I was 17 years old, going to community college, and working three jobs. I had already agreed to join the Army by that time, though no paperwork had been signed, and there was a relentless Navy recruiter who just wouldn’t take no for an answer. I grew up in and out of foster care, raised in poverty, with no real prospects in life. At this point in my story, I just wanted a stable roof over my head and some sleep…the Navy sounded like an opportunity to get both. That may sound funny to some of you reading this, who have spent many a sleepless night on deployment, but for a 17-year-old, struggling to stay afloat, working three minimum wage jobs, and no way to continue paying for college, the Navy was my ticket out.
Continue reading “Honoring LT Nayomie Richards, USN”
Mrs. Rosemary Wenchel
October 30, 1949 – May 11, 2019
Mrs. Rosemary Wenchel, a pioneer in U.S. cyberspace operations for the U.S. Navy, Department of Defense, and the Department of Homeland Security, passed away on May 11, 2019.
Continue reading “Honoring and Remembering Mrs. Rosemary Wenchel, Pioneer of Military Cyberspace Operations”
CTOCM(AW) PENNY M. TARDONA
UNITED STATES NAVY, RETIRED
Master Chief Tardona (Retired) enlisted in the Navy on 16 January 1976 as a CTO Seaman Recruit. She attended Recruit Training in Orlando and CTO “A” school in Pensacola. In the Mid 70’s and well into the 80’s Sea Duty was not an option for females, so Master Chief Tardona experienced her first duty at the Naval Security Group Activity (NSGA) Sabana Seca, Puerto Rico. She followed that tour with a return to Pensacola for HFDF Technical Control “C” School.
Continue reading “Honoring CTOCM Penny M Tardona, CNSG 8th Force Master Chief”
A child of a military family, Petty Officer L. B. Barr was born in El Paso, TX and graduated from Patch American High school in Stuttgart, Germany. She enlisted in the United States Navy on June 11, 2013 and attended Basic and Seamen Apprentice Training in Great Lakes, IL. She then attended the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California, where she successfully completed the Basic Mandarin course.
Continue reading “Honoring CTI1 (IW/NAC) Lauren Bryanne Barr, USN”
LT Amanda Lee will be the first female demonstration pilot for the Blue Angels, the Navy announced Monday.
Continue reading “Honoring LT Amanda Lee, USN”
Station HYPO 