Petty Officer 2nd Class Alaishaninel Vazquez Delgado, a native of Raeford, serves aboard USS John Basilone, a U.S. Navy warship operating out of Mayport, Florida.
Vazquez Delgado graduated from Gloucester High School in 2021.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Raeford.
“A lesson I hold to myself from home, and has stayed with me throughout my career, is that no matter what life throws at you, all you can do is your best,” Vazquez Delgado said. “I learned to give myself grace, even when things do not go as planned, especially during the hard days when self-compassion makes the difference between breaking down and pushing through.”
Vazquez Delgado joined the Navy three years ago. Today, Vazquez Delgado serves as a logistics specialist.
“I joined the Navy because I was searching for something in life that would give me direction and discipline,” Vazquez Delgado said. “I felt that the Navy offered the right step toward becoming the person I would like to be.”
A Navy destroyer, USS John Basilone, is a multi-mission ship that can operate independently or as part of a larger group of ships at sea. The ship is equipped with Tomahawk missiles, torpedoes, guns and a Phalanx close-in weapons system.
More than 300 sailors serve aboard USS John Basilone. Their jobs are highly specialized, requiring both dedication and skill. The jobs range from maintaining engines to handling weaponry, along with a multitude of other assignments that keep the ship mission-ready at all times, according to Navy officials.
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.
Vazquez Delgado has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“One of my proudest moments was receiving a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal,” Vazquez Delgado said. “Being recognized reminded me that hard work does not go unnoticed and that I was truly making a difference.”
Vazquez Delgado 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 choosing better for myself and receiving opportunities I would not imagine getting,” Vazquez Delgado said. “I have met so many amazing people throughout my career and learned so much from them that I hope to continue the chain to pass down what I have learned.”
Vazquez Delgado is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my wife, family and friends for always believing and standing by me,” Vazquez Delgado said. “My stepfather currently serves in the Air Force as a chief master sergeant and likes to joke with me about joining the Navy.”
Feature photo: Alaishaninel Vazquez Delgado by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Andrew Hanchar.
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Contributed article written by Chief Yeoman Vicki Sonnenberg, Navy Office of Community Outreach.
