By Ensign Colby James, USS Iwo Jima Public Affairs Officer NORFOLK – Petty Officer 2nd Class Cesar Mendez, a native of Orlando, Florida, was advanced to the next pay grade through the Meritorious Advancement Program (MAP) while serving aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima on April 3. The MAP Program gives commanding officers the opportunity to recognize their best sailors by advancing them when they demonstrate readiness for the next level of responsibility. “I get to protect the people onboard and back at home,” said Mendez. “Serving to protect my family is my greatest ..read more

By Ensign Colby James, USS Iwo Jima Public Affairs Officer NORFOLK – Petty Officer 2nd Class Ruby Bainoriayala, a native of Payson, Arizona, was selected to advance to the next pay grade through the Meritorious Advancement Program (MAP) while serving aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima on April 3. The MAP Program gives commanding officers the opportunity to recognize their best sailors by advancing them when they demonstrate readiness for the next level of responsibility. “You can make it through a lot more than you think,” said Bainoriayala. “I am able to learn new th ..read more

By Rick Burke, Navy Office of Community Outreach MILLINGTON, Tenn. - Ensign Madison Beason, a 2023 University of Arizona graduate, recently graduated from Search and Rescue (SAR) Swimmer school serving aboard the U.S. Navy warship, USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112), operating out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Beason joined the Navy one year ago. "I wanted to serve my country in a unique way, and I felt my skill sets suited the challenges of surface Navy military duty," said Beason. Becoming a SAR swimmer is highly challenging and demanding. Candidates must undergo rigorous physical and mental trai ..read more

By Rick Burke, Navy Office of Community Outreach MILLINGTON, Tenn. - Ensign Madison Beason, a native of Missoula, Montana, recently graduated from Search and Rescue (SAR) Swimmer school serving aboard the U.S. Navy warship, USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112), operating out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Beason, a 2023 University of Arizona graduate, joined the Navy one year ago.  "I wanted to serve my country in a unique way, and I felt my skill sets suited the challenges of surface Navy military duty," said Beason. Becoming a SAR swimmer is highly challenging and demanding. Candidates must und ..read more

By Rick Burke, Navy Office of Community Outreach MILLINGTON, Tenn. - Ensign Madison Beason, a native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, recently graduated from Search and Rescue (SAR) Swimmer school serving aboard the U.S. Navy warship, USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112), operating out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Beason, a 2019 graduate of Benilde-St. Margaret's High School, joined the Navy one year ago. Additionally, Beason graduated from the University of Arizona in 2023. "I wanted to serve my country in a unique way, and I felt my skill sets suited the challenges of surface Navy military duty," said Be ..read more

By Ensign Colby James, USS Iwo Jima Public Affairs Officer NORFOLK, Va. - Petty Officer 2nd Class Jaquarius Lee, a native of Montgomery, Alabama, was selected to advance to the next pay grade through the Meritorious Advancement Program (MAP) while serving aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), on April 3. The MAP Program allows commanding officers to recognize their best sailors by advancing them when they demonstrate readiness for the next level of responsibility. Lee, a 2021 graduate of Jefferson Davis High School, joined the Navy two years ago. “Serving i ..read more

By Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist John Osborne, Navy Office of Community Outreach VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Petty Officer 3rd Class Kweli Wilson, a native of Rockingham, Virginia, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106, which operates the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18 Super Hornet. Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jerome Fjeld Wilson graduated from Spotwood High School in 2021. The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Rockingham. “Growing up, I learned to be independent and to be a diligent worker ..read more

By Ensign Colby James, USS Iwo Jima Public Affairs Officer NORFOLK, Va. – Petty Officer 2nd Class Brandyn Storms, a native of Alpharetta, Georgia, was selected to advance to the next paygrade through the Meritorious Advancement Program (MAP) on April 3 while serving aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima. The MAP program gives commanding officers the opportunity to recognize their best sailors by advancing them when they demonstrate readiness for the next level of responsibility. “It means everything, especially knowing my dad and the rest of my family is proud of me ..read more

By Ashley Craig, Navy Office of Community Outreach MILLINGTON, Tenn. –  Lt. Erik Stupelman, who has family in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, was recently promoted while serving the U.S. Navy assigned to USS Boxer. Lt. Erik Stupelman, whose parents live in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania,  is pinned to the rank of lieutenant during a promotion  ceremony on the flight deck aboard USS Boxer in March. (Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Tyler Miles) Stupelman’s parents, Linda and Derek Campbell, reside in Chambersburg.  Stupelman, a 2014 graduate of Hagerstown ..read more

By Ashley Craig, Navy Office of Community Outreach MILLINGTON, Tenn. – A native of Hagerstown, Maryland, was recently promoted while serving the U.S. Navy assigned to USS Boxer. Lt. Erik Stupelman, a native of Hagerstown, Maryland,  is pinned to the rank of lieutenant during a promotion  ceremony on the flight deck aboard USS Boxer in March. (Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Tyler Miles) Lt. Erik Stupelman, a 2012 graduate of Clear Spring High School who also graduated from Hagerstown Community College in 2014 and Liberty University in 2016, was promoted to ..read more