Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class
Bryan Niegel
U.S. NAVAL BASE GUAM – Chief Petty Officer Stephanie Blyleven, a native of Lexington Park, Maryland, is serving in the U.S. Navy at Naval Base Guam.
Blyleven graduated from Great Mills High School in 2007.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Lexington Park.
“I learned about the importance of diversity and working with people from all walks of life,” said Blyleven. “I grew up surrounded by other military families, so the diversity in my community helped a lot because I didn’t get a culture shock when I joined the Navy.”
Blyleven joined the Navy 12 years ago. Today, Blyleven serves as a yeoman.
“I joined the Navy for the career opportunities and because my dad was in the military,” said Blyleven. “He also served in the Navy.”
According to officials at the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Fleet headquarters in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, the ships, submarines, aircraft and Navy personnel forward-deployed to Guam are part of the world’s largest fleet command and serve in a region critical to U.S. national security. The U.S. Pacific Fleet encompasses 100 million square miles, nearly half the Earth’s surface, from Antarctica to the Arctic Circle and from the West Coast of the United States into the Indian Ocean. All told, there are more than 200 ships and submarines, nearly 1,200 aircraft, and more than 130,000 uniformed and civilian personnel serving in the Pacific.
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.
Blyleven serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“We will earn and reinforce the trust and confidence of the American people every day,” said Adm. Lisa Franchetti, chief of naval operations. “Together we will deliver the Navy the nation needs.”
Blyleven has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I am most proud of earning the rank of chief petty officer, helping my sailors grow and meeting my husband,” said Blyleven.
Blyleven can take pride in serving America through military service.
“Serving the Navy is about being able to meet other people, help other people, and have opportunities to grow and travel,” said Blyleven.
Blyleven is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my father,” added Blyleven. “He was my biggest influence in helping me join the Navy.”