Texas Border Business
By Petty Officer 2nd Class Justin Whitley, Navy Office of Community Outreach
MILLINGTON, Tenn.- A 2009 Edinburg High School graduate and Edinburg, Texas native is currently serving aboard the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78), currently operating in the Black Sea.
Petty Officer 1st Class Luis Aguiar is a hull maintenance technician aboard the destroyer. As a hull maintenance technician, Aguiar is responsible for plumbing, welding, mechanics and all types of repairs and fabrications.
“What I like the most out of serving at this command is the incredible workshop, I am currently a part of,” said Aguiar. “The support that is given is beyond incredible.”
According to Navy officials, maintaining maritime superiority is a vital part of a Navy that is present today and prepared for tomorrow. The impact affects Americans and their interests around the world, as more than 70 percent of the Earth is covered by water and 90 percent of all trade travels by sea.
The foundation of the Navy the nation needs includes a focus on warfighting, warfighters and the future of the fighting force.
“I have learned that everyone, no matter the background, ethnicity, gender, religion, has something to bring to the table to make this Navy what it is today,” said Aguiar. “Everyone has their differences, yet we make it work being alone out to sea when it matters the most.”
As a member of the U.S. Navy, Vallejo, as well as other sailors, know they are a part of a service tradition providing unforgettable experiences through leadership development, world affairs and humanitarian assistance. Their efforts will have a lasting effect around the globe and for generations of sailors who will follow.
“I joined the Navy to make a better person of myself, and have a better life than what I had growing up,” said Aguiar. “My parents migrated to the U.S. to give my siblings and I a better life. Serving in the Navy means that I am able to give back to this country, for everything it has given my family. I am most grateful and most privileged to be serving.”
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