Loomis native serves with Seabees in U.S. Navy

Petty Officer 1st Class Jeffrey Yale, a native of Loomis and 2014 graduate of Del Oro High School, serves in the U.S. Navy assigned to Naval Construction Group 2 in Gulfport, Mississippi, home to the Atlantic Fleet Seabees. The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Loomis. "Loomis is a hard-working town," Yale said. "Everyone there has a good work ethic. It's a Friday Night Light kind of town. Everyone shows up for all the football games. We are a tight-knit community. We show up and show out for each other. I took that into the Navy. We utilize teamwork to get the job done and excel." Yale joined the Navy seven years ago. Today, Yale serves as a mass communication specialist. "I was going from job to job, and I had no real purpose," Yale said. "A mentor of mine recommended that I join the Navy to travel the world and do something important." Navy Seabees, formally known as naval construction forces, provide a wide range of construction in support of operating forces, including roads, bridges, bunkers, airfields and logistics bases. Additionally, they provide responsive support for disaster recovery operations, perform civic action projects to improve relations with other nations and provide anti-terrorism and force protection for personnel and construction projects. Whether serving in the construction force or in a supporting role, the sailors in Gulfport personify the "Can Do" attitude of Seabees and are ready to serve and support warfighters globally. Yale has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service. "I look back and I see all the cool things we did," Yale said. "We all work together to get the job done, and it's rewarding to see junior sailors making something out of themselves." Yale serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation's prosperity and security. "I feel like the Navy helps to give you direction," Yale said. "You are given a mission and expected to think outside the box and solve it. After the Navy, nothing will be as overwhelming as what I was doing before." The Navy is commemorating its contribution to the nation's defense this year as the United States celebrates 250 years of independence. According to Navy officials, for more than 250 years, the Navy has sailed the globe defending freedom and protecting prosperity. With 90 percent 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. Yale is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible. "I'd like to thank my mom and dad, my sister, Stacy, my brother-in-law, Jason," Yale said. "Also, every sailor, chief and officer who helped me along the way. It's easier to get the job done with people supporting you. I love the team on the Richard and the Lincoln and the Seabee base, my MCs and Public Affairs, because we've done amazing things together." For those who consider joining the military, Yale has some words to say. "If you feel like your life is stagnant, give the military a try," Yale said. "Even if you don't like it, or you don't want to stay in it for 20 years, it will give you a direction in life. Whether it's five years or 20 years from now, you will come out with skills that you can't learn anywhere else. You will be a much sharper tool and be that 1 percent that did world-changing missions." Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Hunter Harwell Navy Office of Community Outreach