Photo By Staff Sgt. David Bolton | Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Alvin Ochieng, a Hospital Corpsman with the Joint Medical...... read more read more
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NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - The first quarter century of his life was lived in Nairobi, Kenya, amongst humble surroundings playing soccer with a ball made of manila paper.
One of 10 children born to his Luo-tribe parents, Alvin Ochieng grew up speaking both Swahili and English as he attended school. Then, at the age of 26, Ochieng decided to follow in the footsteps of his older brother John, and move to America. “He told me, ‘You know the Navy is good, I know it’s not for everybody, it’s not easy but you might give it a try,’” said Ochieng, now a Navy petty officer 3rd class, and hospital corpsman assigned to Joint Task Force Guantanamo’s Joint Medical Group.
Ochieng has made a comfortable career for himself as a preventative technician, and now in his fifth year in the Navy, he finds himself working with Troopers and detainees at JTF-GTMO. But this would not have been possible if it weren’t for his education.
“The most important thing our parents used to put in our minds is that without an education, you’re nothing,” said Ochieng who used military tuition assistance to go to school.
While his parents were happy that he was getting an education, they were not so thrilled about his particular military career choice. His enlistment meant two children serving for the United States.
“It was a time that Iraq was very hot, and my mother was like ‘we cant have two people in the Navy at this time; this is risky, what if you are taken to war or what if we lose both of you,’” he said.
In spite of his mother’s misgivings about the situation, Ochieng kept a very calm and cool approach to the possibility of going to war.
“Everybody is born once, and you die once,” he said. “Whichever way, I can either prolong it or take my chances and move on. It’s not about making people happy, it’s about seeing your future and seeing where you’re going and is it right for you; at the end of it, you’re the one whose going to be responsible for everything.”
Seven years after leaving Kenya, Ochieng is now responsible for conducting inspections for all the facilities on the JTF side to try to stop anything that could potentially harm a Trooper or detainee.
“We test their water, living conditions, lighting and make sure they don’t have any issues concerning them,” said Ochieng. “We try to stop it before it happens. If it happens, it’s too late.”
Ochieng said coming to America and joining the Navy has completely changed his life. He says he’s not as spontaneous as he used to be, especially with having a family.
“When you join the military its all about discipline. I think I’m more responsible now, I have more focus and I plan better,” said Ochieng.
This planning, along with his parent’s advice in the importance of education, has encouraged Ochieng to attend Tidewater Community College in Norfolk, Va., where he is studying to be a registered nurse and hopes to eventually become a physician’s assistant.
| Date Taken: | 09.27.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 10.01.2013 09:56 |
| Story ID: | 114537 |
| Location: | NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Web Views: | 90 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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