Photo By Capt. Brian McFarland | RICHMOND, Va. (September 6, 2019) Skyler Lonsway (left) is grinning from ear to ear...... read more read more
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RICHMOND, Va., - (NNS) With both parents being active-duty Sailors, the U.S. Navy has always been a part of Skyler Lonsway’s life.
On September 6, 2019, the Navy became even more significant to Skyler when she took an oath of enlistment at Navy Recruiting District (NRD) Richmond headquarters.
NRD Richmond is especially significant to Skyler and her family, because it’s where her stepfather, Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) Daniel Balajadia, currently works, and her mother Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) 1st Class Amber Balajadia previously worked. Daniel, who’s been a part of Skyler’s life since she was four, and Amber helped to mentor and guide Skyler during her time in the Delayed Entry Program where she selected her future job as a Navy operations specialist.
Skyler said the Navy was always an option for her, but early last year is when she realized how happy it would make her parents, so she decided it was time to make it a reality for herself.
Initially, Skyler wanted to go to college, but her mother was always pushing for the Navy.
When she told her parents she decided to join, her mother, Amber, was ecstatic.
“Of course being in the military myself and knowing what a great opportunity the Navy is, secretly this is the only route I wanted her to go,” Amber said with a smile.
When asked how much influence Daniel and his wife had on Skyler enlisting, he said she came to them with the decision, and they were both all for it.
“We knew we had a big influence on her decision because she has seen all the benefits the Navy provides first hand as well as the pride citizens take in our armed forces,” said Daniel. “Plus, Skyler wants to be a part of something bigger than herself.”
“Once I just sat back and let her decide what she wanted to do then she changed her mind to joining,” Amber said. “It seemed like once she made up her mind there was no going back from there.”
Amber said Skyler seeing both her and Daniel being in the military definitely had an effect on her. She said Skyler has seen the good, the bad, and the ugly and knows exactly what to expect.
“We have always been open and honest to her about the military,” Amber said. “She knows all about the benefits, opportunities, and what would help her with her career.”
Skyler said that ultimately the Navy was the right path for her.
At first, she was interested in the quartermaster (QM) rating. She did more research on the variety of jobs the Navy offers, and she found that she was more interested in becoming an operations specialist (OS).
Her recruiter told Skyler not to be sold on one job, but to keep an open mind for other job opportunities as well.
“My job really didn’t matter, I just wanted to be part of the Navy,” Skyler explained. “In the end I did end up getting OS which I am extremely excited about.”
When Skyler departs for boot camp, it will be the longest time she has been away from her parents.
Daniel said he thinks he will be more nervous when she goes to boot camp than Skyler will.
“I can’t be there with her to guide her through the tough times and challenges she will go through, that all Sailors go through at boot camp,” Daniel said. “But I know she will be in good hands and her mother and I have both been through this process before and know the value the training is to Sailors.”
Daniel added that Skyler watched the videos the Navy has on what Future Sailors should expect when they go boot camp, which helped her put in perspective what awaits her in the near future.
“I know I will be a big ball of emotions when she leaves,” said Amber. “Being away from her brother and sister will also be a hard thing for Skyler to adjust to.”
Having both parents sometimes working late at night and being the oldest child, Skyler said they really depended on her.
“Some nights one of them wouldn’t be home, so I would have to take care of my siblings,” said Skyler. “It was a team effort, and I was part of the team.”
When asked what kind of Sailor they think Skyler will be, both parents answered with a pride that only a parent can.
Daniel said her determination would go a long way in making Skyler a good Sailor, because she gives it all she has when she sets her mind to do something.
“She does not like when people tell her she can’t do something. It just adds fuel to that burning motivation she has within,” he said.
Amber said Skyler puts her whole heart into everything she does. She always thinks of others and puts them before herself. There is no doubt in Amber’s mind that Skyler will be a good Sailor.
“She will be a great asset to the U.S. Navy,” Amber said.
Skyler said that by having both parents in the military, she already has a feel of what it is like, and if she ever has a question about something Navy related, one of them would know the answer. Skyler said she feels like she has already acquired a lot of knowledge.
“The best advice I would give Skyler really isn’t different than what Amber and I have been preaching to her as she’s grown up,” Daniel said. “Always give your best effort no matter what because people are depending you to do your job, to be where you are supposed to be, and simply do what you’re told.”
“I told her to just be the best Sailor she can be and be proud of joining the Navy because everyone doesn’t get this chance to be a part of something great,” Amber said.
Skyler said she wants to follow her parent’s example.
“My goal is to do at least 20 years in the Navy and provide a good life for my future family, just like my parents did for me.”
Navy Recruiting Command consists of a command headquarters, three Navy Recruiting Regions, 16 Navy Recruiting Districts and 10 Navy Talent Acquisition Groups that serve more than 1,330 recruiting stations across the world. Their combined goal is to attract the highest quality candidates to assure the ongoing success of America’s Navy.
For more news from Commander, Navy Recruiting Command, go to http://www.cnrc.navy.mil. Follow Navy Recruiting on Facebook (www.facebook.com/NavyRecruiting), Twitter (@USNRecruiter) and Instagram (@USNRecruiter).
| Date Taken: | 12.27.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 10.03.2019 15:29 |
| Story ID: | 345853 |
| Location: | RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 312 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Navy Father Recruits Daughter into Family Tradition, by CPO Todd Macdonald, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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