MULA sa pagiging undesignated seaman ay nagsisilbi nang operation specialist ng US Navy guided-missile destroyer na USS Donald Cook ang isang Pilipinong lumaki sa Cagayan de Oro City.
Ayon sa ulat ni Lieutenant Jill Brown ng Navy Office of Community Outreach, pumasok sa US Navy si Petty Officer 2nd Class Eric Jumilla may apat na taon nang nakalilipas.
“I wanted to do something to make a difference in my life… I went to college but got bored, and I wanted a sense of belonging,” pahayag ni Jumilla.
Sinabi ni Jumilla na ang kanyang natutunang pagpapahalaga sa kanyang bayan sa Pilipinas ay katulad ng pagsisilbi sa militar.
“A sense of family, helping others, and respecting my elders are part of my Filipino culture,” dagdag pa nito.
Matapos ang limang taon na naging forward-deployed destroyer, nakabalik na ang Donald Cook mula sa Naval Station Rota, Spain.
“These sailors distinguished themselves throughout their five years deployed overseas… Their contribution to NATO security and freedom of navigation is a legacy that will now continue with Arleigh Burke,” ayon kay Captain Joseph Gagliano, Commander of the Destroyers Squadron 60 and Task Force 65.
Pero nagpatuloy pa rin si Jumilla sa kanyang pagseserbisyo sa Navy dahil tinutukan na rin ng Estados Unidos ang paghahanda ng militar nito, pagpapalakas ng mga alyansa at pagrepaso ng mga kasanayang pangnegosyo bilang suporta sa National Defense Strategy.
“I was an undesignated seaman but ended up becoming an operation’s specialist. I struggled to catch up to the other sailors, but now I’m caught up,” salaysay pa ni Jumilla.
“God-given purpose and patriotism make you feel like you are doing something more… Serving my country makes me proud, and gives a peace of mind that you’re doing something for others to have a peaceful life,” ayon pa sa kanya.