Courageous. Honorable. Devoted.Those three words describe what every sailor in the U.S. Navy is required to be. Blake Everitt, now age 20, enlisted two years ago because he was inspired by his father Jamieson Everitt’s achievements in the U.S. Army.
“My dad has influenced me the most because I have always looked up to him,” Blake said. “Since he was in the Army, I wanted to defend my country like he has done.”
Jamieson was in the army for 20 years which affected both of his children, Blake and Brittany Everitt. From the strictness of their father and the constant worrying to experiencing the downfalls of their father’s suffering after both the Gulf and Iraq wars, they stuck to his side through the rough times.
“From my dad being in the Army, my brother, my family and I have suffered because when my dad came back from war he went through things that none of us could understand,” daughter Brittany Everitt said. “He would dream of things that we couldn’t even imagine. He became a totally different person, that none of us knew anymore, but he was still the family member we loved.”
Even though Jamieson suffered symptoms of clinical anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, he feels that they were not his worst symptoms.
“I think the hardest thing in the military is being away from the ones we love most,” Jamieson said.
Although many of the soldiers, generals, and sergeants give up many things in the long process of succeeding in their goals, Blake and his father both relate that they are required to give up things in their lives to live up to the honor they will receive.
“I had to give up a few years with my family, but it is a small sacrifice to get me the honor and respect I am receiving,” Blake said.
Enlisting into the military requires that each individual has earned a high school diploma. The Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery [ASVAB] test is also necessary to determine your placement in the service and to clarify which branch you’re completely interested in. The ASVAB is a multiple choice test that each branch grades differently. The higher someone scores on the test, the more jobs they are qualified for.
“I planned to go into the Air Force Academy at first to become a pilot but I wanted to gain some solid experience
before I became a officer, so I decided to pick the navy,” Blake said. “The Navy gave me a goal, I am going to try and beat my dad’s accomplishments.
So far I’m on track. I made e4 [petty officer, 3rd class] in less than a year, and I am now working on my bachelor’s degree.”
In the Navy there a distinct diversity of races, nationalities, and styles. According to Blake, you can find nerds, preps, gang members, and people from other countries. The Navy doesn’t only give you the benefit of meeting people with new cultures and styles, but also gives the advantage to receive educational support, 30 days of paid vacation, and extensive travel in exotic places. To get the privileges that the navy offers receive, each sailor has to follow certain restrictions. Drugs andunder-age drinking are not allowed. Also, there are different uniform regulations and codes of conduct you have to follow along with. These strict regulations and guidelines has allowed Blake to become a better person.
“From the Navy, I feel that Blake has matured ahead of his peers, he is more responsible and dependable then many people his age,” Jamieson said. I am very proud.”
The Navy doesn’t only allow soldiers to help other people, but it allowsthem to help themselves. Each person receives a wide range of opportunities to choose from and to accomplish. Being in the military makes a statement: to fight for what they think is right. In the process, soldiers defend their country, help their society, and resolve conflicts around the world.
“Being in the military, you are doing something that many people in our country are scared to do,” Jamieson said. “ It shows bravery, selfless service for this nation and installs strong morals and values in a person.”
