How early college work helped prepare a Brunswick native for the Navy
Renee Spencer
A young woman from Southport recently sailed around the Hawaiian Islands.
But this was no pleasure cruise. гٸƵ
Lt. j.g. Ariel Bernard currently serves aboard the USS Fitzgerald, a U.S. Navy warship operating out of San Diego, California, a news release from the U.S. Navy Office of Community Outreach stated. Recently, the USS Fitzgerald took part in the biennial Rim of the Pacific exercise, more commonly known as RIMPAC.
According to the release, 29 nations, 40 surface ships, three submarines, 14 national land forces, more than 150 aircraft, and more than 25,000 personnel participated in the exercise. Its purpose is to provide a unique training opportunity that гٸƵhelps participants foster and sustain cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring safety at sea and security on the worldгٸƵs oceans,гٸƵ the release stated.
Bernard, an information warfare officer, played an important role in the exercise.
гٸƵRIMPAC is going to be a great experience, working with other nations and having the possibility to go to a reception and interact with other nations would be cool," Bernard said in the release.
Before enlisting in the U.S. Navy, Bernard attended Brunswick Early College High School. After her high school graduation in 2015, she attended N.C. State University, and earned a bachelorгٸƵs degree in biology in 2019.
Bernard believes the skills she acquired in high school have helped her in the U.S. Navy.
гٸƵI learned to always work hard, going to an early college set the tone for the way I wanted to live my life,гٸƵ she said in the release.
In addition to her education, Bernard is also grateful to those who encouraged and guided her as she began her Navy career.
гٸƵMy sister, HM1 Brooke DeMonbreun, even though we have different jobs in the Navy, provides me with a lot of perspective on the Navy,гٸƵ Bernard added.
The theme of RIMPAC 2024 was гٸƵPartners: Integrated and Prepared.гٸƵ The release stated participants exercised a wide range of capabilities, ranging from disaster relief and maritime security operations to sea control and complex warfighting, and it demonstrated гٸƵthe inherent flexibility of maritime forces.гٸƵ
This yearгٸƵs exercise was the 29th one in a series that began in 1971.
Bernard joined the U.S. Navy to continue her education and post-graduate school.
гٸƵBeing in the Navy means serving for others ensuring the greater good of our country,гٸƵ Bernard said.
Editor's note: The information from this story came from a news release from the U.S. Navy Office of Community Outreach.