By Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist John Osborne, Navy Office of Community Outreach
Petty Officer 3rd Class Guadalupe Esquivel, a native of Warrenville, Illinois, serves aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex, currently operating out of San Diego, California.
Esquivel graduated from Wheaton Warrenville South High School in 2022.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Warrenville.
“I learned growing up in Warrenville that I need to go after what I want, no matter what other people think, including your family,” Esquivel said. “I learned to chase after what I want, and so far it’s working.”
Esquivel joined the Navy three years ago. Today, Esquivel serves as a culinary specialist.
“I joined the Navy to leave home and a toxic environment,” Esquivel said. “When I joined, my dream was to open up a restaurant, but now I want to go into real estate with a food truck on the side.”
Essex plays a crucial role in projecting power and maintaining presence for naval forces. It serves as the cornerstone of amphibious operations, capable of carrying Marines, their equipment, and aircraft to execute a wide range of missions, from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to full-scale amphibious assaults. This ship enables forces to rapidly deploy and sustain operations in littoral (near-shore) environments, providing a versatile platform for achieving strategic objectives across the globe.
Resembling a small aircraft carrier, Essex’s crew is made up of approximately 1,200 officers and enlisted personnel and can accommodate up to 1,800 Marines.
The U.S. Navy is celebrating its 250th birthday this year.
According to Navy officials, “America is a maritime nation and for 250 years, America’s Warfighting Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom.”
With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber-optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Esquivel has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I am proud of earning the trust and respect of my supervisors in my first year on board Essex,” Esquivel said. “I went from working in the galley to taking care of the finance books and working directly with the food service officer. I also received my first early promotion on my latest evaluation.”
Esquivel serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“Serving in the Navy fills me with pride,” Esquivel said. “Not a lot of people my age can say they take pride in their job, but I’m here working for my country that has given so much to me and my family.”
Esquivel is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my recruit division commander in boot camp who helped me realize that as long as I believe in myself, nothing else really matters,” Esquivel said.
“I don’t know if I will make a career out of the Navy, but I’m looking to study business and someday be my own boss,” Esquivel added.
