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“She’s a hard-charger,” explains her leading petty officer, Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 1st Class Dylan Tiefert. “She hits the decks running.”
Jimenez was recently named Pre-commissioning Unit Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) Bluejacket of the Quarter, 3rd Quarter. She credits her parents, who immigrated to the United States when she was a toddler, for instilling in her the high work ethic that contributed to her success.
“My parents weren’t citizens when we came over,” explained Jimenez, who was born in a small town just outside Mexico City and grew up in Whittier, Calif. “I was three years old. My godmother owns a restaurant and my dad became the manager and my mom a housekeeper. My parents taught me to be loving and caring and to work hard. They became citizens this past year.”
Jimenez graduated from La Serna High School in 2013. Her desire to make her own way in life and to find her niche motivated her to enlist in the Navy as an ABH.
“I chose ABH because I wanted to see the sunlight and be outside working hard with aircraft on the flight deck,” said Jimenez. “I don’t think you really know what it’s about when you choose a rate, but I’ll say I love it and I love the hard work too.”
This hard-working attitude and enthusiasm for adventure pushed Jimenez to volunteer for a deployment with the USS George Washington (CVN 73) during its historic 3-carrier hull swap. Jimenez was assigned to Fly-2 division on the ship where she is gaining valuable technical and operational experience.
This isn’t Jimenez’s first time on an operational carrier. Last March, she went underway with USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) and said it was a rewarding experience to see a fast-paced operational flight deck in action.
When it comes to the George Washington however, she is amazed at how quickly a mixed crew, from various carriers, has come together to build a new family.
“I feel like it’s a PCU (Pre-Commissioning Unit) again, we’re all just meeting each other and creating a new crew, the best crew,” said Jimenez. “Even though I’m missing my shipmates on the Ford, I wanted the experience and qualifications so I can bring it back to the Ford.”
Tiefert, who deployed with Jimenez to head George Washington’s V-1 division, said her work-ethic and professionalism is what makes her stand out.
“On Ford, she works on tracking and coordinating training in the division. When we needed flight-deck physicals and fire-fighting classes she coordinated everything so we could be ready to move aboard the ship and get everything up and running.”
Tiefert said Jimenez’s work in training and tracking divisional business ensured all the V-1 Ford Sailors sent on temporary duty to George Washington, USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), and USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) would deploy with binders complete with all the necessary qualifications and training for checking aboard their ships and starting work.
“When we came here to GW, we just gave the chain of command our training jackets and since we had everything they needed, we were ready to start working early,” said Tiefert. “She’s an asset to the division. By the time she gets back she’ll be a fully qualified ABH with an air warfare pin and hopefully in time to be named Ford’s Blue Jacket of the Year. She is representing Ford well here, doing her job, getting qualifi ed and making a strong impact upon GW.”
“I know it takes time and you have to work for it,” said Jimenez. “But like my mom and dad, I’m not afraid to work hard and earn what I want.”
Nearly 9,000 Sailors assigned to the aircraft carriers USS George Washington (CVN 73), USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), and USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) are participating in an unprecedented hull swap. Reagan, with Sailors formerly assigned to George Washington, left San Diego Aug. 31 for its new homeport of Yokosuka, Japan. Theodore Roosevelt, currently in the midst of a scheduled deployment, will take Reagan’s place in San Diego upon its return.
Later this month, George Washington will depart San Diego to make its way around South America to Newport News, Virginia, where Jimenez and more than 100 Gera ld R. Ford Sailors will rejoin their ship.
| Date Taken: | 09.08.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 04.03.2016 21:38 |
| Story ID: | 194250 |
| Location: | SAN DIEGO, CA, US |
| Hometown: | MEXICO CITY, MX |
| Hometown: | WHITTIER, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 135 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, GRF Bluejacket of the Quarter Makes Her Mark on a Historic 3-Hull Swap, by CPO Patrick Grieco, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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