Some describe the Navy as a big family, but it is still a small world. Every once in a while, families can find themselves stationed together at the same command. Sisters Ashley and Danielle Diesfeld were both assigned orders to the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69).
Ship’s Serviceman Third Class Ashley Diesfeld arrived on the Ike in 2015 after she completed her training. Her duties include maintaining the vending machines and manning the ship’s store.
Logistics Specialist Seaman Danielle Diesfeld joined the Navy for job security and to help her sister, Ashley get a higher rank through the Recruiting Referral Recognition Program. However, Ashley wasn’t initially excited about them being in the Navy together.
“The day I signed my contract, Ashley was so mad at me,” said Danielle. “She didn’t talk to me at all. But she came around and eventually texted me, ‘I’m proud of you. We’re going to do great things.’”
Danielle was first stationed on the Arleigh-Burke class destroyer USS Gridley (DDG 101) as an undesignated seaman until she struck logistics specialist and was transferred to the Ike in June 2018.
“I wanted to be in supply and work in the ship’s store,” said Danielle. “At my last command, supply was the bee’s knees. I got early chow and all the benefits.”
“On a smaller ship maybe,” said Ashley in disagreement.
“No. I feel like I would still like it here, I like talking to people,” said Danielle.
“The hours are different here,” replied Ashley.
“During underways on smaller ships, they are still open all day except chow hours,” responded Danielle.
And so, the conversation went like any friendly sibling disagreement.
Now Danielle works in aviation supply’s repairable management branch which takes old parts, sends them back to the manufacturer or recycles them, and orders and distributes replacements.
“There’s like five of us in there and we are all very, very different,” said Danielle. “It just makes the work environment better, because when you have all of the same people there’s not much to talk about. I want to learn new things, other people’s culture, and their backgrounds and funny stories while I’m working.”
Ashley said that even though she might not say it, she shows Danielle that she is happy they are together in the Navy now.
Danielle said, when she got her orders, she was hoping to be assigned to the same command as her best friend Logistics Specialist Third Class Izzy Sanchez but understood that it is was unlikely for that to happen.
“No way,” said Danielle, after her navy counselor first class gave her a copy of her orders, and she read that she was assigned to the Ike.
“What is it?,” asked her navy counselor first class.
“I’m going to my sister’s ship,” she responded as her hands shook with anticipation.
Her master chief had her talk to her detailer to make sure being stationed with her sister wasn’t an accident and didn’t break any regulations.
“When I got the orders, I literally ran through the ship and called Ashley,” said Danielle. “I was like, ‘I’m coming to your ship!’ She was half asleep, and I was practically jumping up and down.”
“She called me when I was sleeping,” said Ashley. “I didn’t want to pick up at first. I was on a temporary assigned duty in security. It was my day off, so I didn’t want to wake up early. When I called her back, she told me she was coming to the Ike. I didn’t believe it. I was like, ‘send me a picture of your orders.’ I thought she was just playing with me.”
“I was more excited than she was,” said Danielle as she remembered the day she received her orders to the Ike.
Danielle said the other Sailors on Gridley responded with, “Wow, that’s so crazy! How is that even possible?”
The sisters said they were excited to tell their dad, as well, and although he didn’t say much, they think he is excited for them to be stationed together.
One of the side effects of being at the same command as a sibling is that people mistake them for each other because they look alike and have the same last name.
Ashley was also here to show Danielle around and make sure she was taken care of when she arrived to the Ike.
That was three months ago and they still spend lots of time together. They eat chow together, `56 and when they get a minute to take a break, they find each other. They are assigned to the same duty section and live together.
“It’s easier to check in with someone else,” said Danielle. “I was so nervous when I checked into my first ship, but I felt lucky to be with another person I knew from boot camp. I felt the same way when I arrived on the Ike, where I at least had my sister.”