SAN DIEGO, CA (Feb. 2, 2024) – Petty Officer 3rd Class Jewel Stough, a native of Virginia Beach, Virginia, serves aboard USS John L. Canley.
Stough graduated from Tallwood High School in 2021. The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Virginia Beach.
“Growing up, I learned the importance of patience,” said Stough. “There is a lot of diversity in my hometown, so you have to have patience when interacting with different types of people. I also learned teamwork from playing sports. Teamwork is essential to how the Navy operates. To be mission-oriented and succeed, you have to know how to work as a team. If the Navy ran selfishly, we wouldn’t be the best Navy in the world.”
Stough joined the Navy two years ago. Today, Stough serves as an aviation ordnanceman.
“I joined the Navy because I wanted to travel the world and take advantage of the educational opportunities the Navy provides,” said Stough. “I also wanted a cool job that wasn’t boring.”
John L. Canley was named after Sgt. Maj. John L. Canley, a United States Marine and a recipient of the United States military’s highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in 1968 during the Battle of Hué City.
John L. Canley is an expeditionary sea base ship that is highly flexible and may be used across a broad range of military operations. Acting as a mobile sea base, these ships are part of the critical access infrastructure that supports the deployment of forces and supplies to provide prepositioned equipment and sustainment with flexible distribution.
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.
“We will earn and reinforce the trust and confidence of the American people every day,” said Adm. Lisa Franchetti, Chief of Naval Operations. “Together we will deliver the Navy the nation needs.”
Stough has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“So far, my proudest accomplishment is being meritoriously promoted to the rank of petty officer third class,” said Stough. “I volunteered to go to another ship for four months, got most of my qualifications and that’s what separated me from other sailors. I worked really hard within those four months and my leadership thought I deserved the next pay grade up, so I was promoted.”
Stough 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 means I get to carry on a family legacy and that I get to represent my family name in the best way possible,” said Stough. “I am the first female to serve in the military in my family. Serving also means I can be a part of something much bigger than myself because I always knew I was meant for something more.”
Stough is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my dad, Christopher, for helping me when I’ve encountered difficulties throughout my career,” added Stough. “I also want to thank my family for their support and for respecting my decision to join. They are my biggest supporters. Lastly, I want to thank Stephanie and Chad Smith for teaching me how to persevere in my darkest moments, and to not care what other people say about me.”