Virginia Beach native serves aboard U.S. Navy amphibious warship in Japan

Llanda attended Salem High School and graduated in 2006.

Llanda joined the Navy 11 years ago.

“I joined the Navy because my father was a retired chief in the Navy and I wanted to follow his footsteps,” said Llanda. “I also wanted to travel the world and create a better life for myself.”

Today, Llanda serves as a hospital corpsman aboard USS America.

Skills and values learned in the Navy are similar to those found in Virginia Beach.

“The lessons I learned from my hometown that have helped me to be successful in the Navy is having strong morals and values,” said Llanda. “I believe having a strong work ethic carried over to my current naval career. The lessons I learned from my hometown have greatly eased my transition from civilian to military life.”

USS America is an amphibious warship. These types of ships embark, transport and land U.S. Marines for a variety of warfare missions. Because of their inherent capabilities, these ships have been and will continue to be called upon to support humanitarian and other contingency missions on short notice, according to Navy officials.

As a member of the Navy, Llanda is part of a world-class organization focused on maintaining maritime dominance, strengthening partnerships, increasing competitive warfighting capabilities and sustaining combat-ready forces in support of the National Defense Strategy.

“The Navy is important to our national defense because we maintain maritime security,” said Llanda. “We promote freedom of the sea and navigation.”

Llanda serves in Japan as part of the Forward Deployed Naval Forces. These naval forces operate with allies and partners to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Service members in this region are part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, which has the largest area of responsibility in the world.

“As the largest force in our nation’s front line against revisionist actors, U.S. Pacific Fleet meets this great responsibility with strength, resolve and confidence,” said Adm. Samuel Paparo, U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander. “Together with our joint and combined partner operations, we are positioned to defend – across all domains – any attempts to threaten our nation, our allies and partner’s security, freedom and well-being.”

Llanda and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.

“My proudest accomplishment in the Navy is becoming the instructor of the quarter,” said Llanda. “It has impacted me more than other accolades because my students really learned from me.”

As Llanda and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.

“Serving in the Navy means an opportunity to carry on a legacy from those who have come before me,” said Llanda. “As a hospital corpsman that has been around the world, the Navy has given me experiences and views that some can only ever dream of.”

Llanda is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.

“I would like to thank Petty Officer 1st Class Rashan Robinson and Commander Bradshaw,” added Llanda. “I would also like to thank my parents for supporting me.”