America’s strength is built on the dedication of those who serve.⚓️ 🎥 Watch the full episode of the "Sailors First" podcast featuring Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy John Perryman, and two of our world-class intelligence specialists on YouTube. 🎙️ Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or iHeartRadio. #USNavy# #SailorsFirst# #Podcast#

Our Navy consists of skilled Sailors critical to our national defense. Learn more about what it’s like to be an intelligence specialist in the world’s most powerful Navy by watching the “Sailors First” podcast featuring Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy John Perryman and two of our world-class Sailors on YouTube. You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music or iHeartRadio. #USNavy# #Podcast# #SailorsFirst#

SAILORS FIRST SUNDAY: Sailor Of The Week ⚓ Congratulations to HM2 Brandon W. Williams, a Colorado native who serves as the SAR Medical Technician Standardization Leading Petty Officer (LPO) with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Two-Five (HSC-25) in Agana, Guam! As medical department LPO, he led five HMs and advised one Senior Medical Officer in FDNF command medical readiness, pre/post deployment medical requirements, and medical training for 435 sailors from HSC-25, AIMD, ASD, AIMD Bahrain, VUP-19, and ERCS Naval Hospital Guam. His leadership resulted in treating 560 patients, inoculating 125 service members from Influenza, Japanese Encephalitis and Hepatitis, 18 flight physicals, 109 post-deployment health assessments and 53 pre-deployment health screenings, contributing to 92% squadron medical readiness, as well as the deployment of Detachment 3 and Detachment 6 in support of ESB-6/ LHA-7. As a Search and Rescue Medical Technician, Williams responded directly to two Medevacs, including one stroke patient that required urgent intervention to prevent neurological deterioration and one renal failure patient that required higher-level care, impacting two souls saved. As Command Tactical Combat Casualty Care Program Director, his instruction has qualified 73 personnel in TCCC tier 2, as well as 19 enlisted in TCCC All Service Member. His professionalism, leadership, and unwavering commitment exemplify the standards expected of our Navy’s finest Sailors!

SAILORS FIRST SUNDAY: Welcome home, USS Abraham Lincoln! 📷 USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) returned to its homeport of San Diego following 10 months of operations in the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operations on Oct. 8. After arriving in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility (AOR) in late January, the carrier and its strike group, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 3, spearheaded the U.S. Navy’s involvement in Operation Epic Fury, taking the lead role on the southern Iranian coast as Commander, Task Force (CTF) 50. CSG-3, with Abraham Lincoln at its center, supported 40 days of major combat operations, involving nearly 4,000 combat sorties from CVW-9. Thank you to EVERY Sailor who served with the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group for your dedicated service.

SAILORS FIRST SUNDAY: Your Sailors come from a rich warfighting legacy and are ready to meet today's challenges with honor, courage and commitment. Division 298 presents the competitive flags earned during training at a pass-in-review graduation ceremony at Recruit Training Command (RTC) Aug. 6, 2026.  Boot camp is approximately 9 weeks and all enlistees into the U.S. Navy begin their careers at the command.

SAILORS FIRST SUNDAY: Forged to fight. Sailors assigned to security aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD5) face their final test in their Security Reaction Force Basic (SRF-B) class onboard Naval Station Norfolk. We forge warfighters who are ready to fight, adapt and win. Anywhere. Anytime.

Meet our Sailors First Sunday Sailor of the Week, EN3 Demitrius Yang! ⚓ The Fresno, California, native is assigned to Naval Beach Unit (NBU) 7 in Sasebo, Japan, where he is the lead mechanic and operator for four Light Amphibious Resupply, Cargo (LARC) vehicles. Yang represents the best of the Fleet through exceptional technical expertise, initiative, and dedication to mission accomplishment. He conducted four LARC swim operations, four LARC towing evolutions, and one LCU anti-broach and deadman evolution, directly enhancing unit readiness and operational capability. He also led critical rudder repairs on LARC 967, returning the craft to full mission-capable status. He trained 10 Sailors in LARC fundamentals and troubleshooting, increasing the team’s technical proficiency and ability to sustain operations. His maintenance leadership also helped qualify four Sailors as 3M Maintenance Person. Dependable and self-motivated, Yang consistently arrives prepared, completes tasks above standard, and requires minimal supervision. His professionalism, work ethic, and commitment to developing fellow Sailors reflect the highest standards of Naval service. Thank you for your exceptional contributions to the mission of the U.S. Navy, EN3 Yang!

In the newest episode of the "Sailors First" podcast, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy John Perryman sit down with two of our world-class intelligence specialists and discuss why they joined the world's most powerful Navy, their experiences serving on an aircraft carrier, career advancement, and much more. This is a candid conversation you won't want to miss!

WATCH the NEWEST EPISODE of the "Sailors First" podcast, where Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy John Perryman host a discussion with two of our world-class warfighters who are sonar technicians about everything from artificial intelligence to family life. You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and iHeartRadio.

The dominant and ready Navy of today is a product of the brave men and women who have dedicated their lives to serving something greater than themselves. Learn more about what it's like to be a sonar technician in the latest episode of the "Sailors First" podcast featuring Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy John Perryman and two of our undersea warfighters on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and iHeartRadio.