Glendale Mtn Ridge grad serving with U.S. Navy in Japan

Petty Officer 1st Class Nuveen Iseghohimen, a Phoenix native, serves in the U.S. Navy as a member of a helicopter squadron forward deployed to Japan.

Iseghohimen graduated from Mountain Ridge High School in Glendale in 2013.

The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in the Valley.

“I learned the value of money and how difficult life is when you don't have it,” Iseghohimen said. "That lesson, along with my work ethic, has allowed me to pay off all of my debt, save and invest, and achieve success in the Navy.”

Iseghohimen joined the Navy nine years ago. Today, Iseghohimen serves as a yeoman.

“I joined the Navy to see the world, acquire full-time work experience, and set myself up for the future,” he said.

Members of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 77 fly and maintain helicopters for the U.S. Navy. Navy helicopters are able to perform many different missions. Some of the most common operations include search and rescue, air assaults, medical evacuations, supply transport and hunting submarines.

Iseghohimen 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.