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Father, Son At Navy Navy Boot Camp
by U.S. Navy MC1 Stephane Belcher
July 16, 2023
Seaman Raul Vega Rodriguez, a 40-year-old
father of three, graduated from basic training while his youngest
son, 18-year-old Seaman Recruit Kendrick Raul Vega Sanabria, also a
recruit in Navy boot camp, watched from the bleachers on July 14, 2023 at
Midway Ceremonial Drill Hall at Recruit Training Command (RTC).
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July 14, 2023 - Seaman Raul Vega Rodriguez, a graduating Sailor, and his youngest son, 18-year-old Recruit Kendrick Raul Vega Sanabria, currently in bootcamp, at Midway Ceremonial Drill Hall at Recruit Training Command (RTC). More than 40,000 recruits train annually at the Navy’s only boot camp. (Image
created by USA Patriotism! from U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class
(MC1) Stephane Belcher.)
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“I wanted to join a long time ago,”
Rodriguez said. “The opportunity came up and I just wanted to do it
... show my kids that I can do it. That’s something for them, they
see me and they might say, ‘You know what, if dad could do it at
that age, I can do it too.’”
His son, Sanabria, inspired by his father, decided to
follow in his father’s footsteps and even called the same recruiter.
“Since I was a kid I always wanted to be in the military;
there’s nothing else,” said Sanabria. “It comes from my dad. He’s
always taught me how to be a leader and never give up.”
Sanabria said his dad has always wanted to join the Navy and that’s
been his inspiration since arriving at RTC.
“He’s always
taught me how to have discipline when you don’t feel like doing
things, just keep doing it,” said Sanabria. “At boot camp it’s hard,
but it’s easy at the same time. Sometimes you feel like going back
home where you can see family, but you stay here for a purpose, just
always remember that purpose.”
While Sanabria could not sit
with his family because he’s still in his first week of training, he
was able to give his father a hug and see his mother and sister.
Rodriguez joined the Navy Reserves and will
go home to Puerto Rico after eight weeks of Aviation Maintenance
Administration man “A” school in Meridian, Mississippi.
His son, who enlisted as active
duty and is in the Seaman Professional Apprenticeship Career Track,
will continue training in Great Lakes, before continuing to the
active fleet.
Boot camp is approximately 10 weeks and all
enlistees in the U.S. Navy begin their careers at the command.
Training includes five warfighting competencies of firefighting,
damage control, seamanship, watch standing, and small arms handling
and marksmanship along with physical fitness and lessons in Navy
heritage and core values, Warrior Toughness, Life Skills, teamwork,
and discipline. More than 40,000 recruits train annually at the
Navy’s only boot camp.
Visit
Navy Recruit Training Command for more information about
joining.
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Minor editing
without impacting facts.
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