Service news

• U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Luis Oliver graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.

The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.

Airmen who complete basic training also earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

Oliver is the son of Janet Hernandez and Luis Oliver of Aguadilla of Puerto Rico, and husband of Zoennis Pallens-Oliver of Lorain.

He is a 2011 graduate of Juan Suarez High School, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in 2016 from Universidad de Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.

• A North Olmsted native and 2017 Olmsted Falls High School graduate is serving in Japan in the U.S. Navy aboard USS Germantown.

Fireman Karyna Irizarry is a damage controlman aboard the ship operating out of Sasebo, Japan.

A Navy damage controlman is responsible for fighting fires and repairing holes on the ship. If there is a casualty on the ship such as a fire, flood, chemical or gas leak, a damage controlman would be the first to respond.

They perform maintenance on all shipboard fight fighting equipment and personal protective equipment.

They are responsible for instructing the rest of the crew on how to effectively fight a fire and repair the ship.

Irizarry is proud to serve in the Pacific and fondly recalls memories of North Olmsted.

“I did a ride along with the Brooklyn Fire Department. I had a blast doing those,” said Irizarry. “It inspired me to pick this career.”

Irizarry thus far has prepared for the upcoming inspections in damage control. She is part of a team that maintains the firefighting equipment onboard the ship. It also trains the rest of the ship how to fight fires, stop flooding, and restoring the ship.

With more than 50 percent of the world’s shipping tonnage and a third of the world’s crude oil passing through the region, the United States has historic and enduring interests in this part of the world. The Navy’s pres- ence in Sasebo is part of that long-standing commitment, explained Navy officials.

Commissioned in 1986, Germantown is the second Navy ship named after the Revolutionary War Battle of Germantown. With a crew of more than 900 sailors and Marines, Germantown is 609 feet long and weighs about 16,000 tons. Designed specifically to operate landing craft air cushion small craft vessels, Whidbey Islandclass dock landing ships have the largest capacity for these landing craft out of any U.S. Navy amphibious ship.

“Serving here can be stressful because you really miss home,” said Irizarry.

“On the other hand, you have the people to back you up and help you. I do enjoy being here in Japan. I’ve learned to be more patient since joining the Navy. One thing that I’ve learned is that when teaching others fire fighting skills, they may not have the same knowledge as you but you still need to take the time to teach them. That will benefit the ship overall.”

As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Irizarry and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.

“Serving in the Navy means that I need to be able to know what I need to do to help save the ship or my shipmates,” said Irizarry.

“It’s also good to know that there’s people I know that I count on.”