MISSOURI CITY NATIVE SUPPORTS U.S. NAVY SQUADRON

By: Ensign Joash Ward, Navy Office of Community Outreach Petty Officer 1st Class Dustin Holmes, a native of Missouri City, Texas, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (COM-HSMWINGPAC). Holmes graduated from Thurgood Marshall High School in 2008. Holmes joined the Navy 16 years ago. Today, Holmes serves as an engineman. “I joined the Navy because I wanted to make some-thing better of myself and be financially stable,” said Holmes. “I also wanted to have money for college. I’m in school right now, paying for it with the pro-grams that are available to us. I wanted to set my life up to become the best version of myself, and realize my potential. I wanted to be a team player, financial stable and physically fit. At 18, I didn’t have the confidence and charisma that I have now, I got them from my time in the service.” The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Missouri City. “I’ve learned how to turn nothing into something,” said Holmes. “That means turning the worst situation into a good situation. A lot of times in the military and in my life, I’ve had...