Command Master Chief Eric Mayes of NRD San Antonio assists Angelina Coronado in pinning a new insignia on Valeria Coronado-Guitierrez of Corpus Christi. Angelina Coronado is Coronado-Guitierrez’s mother. The frocking ceremony promoting Coronado-Guiterrez was held at Navy Recruiting District San Antonio. U.S. Navy Photo by Burrell Parmer, NRD-SA/Released
Local students who left high school for the U.S. Navy made news this week with promotions or participation in historic events, while a student exchange program looks for volunteer host families. It’s all about sharing the experience of family and community in this month’s News Briefs.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE VOLUNTEERS
A nonprofit in Corpus Christi needs volunteer host families for foreign exchange students. Educational Resource Development Trust/Share matches high school students ages 15-18 with local families with or without children. Families provide free room and board for kids from more than 30 countries. Students speak English and have their own medical insurance and spending money. For more information, call (800) 941-3738 or visit sharesouthwest.org.
NAVY PROMOTION
Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Valeria Coronado-Gutierrez of Corpus Christi was promoted to the rank of petty officer second class in the U.S. Navy by Cmdr. Jeffrey Reynolds of the Navy Recruiting District (NRD) San Antonio. She works as a Military Entrance Processing Station processor at NRD San Antonio. Coronado-Gutierrez is a 2014 graduate of Miller High School. She enlisted in the Navy in 2009.
LOCALS IN WARFARE EXERCISE
Two local graduates now serving in the U.S. Navy are taking part in the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise: Rim of the Pacific. Seaman Eleanor Vara is a mass communication specialist aboard USS Carl Vinson, currently operating out of San Diego. She is a 2015 graduate of Richard King High School. Also in the exercise will be Petty Officer 3rd Class Peyton Smith, a damage controlman aboard the USS William P. Lawrence, currently operating out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Smith is a 2016 graduate of Flour Bluff High School.
RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity to ensure safety and security at sea. This year’s theme is “Capable, Adaptive, Partners.” Participating nations and forces will demonstrate flexibility and capabilities in disaster relief, maritime security operations, sea control, and complex combat.
The 26th RIMPAC since 1971, this year’s version will include training in amphibious operations, gunnery, missile, and anti-submarine and air defense exercises as well as counter-piracy, mine clearance operations, explosive ordnance disposal, and diving and salvage operations.
Twenty-six nations, 46 surface ships, five submarines, more than 200 aircraft, and 25,000 personnel will participate in the biennial Rim of the Pacific Exercise.
