The years pass much too quickly. 10 years ago today (1 January 2000), I re-enlisted this great Sailor, Nico Figueroa. He was a 2nd Class Petty Officer. In the intervening years, he made First Class, was selected for the Seaman to Admiral 21 Program, graduated successfully from the University of Colorado and earned his commission as an Ensign, refused the commission and continued his service as a First Class Petty Officer, made some incredible drug busts with the USS McInerney (FFG-8), got out of the Navy served in Iraq, finished his time in Iraq and is currently serving in Afghanistan.Neither of us made New Year's resolutions to get where we needed to be. We set our course and got underway. Each year has seen us grow. What we haven't done is grow apart. Nico and I have stayed in touch over the years and I am deeply appreciative of the Sailor he was in the Navy, the man that he's become and the patriotism he's demonstrated all along the way. As great a guy as he is, I'd say he was typical of the many superb Sailors I had while in command of U.S. Naval Security Group Activity Yokosuka, Japan.
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