BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 3RD CLASS NICHOLAS RUSSELL, USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73)

Special to the Journal

Petty Officer 3rd Class Youmel Hermiz, a native of Turlock, California, was recognized as Warfighter of the Week aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, USS George Washington (CVN 73), April 18.

Warfighter of the Week is a command program where the ship’s captain personally recognizes an exemplary sailor for their accomplishments.
Hermiz was selected by his leadership for this honor. Hermiz's positive attitude and eagerness to learn are always inspiring to his peers and represent the “Spirit of Freedom," the ship’s nickname.
“I am most proud of being able to maintain a positive work ethic in the Navy,” said Hermiz. “Growing up, I developed that work ethic from helping out at our family business, the Creperie.”
Hermiz, a 2020 graduate of Pitman High School, has served in the Navy for over three years and George Washington is his first command. Today, Hermiz serves as a hospital corpsman responsible for providing outpatient medical care to active duty military personnel, military retirees and their family members.
Aircraft carriers, such as USS George Washington, project power and presence worldwide by serving as the cornerstone of a Carrier Strike Group and launching and landing various types of aircraft.
George Washington is undergoing refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) at Newport News Shipyard. RCOH is a multi-year project performed only during a carrier’s 50-year service life that includes refueling the ship’s two nuclear reactors, as well as significant repairs, upgrades and modernization.
USS George Washington is named after the first President of the United States.
The ship’s motto is “First in War, First in Peace."