The Norfolk Naval Station is the largest naval base, and home to thousands of military personnel from the around the world 

Those aboard the base include several people from the Rio Grande Valley, such as Edinburg’s Lizbeth Trevino.

Trevino said she joined four years ago after graduating from Edinburg High School. She serves aboard the USS Gunston Hall, and visits friends and family back home about twice a year.

“I tell them it's the greatest experience ever,” Trevino said. “I've been to 11 countries so far, so I’ve seen a lot of the world.

Clarissa Garcia from Mission is training aboard the destroyer, USS Nitze. She’s been with the U.S. Navy for 16 years.

“It was a culture shock because down in the Valley you're used to the largely Hispanic population,” Garcia said.

The ship she works on carries hundreds of sailors.

Chief Warrant Officer Brian Potter from Brownsville was also at the training.

“I wanted to go to school, but the money availability wasn't there,” Potter said. “So the military was a good option to get that ball rolling for myself."

Potter says he'll stay in the Navy well past 20 years.

Sailors from the Valley also work aboard smaller landing ships.

“I just wanted to branch out,” Matthew Jacob Tejada said. “I didn't want to stay in the Valley, I wanted to see the world."

Tejada is from McAllen. He’s been promoted since joining in 2022 and visited Spain, Cyprus and Gaza.

Tejada said the Navy gave him a way to learn new skills and see new places.

“A lot of people want to do it, but some people can't," Tejada said. “I was like, ‘if I have this opportunity, I might as well try it."

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