Sligo native’s journey with Navy takes him to master-at-arms duties

From staff reports

Petty Officer 2nd Class Cody Ballinger, a native of Sligo, joined the U.S. Navy for the opportunities the military offers.

Cody Ballinger

“I wanted to travel the world and do something different than the people I grew up with who took the traditional college route,” said Ballinger.

Now, nine years later, Ballinger serves as a master-at-arms at Naval Station Newport, located in Newport, Rhode Island.

A master-at-arms, such as Ballinger, provides waterborne and land security, aircraft and flight line security, strategic weapons and cargo security, maritime security, and platform protection.

Growing up in Sligo, Ballinger attended Union High School and graduated in 2011.

Ballinger uses the skills and values learned in Sligo to succeed in the military.

“I learned the importance of hard work from my hometown,” said Ballinger. “My family always told me that hard work pays off in the end, and I took that to heart. I worked for everything I’ve ever had. I’ve earned what I’ve got. That value has benefited me as a sailor and helped me move up the ranks.”

Serving as a sailor and contributing to the Navy requires a combination of dedication and sacrifice, but Ballinger believes the accomplishments achieved along the way make the hard work worth it.

“My greatest accomplishment has been helping new sailors build a community,” said Ballinger. “The Navy does important work and as a leader, I can do more than simply make sure that the work gets done. I also help foster relationships and teach young sailors the importance of building camaraderie and friendships. That is something that needs to start at the leadership level and be taught by setting a good example. I’ve had the opportunity to see this work out firsthand and it’s something I’m very proud of.”

“The Navy is a community,” Ballinger said. “I look forward to continuing to contribute to that community and help improve it as time goes on. The greater the relationships of sailors means we can all focus on what’s most important, keeping our nation safe.”

From staff reports

Share this:

Related