Seaman Recruit Julianna Toth, originally from Budapest, has been studying at the Naval Technical Training Center (NTTC) Meridian, learning the skills needed to be a yeoman in the U.S. Navy.
“At Meridian, instructors teach sailors to be combat-ready while providing the tools and opportunities for continuous learning and development,” Rick Burke of the Navy Office of Community Outreach tells the Budapest Business Journal.
“I immigrated with my family from Budapest to Florida in 2018,” Toth explains. “Not only am I the first in my family to join the U.S. military, but I am also the first woman in my entire family to join any branch of the military.” Having graduated from senior high school in North Miami, Florida, last year, she joined up in July 2023.
“I joined the Navy for self-improvement and better opportunities in the future, as well as to just try something new that would bring unique experiences,” Toth says.
“I learned that teamwork is a big thing in the Navy. It’s important that, no matter how you feel towards someone personally, you have to be able to come together as a team and put your issues aside in order to complete your mission, as well as holding each other accountable.”
NTTC Meridian, located at Naval Air Station Meridian, Mississippi, is committed to developing dedicated and motivated sailors and Marines. Following boot camp, it provides entry-level training to students in administration and supply ratings.
“NTTC Meridian is one of the more than 1,640 subordinate learning sites that serve as a part of the Naval Education and Training Command,” Burke tells the BBJ. “NTTC seeks to provide the tools and opportunities that enable life-long learning, professional and personal growth and development, ensuring fleet readiness and mission accomplishment,” he adds.
With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, senior officers continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to trained sailors and a strong Navy. That has only been underscored by the disruption to Red Sea shipping as a spillover from the Middle East conflict.
“The Navy is a prominent part of our country’s self-defense. With a strong Navy that’s always ready to defend its country, nations are less likely to challenge us,” Toth argues.
Hungary may famously be a landlocked country, but Toth says her family, who remain on the European side of the Atlantic, support her career choice.
“Seeing how proud my family back in Hungary is of me serving in the Navy makes it all worthwhile. To me, serving means being a part of a greater community for a greater purpose in giving back to our country,” says Toth.
“I would like to thank my parents, my uncle, Csaba Funtek, my aunt, Alina Tóth, other family members and my boyfriend for sending me letters and keeping me motivated when I felt like quitting and helping me push through to get to where I am today,” Toth adds.
This article was first published in the Budapest Business Journal print issue of June 28, 2024.
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