A U.S. Navy Sailor assigned to Pacific Partnership 2024-1 (PP24-1) spoke to students about Navy medical career opportunities at the middle school he once attended in Santa Rita, Guam, Dec. 15.

At the invite of teachers from his alma mater, Lt. j. g. Nikko Cabrera, a nurse aboard the hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19), spoke at Commander William C. McCool Middle School to increase student awareness about the Navy Nurse Corps.

“Today I supported my former middle school teachers by speaking to their advanced via individual determination students” said Cabrera. “We had a great talk about our different pathways into nursing and becoming a Navy nurse.”

Cabrera presented a slideshow showcasing information about the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program and nurse candidate program.

“We spoke about ROTC and the nurse candidate program so we can touch base with kids interested in the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard” Cabrera said. “It allowed to me to see where their heads were at and what kind of plans they have in life.”

Cabrera said returning to his old stomping grounds gave him a sense of nostalgia and that speaking with the students excited him for their futures.

“Middle school has very core memories in my heart, being a volley ball captain, student council, and being an AVID student as well’ said Cabrera. “Being able to see the next generation pick-up where I left off was great”

Pacific Partnership, now in its 19th iteration, is the largest multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific and works to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships.

Photo caption:

U.S. Navy Lt. j. g. Nikko Cabrera, from Oxnard California, and Lt. j. g. Makenzie Sorrells, from Kingsland, Texas, speak to local students at Commander William C. McCool school in Naval Base Guam during Pacific Partnership 2024-1 Dec. 15, 2023. Pacific Partnership, now in its 19th iteration, is the largest multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific and works to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Justin Ontiveros)