Sailor with Family ties to Coral Springs receives ESWS insignia serving aboard U.S. Navy Warship

By Rick Burke, Navy Office of Community Outreach

      MILLINGTON, TENN. — Petty Officer 2nd Class Justene Patch, nephew of Denise Madden, a resident of Coral Springs, Florida, recently received the Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS) insignia serving aboard the U.S. Navy warship, USS Halsey, operating out of San Diego, California.

The ESWS insignia signifies that a sailor has achieved the highest level of expertise in surface ships and in surface warfare.

“Being given my pin after working so hard gave me a sense of satisfaction, as I am the first corpsman to receive their pin on board within the last three years,” said Patch. “As a corpsman, I am not required to do a sea tour but when I was selected for orders that was the one thing I wanted to achieve before my projected rotation date, Being able to accomplish a goal I set for myself two years ago is hopefully something that inspires other junior sailors.”

Patch joined the Navy five years ago. Today, Patch serves as a hospital corpsman responsible for assisting in the prevention and treatment of disease, disability and injury using medical aid and preventive medicine procedures.

USS Halsey is an Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer in the United States Navy. It is the second ship to be named after Adm. William Halsey, Jr.

Halsey, Jr. was an American Navy admiral during WWII. He is one of four officers to have attained the rank of five-star fleet admiral of the United States Navy.

According to Navy officials, a guided-missile destroyer provides a wide range of warfighting capabilities. A Navy destroyer is a multi-mission ship that can operate independently or as part of a larger group of ships at sea. The ship is equipped with tomahawk missiles, torpedoes, guns and a phalanx close-in weapons system.

As Patch and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the U.S. Navy.