U.S. Navy Returns with Beyond the Call

MIAMI, April 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- America's Navy is proud to announce the second installation of videos honoring its current and former Navy personnel through the "Beyond the Call" diversity campaign. This year's servicemen and servicewomen come from diverse backgrounds and take viewers on a journey showing the impact that the Navy has had on their lives, professionally and personally. The campaign invites viewers to comment and share their stories of their Navy heroes. Our honorees' stories will be released weekly (from April 8 until May 17) and can be found on the U.S. Navy Life and U.S. Navy Latinos Facebook pages.

Capt. Horatio Fernandez, Diversity Director at Navy Recruiting Command states, "Last year, visitors to the Facebook page of 'Beyond the Call' nominated other deserving individuals in the Navy whose efforts both on duty and in the community warranted recognition.  Because we want to know more about our sailors from people who know and admire their efforts, we invite you to share your stories of Navy achievers by uploading a story and photo on the Facebook page."

Meet our Sailors: (Note: honoree stories released weekly)

Navy Counselor 1st Class Latonya Robinson (video to debut the week of April 8) is a Navy District Trainer currently stationed at Navy Recruiting District (NRD) New Orleans. In this role, Robinson works as a regional case review committee member, helping to provide protection and clinical and social services to military families. A native of Houston, Texas, Robinson joined the Navy in 1992 and has served across the country. In 2006, she received the Diversity Recruiter of the Year award from NRD Houston. A single mother of two, in her spare time Robinson volunteers for organizations, including Race for the Cure and the Wounded Warrior Project.

Lt. Arthur Castro (video to debut the week of April 8) is a Navy Maintenance Material Control Officer, responsible for the safety of some of the most sophisticated Navy aircrafts. A native of the Philippines, Castro joined the Navy in 1998 and has served on humanitarian missions, including the tsunami in Southeast Asia in 2004. Castro credits the Navy for helping him overcome obstacles to achieve both his professional and personal goals. Married and the father of two children, Castro devotes his time to his family and volunteers with the Civil Air Patrol.

OC Nicole Ancar (video to debut the week of April 15) is a student in the Seaman to Admiral-21 Program, Nurse Corps Option, at Tulane University. A native of Birmingham, Ala., Ancar joined the Navy in 1997. Her dream was to become a nurse, and she quickly discovered that being in the Navy would allow her to achieve that dream. A single mother and student, Ancar always finds the time to pay it forward, with volunteer work at her church and previous efforts with Habitat for Humanity and Second Harvest Food Bank.

Lt. Cmdr. Kenneth Vargas (video to debut the week of April 22) is a Contingency Engineer/Disaster Preparation Officer at Naval Air Station Jacksonville. Growing up in Bridgeport, Texas, as a young Native American, Vargas felt his heritage would be a constant barrier he would have to overcome. Vargas joined in 1985 and found that the Navy provided opportunities for him to travel the world and attend school and helped him develop to become one of the highest-ranking Active Duty Native American Officers to date. Married, Vargas is committed to giving back and has worked with the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) over the past five years mentoring Native American youth.

Cmdr. Sandra H. Ray (video to debut the week of April 29) is the Dental Department Head at the Naval Health Clinic in Belle Chasse, La. The Puerto Rican-born Commander has been practicing comprehensive dentistry in the Navy for the past 17 years. The proud mother of two boys enjoys mentoring Junior Officers and showing them how to succeed in the military. Her most memorable experience in the U.S. Navy was serving on the Pacific Partnership mission, where she worked on board the USNS Mercy, which provided dental care services for more than 1,500 patients. She continues her education with the help of the U.S. Navy and hopes to complete a master's degree in health administration and retire from the U.S. Navy as Captain.

Capt. Robert C. Trevino (video to debut the week of May 6) joined the U.S. Navy after obtaining a BS in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. After six years of Active Duty as a U.S. Navy pilot, Trevino decided to join the Navy Reserve and pursue a career at NASA, where he currently works as an aerospace technologist focusing on extravehicular mobility units. Trevino remains active with the U.S. Navy by supporting the Office of Naval Research's Naval Science Awards Program, where he serves as a judge in regional, state and international science fairs that encourage students to pursue careers in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. In tribute to his Mexican heritage and love for science, he is also a member of the Society of Mexican American Engineers and Scientists (MAES).

For the past six years, Lt. Ina Miranda-Vargas (video to debut the week of May 13) has had a fulfilling career in the U.S. Navy. Currently, she is the Facilities Engineer Acquisition Division Director for Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Public Works Department in Southeast New Orleans. The Puerto Rican-born Lieutenant put her skills into action soon after joining the Navy by becoming a member of the Naval Construction Force, also known as the Seabees. In addition to their projects within the Navy, the Seabees also render humanitarian and disaster recovery assistance around the world. She enjoys being a mentor to others and capitalizes on her experiences as a Latina in a historically male-dominated field and demonstrating to others that they can achieve anything they set out to accomplish. 

SOURCE U.S. Navy