Your Excellency Admiral Almeida d’Eça,
My name is Ricardo Salvador and I am from Sagres, in the Algarve. I am a seaman. I am a Store keeper Mate – that is my rate. I joined the Navy because I think this is a good job for the future. I want to go as far as I can and develop a career. Even if I don’t get to stay here, the course I am taking can give me a good future outside.
Sincerely,
Salvador
Your Excellency Admiral Almeida d’Eça,
I am going to introduce myself.
My name is Dirk Alexander, I ma a seaman apprentice and my rate is Gunner’s mate (or Armament Technician as it is called in the Portuguese Navy). This area of expertise results from a combination of three former ones: the Artillery Mates, the Torpedoes Mates and the Electricians.
You certainly asked yourself where my name comes from. It is German. My father is German and my mother is Portuguese. I have been living in Portugal since I was 11 years old. Now I am 21 and I joined the Navy to build a career. I hope to finish it as a nurse with a rank like Master Chief Petty Officer or higher.
I hope you enjoyed to get some information about the future of the Portuguese Navy.
Sincerely,
Alexander
Your Excellency Admiral Almeida d’Eça,
My name is Loureiro. I joined the Navy because it is a good chance to build a career and I always wanted to join the Armed Forces. I chose to be a Gunner’s Mate, because I want to know more about them and how they work. I don’t know yet if I want to stay in the Navy. I must see a little more after the course…
Sincerely,
Loureiro
Your Excellency Admiral Almeida d’Eça,
I’m Paula Miranda. I’m 18 years old and I joined the Navy mainly because I didn’t get a good grade on the math exam to go to college and also because I think that the Navy is the best branch of the Armed Forces. I am a seaman apprentice and my rate is operations. This rate links the older rates of “radar operator”, “torpedoes detector” and “artillery predictor”. I chose this rate because it allows me to use navigation sensors.
Sincerely,
Miranda
Your Excellency Admiral Almeida d’Eça,
It’s with great pleasure that we are working on a project about you, Sir.
We even would like to see you to talk about our dear Navy, but there is no time because we have got lots of things to do and to study.
I am a seaman and my speciality is Gunner’s mate. I wanted to be in the Navy since I was a kid. I always liked the sea and I’ve sailed since I was ten years old. And now that I’m in the Navy, I am loving it: the mates, the fellowship, etc.
I want the Navy to be part of my life and as a sailor I hope never to fail. I am also studying maths so that I can apply to the Naval Academy and become a great sailor!
Even if I won’t make it to officer, I’ll try to be a petty officer. What I really care about is to try my best.
Sometimes I get sad, because I see that some mates just come to the Navy because they need a job and not because they love the Portuguese Flag and the Navy.
It depends on us to make the Navy a great Navy.
Sincerely,
Miguéis