Tecumseh, MI – The United States Navy recently highlighted a 2020 Tecumseh High School Graduate… who is currently serving.
Since 1942, sailors assigned to the U.S. Navy’s Construction Force have been building and fighting around the world. Constructionman Rebecca Fuhrman, a Tecumseh, Michigan, native is one of those sailors.
Eighty years ago, members of Navy Construction Battalions were fittingly nicknamed, “Seabees,” a play on the C and B initials. They are responsible for building military bases and airfields, supporting humanitarian efforts and conducting underwater construction projects.
Fuhrmana 2020 Tecumseh High School graduate, currently serves with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion One at the headquarters for naval construction forces in Gulfport, Mississippi.
The values required to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Tecumseh.
“I played soccer in high school, and even though I was on time, I was considered late,” said Fuhrman. “My coach taught me that being on time is late. It’s the same in the military.”
Serving in the Navy means Fuhrman is part of a team that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on strengthening alliances, modernizing capabilities, increasing capacities and maintaining military readiness in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“We need a strong Navy to defend against growing threats from other nations in the world, such as China, North Korea and Russia,” said Fuhrman.
With more than 90 percent of all trade traveling by sea, and 95 percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic carried through fiber optic cables lying on the ocean floor, Navy officials continue to emphasize the importance of accelerating America’s advantage at sea.
“Maintaining the world’s best Navy is an investment in the security and prosperity of the United States, as well as the stability of our world,” said Adm. Mike Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations. “The U.S. Navy—forward deployed and integrated with all elements of national power—deters conflict, strengthens our alliances and partnerships, and
guarantees free and open access to the world’s oceans. As the United States responds to the security environment through integrated deterrence, our Navy must continue to deploy forward and campaign with a ready, capable, combat-credible fleet.”
Fuhrman has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I was given a coin from the command master chief because I was doing the work of a petty officer second class while I was a seaman apprentice,” said Fuhrman. “We were working on the safety binder to help avoid hazards and operate the equipment properly. It helps us mitigate the hazards in the job we have.”
Fuhrman can take pride in continuing an 80-year legacy of service in the United States Navy.
“Serving in the Navy means doing my job and doing my job well,” added Fuhrman. “I’d like to thank my mom. She took me to my DEP (delayed entry program) meetings, which were required prior to going to bootcamp. During these meetings we learn about general military training.”
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*Media provided by Alvin Plexico, Navy Office of Community Outreach*