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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Petty Officer 1st Class Hyleta Floyd, a native of Port Arthur, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek.

Floyd graduated from Memorial High School in 2006.

The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Port Arthur.

“I learned important values that my parents instilled in me,” Floyd said. “It’s important to take care of your family and to learn from others to get all the knowledge you can, but don’t ever forget where you come from.”

Floyd joined the Navy nine years ago. Today, she serves as a yeoman.

“I joined the Navy to make a better life for me and my children,” Floyd said.

Now Floyd has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.

One is mentoring junior sailors.

“Because of my background, I feel like I have a lot to offer to the younger generations,” she said. “I have an opportunity to give back to others based on what I learned in the military.

“Serving in the Navy offers a great opportunity to do something bigger than myself.”

Floyd is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.

“My grandfather is deceased, but I still want to acknowledge his service in the military,” Floyd said. “He shared with me how the Navy changed his life and allowed him to provide for his family. He’s a big reason I’m in the Navy now. I also want to thank my entire family support system for everything they’ve done for me during my time in the Navy.”

According to Navy officials, Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story is the country’s premier installation for housing and training the nation’s expeditionary forces.

It is one command with two properties: Joint Expeditionary Base Fort Story and JEB Little Creek. The Joint Expeditionary Base is comprised of the former Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek and the Army Post of Fort Story. Fort Story witnessed the humble beginnings of the nation at the 1607 first landing site. Little Creek began as a dynamic training ground for World War II amphibious forces.

— Alvin Plexico is a writer with the Navy Office of Community Outreach.