On Sept. 11, it is important to remember and honor the brave men and women of the United States Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, National Guard and Navy stationed at home and abroad.
Turlock native, U.S. Marines Lance Cpl. Juliana Valladares is currently serving aboard the Navy’s newest ship, the future Amphibious Assault ship, USS America (LHA 6), as a combat cargo specialist for Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South.
USS America is currently embarked on her maiden transit, “America visits the Americas,” and will be home ported in San Diego once she is formally commissioned during Fleet Week in San Francisco on Oct. 11.
While aboard, Valladares is making sure she is up to date on her qualifications, including her oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray course, which is required for certain service members to improve their military knowledge, readiness and tactics. As part of the training, Valladares was directly sprayed in the face with OC and was then required to execute multiple self-defense stations and defensive movements.
For those that may have not realized what the picture is showing, she was sprayed in the Face with military grade pepper spray and then has to fight as part of military training. THATS NO EASY FEAT! We need to thank all our veterans for doing such an outstanding job every day they serve and afterwards!