San Antonio native Jade Vidales-Ayala (Courtesy of U.S. Navy – Credit Chief Mass Communication Specialist Sean Furey)
SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) — Petty Officer 2nd Class Jade Vidales-Ayala, a San Antonio native and 2016 graduate of Earl Warren High School, is helping train the next generation of Navy sailors in San Diego.
Vidales-Ayala has served in the Navy for nine years and is now a quartermaster and instructor at Mariner Skills Training Center, Pacific.
The center provides hands-on seamanship and navigation training, using advanced simulators to recreate challenging at-sea situations, including heavy maritime traffic and complex navigation exercises.
Vidales-Ayala says growing up and attending several different schools helped her learn how to work with people from different backgrounds—an experience she says has served her well in the Navy.
Among her proudest accomplishments is participating in NASA’s Artemis mission. She also helped rescue a giant sea turtle that became trapped in a net on a sinking vessel.
Vidales-Ayala says the Navy has become like a family, crediting her Navy mentor, Chief Boatswain’s Mate Barrious, and her husband, Joel Ayala, for supporting her career.
More about: