Meet A Millville High Graduate Serving In The U.S. Navy

Here's a look at the career of a military member from South Jersey.

Seaman Apprentice Nariyah Robertson, a native of Vineland, serves in the U.S. Navy, assigned to USS Wasp, an amphibious assault ship operating out of Norfolk, Virginia.

Robertson graduated from Millville Senior High School in 2022.

“Growing up in Vineland, I learned to be independent and became adaptable, which are things that have helped me in the Navy,” Robertson said.

Robertson joined the Navy one year ago. Today, she serves as an operations specialist.

“I joined the Navy because I was tired of the routine predictability of my life and I wanted to travel. I also wanted to go back to school, and I knew the Navy could help pay for that."

 

The USS Wasp Handles Amphibious Operations

The USS Wasp plays an important role in projecting power and maintaining presence for naval forces.

It serves as the cornerstone of amphibious operations, capable of carrying Marines, their equipment, and aircraft to execute a wide range of missions, from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to full-scale amphibious assaults.

The ship enables forces to rapidly deploy and sustain operations in near-shore environments, providing a versatile platform for achieving strategic objectives across the globe.

Resembling a small aircraft carrier, USS Wasp has a crew of approximately 1,200 officers and enlisted personnel and can accommodate up to 1,800 Marines.

Nariyah Robertson is Proud of Her Accomplishments

Robertson has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.

“My proudest accomplishment is getting where I am now,” Robertson said. "I miss my family, but I have definitely become more headstrong and ambitious."

“Serving in the Navy means I am in a community that not everyone can be a part of,” Robertson said. "I am the youngest of three kids, and I am doing something completely different than my siblings, and I'm glad I chose the path I did.”

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

“I would like to thank my uncle, Dana Robertson, who also served in the Navy, and is the biggest reason I decided to enlist,” Robertson said.

"I also want to thank my mom, Chiquetta Robertson, for being a strong emotional support, especially in boot camp, when I wanted to quit. She wrote to me constantly and sent me pictures of the family, which kept me going."