Seaman Bruce Alvarez hopes to rank up to be a first class petty officer or chief petty officer.
In his free time he enjoys reading, music, and handheld video games to keep himself busy.
“There are a lot of reasons I joined the Navy, like money for school, steady paycheck, but I’d always known I would join the military. It runs in the family. I’m not sure if I’ll stay in for a career but if I did, I would like to make it up to first class or chief,” said Alvarez. “Or maybe make it to an officer program. If I went officer, I’d like to be a captain of my own ship, after that I think I’d be good to retire.”
Alvarez is the son of Roy Love, who is a captain in the Navy, and of Rosmery Love, a stay-at-home mother. Alvarez has been serving in the Navy for a year and a half. He is from Chesapeake, Virginia, and is a 2011 graduate from Jean Ribault Senior High School.
GHWB CSG Deep in the Fight Against ISIL
The George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group (GHWB CSG) is on its second combat deployment. In the Arabian Sea. GHWB CSG orchestrated the launch of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) combat sorties in support of the Afghan Democratic run-off elections, steamed west at best possible speed executing an inbound Strait of Hormuz transit, then launched armed sorties into Iraq to counter massive Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) advances across Iraq.
Throughout the first three weeks of the Iraq crisis, GHWB CSG was the sole provider of combat airpower in the United States inventory. Once on station in the North Arabian Gulf, GHWB swiftly transitioned to 24/7 air operations, supporting thousands of U.S. citizens and military consolidating in Baghdad under the advance of ISIL forces. Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8 aircraft conducted the first strike in Iraq against ISIL forces West of Erbil Aug. 8.
GHWB CSG participated in the first offensive strikes, Sept. 23, deep into Syrian territory engaging both ISIL and Khorasan Group targets. (CVW) 8 aircrew launching from GHWB’s flight deck led sorties that included aircraft from five Arab partner nations destroying multiple ISIL targets including ISIL fighters, training compounds, headquarters and command and control facilities, storage facilities, a finance center, supply trucks and armed vehicles.
GHWB CSG conducted their final offensive operations Oct. 18, as they were relieved by the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group (CV CSG). The CV CSG picked up where GHWB CSG left off and continues combat operations throughout Iraq and Syria.
George H.W. Bush departed from Naval Station Norfolk for a nine-month deployment Feb. 15 and is currently deployed in the U.S. Navy 6th Fleet Area of Operations (AOO). The deployment is part of a regular rotation of forces to support maritime security operations, provide crisis response capability, and increase theater security cooperation and forward naval presence in the U.S. Navy’s 5th and 6th Fleet AOO.
For more news from USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn77/.