A chief personnel specialist aboard the forward-deployed Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG 89) was selected for a special commissioning to chief warrant officer.

A native of Richmond, Texas, Chief Personnel Specialist Alberto D. Martinez - Mustin's personnel officer and the executive department's leading chief petty officer - was selected for chief warrant officer within the designated ship's clerk community.

"Being selected as a chief warrant officer means the world to me," said Martinez. "I feel like the sacrifices that my family and I have made are now being rewarded. It's an accomplishment that many great Sailors don't achieve, and being selected is an honor and blessing."

Martinez, a 15 year Navy veteran, has served the last 15 months aboard Mustin as an integral member of the damage control training team, antiterrorism training team, medical training team, and visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team.

"To say he is very involved on the ship is a huge understatement," said Chief Master-at-Arms Roy Collins. "Chief Martinez is a direct representation of the kind of Sailor, leader and person all Mustin's Sailors should strive for. I respect him fully as a chief petty officer and I will be honored to render him a salute once he has his promotion ceremony to chief warrant officer."

Martinez is known for learning from and listening to his peers, as well as taking direction and guidance from leadership. These skills are what led him to a forward-deployed naval force (FDNF) command.

"I was always told by my mentors that in order for me to reach my goals I had to reach out for the challenging duty stations, and FDNF was the pinnacle of challenging duty stations," said Martinez. "So I volunteered to go back-to-back sea duty early and was assigned to the USS Chancellorsville (CG 62), which I knew was conducting a homeport shift from San Diego, California, to Yokosuka, Japan."

"I brought the 'C-Ville' from San Diego to Yokosuka, and was selected for Chief that same year. Then I transferred to USS Mustin (DDG 89)," Martinez continued.

Even though FDNF commands are known for challenging and arduous sea duty, Martinez was driven to accomplish more in his career.

"The reward of being part of a team that has a big part in our nation's mission, is fulfilling to me," said Martinez. "Every FDNF Sailor that I've encountered here is special in a way that only an FDNF Sailor will understand. We have a look, a way of carrying ourselves, and a pride of accomplishment. I love that there is a chance to do work that is really important, and there's so much to do in Japan. It really is a great place to be stationed."

Martinez said, as a warrant officer he wants to help Sailors to reach whatever goals they have. From early on in his career, Martinez had many mentors and leaders guiding him through challenges and accomplishments, and he is dedicated to carrying on that tradition.

"I try to help everyone, and right now I have four Sailors that I am really focusing on," said Martinez. "I tell them, 'perseverance is the virtue needed to succeed in the Navy and in life.' I'd been told that I wasn't going to make it in the Navy."

Despite many challenges, perseverance was key to Martinez's success. He applied for the seaman to admiral (STA-21) program, but was turned down. He applied for the health administration program and was turned down. He applied for Officer Candidate School and was turned down twice. He kept on and applied for the Limited Duty Officer program, but was turned down twice.

Even after so many times of essentially being told no, he never gave up on his dream to earn a commissioning. With every experience he grew and learned. Martinez kept pushing and striving to reach his goals.

Martinez advanced to chief petty officer on his first attempt and was selected for chief warrant officer his first time applying for the commissioning program.

"My family inspires me to succeed, and they have supported me in everything that I do," said Martinez. "My peers and junior Sailors also inspire me to succeed. Everyday I'm at awe and sometimes left speechless at what I see around the ship. Sailors being there for each other when things get rough and making deadlines that sometimes are near impossible inspires me to succeed for them."

Martinez will be commissioned to chief warrant officer in July of 2018.

Mustin continues on patrol in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

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