One of the things that makes USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike) such a capable fighting force is the diversity of the crew, and that includes Sailors from different countries.

For many crew members born and raised in a foreign country, the United States, and particularly the Navy, has been a land of opportunity.

Lt. j.g. Michelle Wogu, supply department's S-3 division officer and Ike's command fitness leader, personifies that feeling and has embraced America as her country, though she will never forget her home in Africa.

"I lived in Ibusa, Nigeria, until 2000," Wogu said. "I came to the United States because my dad was here on a sports visa. Leaving Nigeria was a culture shock for my sister and I. In Nigeria, we would walk to the market and anywhere we needed to go. It was just livelier for some reason. There are a lot of open spaces in Africa, and here everything is covered. That's probably what I miss the most."

When Wogu moved to America, joining any military branch of service was out of the question in her mind.

"When I first got here, I didn't want anything to do with the military because all I knew about it was what I saw in the movies," said Wogu. "One day I was going to school at a community college and my car broke down. On my way to get my car fixed I saw these guys in Navy dress white uniforms. It turns out they were recruiters and asked if I would like to join."

Talk about being in the right place at the right time.

"They asked where I saw myself in five years," said Wogu. "I told them I would like to travel and finish my education. They told me I could do all of that in the Navy and the Navy would pay for it. They took my number down and I thought they wouldn't call, but the next morning I got a call and the caller ID said U.S. Military Government. My sister and I thought we did something wrong. Why is the government calling us? When I picked up, it was the recruiter asking if I could come to the office and that weekend I was sworn in."

But her ascension to her current rank would not be an easy one. It would test Wogu's resolve in several ways. She enlisted as an undesignated seaman and after 11 years was a logistics specialist first class. She decided to submit a package to the limited duty officer program and was selected.

"My biggest accomplishment so far has been being a mother to my son David and a wife to my husband Golden," said Wogu. "My second biggest accomplishments would be becoming an officer in the Navy. It's not easy to get to where I'm at, especially being in deck and working my way up to where I am today."

Wogu said she doesn't have any regrets on how her life has turned out so far.

"I wouldn't have done anything differently," she said. "I think everything happens for a reason and if there is anything at all I would change, I would have joined the Navy sooner."

Ike and its carrier strike group are underway conducting a sustainment exercise in support of the Optimized Fleet Response Plan (OFRP).

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