Navy awareness is an important element in recruiting America's best and brightest for naval service.

To assist the recruiting effort in South Texas, 10 educators and community representatives along with support personnel from Navy Recruiting District (NRD) San Antonio and Military Entrance Processing Station-San Antonio visited San Diego in support of an Educator Orientation Visit (EOV), July 11-15.

The EOV is a Navy Recruiting Command program with a main focus of showing educators the various facets of the Navy and the many career paths available to students.

During the visit, the group received tours aboard guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60), a submarine, and a craft from Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 1.

Prior to the EOV, Wendell Mills, an assistant principal at Vista Ridge High School in Cedar Park said he had minimal knowledge of the types of careers the Navy provides.

"The visit was very beneficial to me as an educator," said Mills. "The individuals I met were extremely intelligent and knowledgeable of the Navy and its procedures regarding policy and regulations."

Olivia R. Garcia, dean of instruction for Eagle Pass High School, expressed her amazement of the high responsibilities of Sailors she met during the EOV.

"I would have never imagined that at such young ages, they are responsible for the country's safety," Garcia said. "I gained a deep respect for everyone who serves."

She also stated the EOV was an eye-opener.

"My limited knowledge only let me see the negatives of being in the armed forces," said Garcia. "Now I see it as a career, not just a stepping stone, or an avenue for struggling young adults."

Additionally, the group visited Naval Medical Center San Diego, Naval Base San Diego, Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 35, BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL) training at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, the Pacific Beacon Navy Billeting, the Fleet Family and Readiness Center, and the Navy Exchange.

Paul Harris, assistant multi-service center supervisor for the Claude W. Black Community Center with the city of San Antonio said the highlight of his trip was to witness a female captain and her crew aboard Paul Hamilton.

"If I knew what I experienced during the EOV while graduating from college, I would have easily joined the Navy," said Harris. "With the information I learned during the visit, I can now relay the picture that I experience on this tour with my contingents and inform them whether straight out high school or college to seek what opportunities the Navy has to offer."

Participants largely showed much interest in learning more about the Navy and to ensure Navy career information is available in their schools.

According to Zynthia Zuniga, a health science teacher at Donna High School, her highlight of the EOV was the tour of Naval Medical Center San Diego.

"That is what really caught my attention, because my students are interested in the field of health science and seeing such a young group of men and women working there was amazing," said Zuniga. "I loved that they had the best of technology for medicine and all the other awesome simulation mannequins as well."

For more information, visit http://www.navy.mil, http://www.facebook.com/usnavy, or http://www.twitter.com/usnavy/.

For more news from Commander, Navy Recruiting Command, visit http://www.navy.mil/.