Lt. Michaela Mura, a native of Panama, is serving in the U.S. Navy assigned to Navy Recruiting Orientation Unit (NORU) helping to train the next generation of U.S. Navy Recruiters. Photo by Ensign Tiffany Savoie, Navy Office of Community Outreach

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Lt. Michaela Mura, a native of Panama, is serving in the U.S. Navy assigned to Navy Recruiting Orientation Unit with the next generation of U.S. Navy Recruiters.

Mura is a 2014 graduate of Panama Central School who joined the Navy six years ago.

“My grandfather served in World War II as a radioman and my father served as a senior airman in the Air Force,” Mura said. “I joined the Navy because I wanted to follow in their footsteps and be a part of something greater than myself.”

The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Panama.

“My hometown taught me that hard work pays off,” Mura said. “I was a lifeguard, ran a small egg business and cleaned homes in the summer to prepare for the military.”

Located at Naval Air Station Pensacola, NORU is the Navy’s sole recruiting schoolhouse responsible for the instruction of Enlisted and Officer personnel in professional sales, prospecting techniques, marketing, applicant processing, recruiting terminology, leadership, ethical behavior and activity analysis. It also provides continuum training for the Navy’s Career Recruiting Force and prepares selected leaders for the challenges of operating a Navy Talent Acquisition Group.

More than 3,500 students come from sea duty and shore to attend basic recruiting courses and receive public speaking classes to develop communications skills that will help them not just in recruiting but throughout their naval careers. Students must demonstrate what they learn in the classroom with prepared speeches and perform in a simulated sales environment, where they must help an applicant make an informed, mutually beneficial decision to join the Navy. These steps are critical to ensuring that prospective applicants fully understand what naval service entails and that the Navy receives highly motivated and committed officers and enlisted sailors to serve.

The U.S. Navy is celebrating its 250th birthday this year.

According to Navy officials, “America is a maritime nation and for 250 years, America’s Warfighting Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom.”

With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.

Mura serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security. Mura has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.

“My proudest accomplishment is becoming a surface warfare officer,” Mura said. “Watching my sailors accomplish their dreams and goals has been the best.”

Mura said she can take pride in serving America through military service.

“Serving in the Navy means sacrifice and selflessness to allow for a safe future for the country and the next generation,” Mura said.

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

“I would like to thank my dad, Glen Mura, my mom, Kellie O’Keefe, and my husband, Matteo Macaluso,” Mura said. “I want to thank them for their support and for motivating me to be the best naval officer I can be.”

“I just wanted to thank all my family, friends, and mentors for all of their help along the way.”