USS COWPENS
NICHOLAS MEDICO
By Ensign Brittany Crocker, Navy Office of Community Outreach
SAN DIEGO – A native of West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, is serving in the U.S. Navy aboard the guided-missile cruiser, USS Cowpens.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicholas Medico, a 2019 Westbridge Water Middle-Senior High School graduate, joined the Navy almost three years ago.
“When I was in high school, I saw a photo of my grandfather in his Navy dress white uniform,” said Medico. “It was a big inspiration to join the Navy.”
Today, Medico serves as a culinary specialist.
A culinary specialist is responsible for making sure the crew stays fed and healthy so they’re able to do their jobs every day.
Medico relies upon skills and values from lessons learned in West Bridgewater to succeed in the military.
“Playing football in high school, I learned to work hard and mentor new people,” said Medico. “Those skills have a lot of relevance in the Navy. I was new once and now as a petty officer third class I mentor new sailors.”
Homeported in San Diego, California, USS Cowpens is named after the Revolutionary War Battle of Cowpens, a major American victory near Cowpens, South Carolina. The historic battle weakened British attempts to wrest the southern colonies from American control.
Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers are tactical multi-mission surface combatants capable of conducting anti-air warfare, anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare, as well as humanitarian assistance, according to Navy officials.
Fast, maneuverable, and technically advanced, cruisers provide the required warfighting expertise and operational flexibility to execute any task overseas.
Serving in the Navy means Medico is part of a world that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on strengthening alliances, modernizing capabilities, increasing capacities and maintaining military readiness in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“The Navy is the first line of defense,” said Medico. “We’re patrolling the ocean and the coastlines to protect the United States.”
More than 90 percent of all trade travels by sea, and fiber optic cables on the ocean floor carry 95 percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic.
Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity and security of the United States is directly linked to ready sailors and a strong Navy.
“Maintaining the world’s best Navy is an investment in the security and prosperity of the United States, as well as the stability of our world,” said Adm. Mike Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations.
“The U.S. Navy – forward deployed and integrated with all elements of national power – deters conflict, strengthens our alliances and partnerships and guarantees free and open access to the world’s oceans. As the United States responds to the security environment through integrated deterrence, our Navy must continue to deploy forward and campaign with a ready, capable, combat-credible fleet.”
“The Surface Force will continue to meet the challenge of strategic competition and respond to the realities of the modern security environment,” said Commander of Naval Surface Forces Vice Adm. Roy Kitchener. “Our efforts are critical to preserve freedom of the seas, deter aggression and win wars.”
Sailors like Medico have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“I’m proud of my meritorious promotion to petty officer third class,” said Medico. “Getting there took a lot of time and effort.”
As Medico and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“I know my nieces and nephews look up to me, and that means a lot,” added Medico.