OKLAHOMA CITY — Every sailor’s story of naval service is unique. For Petty Officer 1st Class Lauren Sierra, this story began in Albany, Louisiana, where skills and values learned there would be foundational to success in the Navy.
“My hometown is so small it is actually a village and isn’t on many maps,” Sierra said. “Being that it is in south Louisiana, I grew up with so much diversity with people, food, culture, and we all faced many natural disasters. I learned how to adapt in a stressful environment, how to rely on and at times help my neighbors, and how to appreciate the differences in cultures. I also spent many years outdoors, playing sports, and laboring in the heat and humidity. It wasn’t a culture shock to me, meeting people from around the world, and it wasn’t difficult for me to adjust to hard labor and long hours in my early military career. I don’t have to work in the sun or labor long hours anymore, but I am very grateful for the harder years I faced and have learned to appreciate the softer years.”
Sierra graduated from Albany High School in 2015…