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US Navy Seaman Derrick Sean Downey

Derrick Sean Downey, 

Son of Jennifer Briggs Downey and Sean Downey,

Grandson of  Robert and Linda Briggs and Kevin and Marianne Downey

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2013 honors graduate from Sgt. Eugene Ashley High School, Wilmington, NC.

Derrick joined NJROTC at Ashley High School when he started attending in 2010 as a sophomore after moving to Carolina Beach, NC.  Derrick then enlisted in the US Navy in June 2012 right after his 18th birthday while in his Jr. year in High School. He participated in the Navy's DEP (delayed entry program) for 13 months until he left for Great Lakes Navy Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, IL on July 16, 2013.  He spent 9 long weeks at RTC, and at one point said:  “I’m pushing myself to limits I didn’t know existed, and it feels great."  He passed his big and final test "Battle Stations 21" on September 10th, and graduated at his Pass in Review on September 13, 2013 as an E3 with a rank of Seaman.  He is now at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX where he will begin his studies to become a US Navy Fleet Marine Force Corpsman.

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