SAN DIEGO –Petty Officer 2nd Class Torion Sales, a native of Huntsville native, is serving in the U.S. Navy aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island.

Sales graduated from East Limestone High School in 2012. He works as a machinist’s mate aboard the Makin Island operating out of San Diego. Currently, Sales is temporarily assigned to the legal department and is responsible for assisting with the crew’s legal matters.

Sales credits success in the Navy to lessons learned while growing up. “Growing up in Alabama, I was taught hospitality and a Southern attitude,” Sales said. “In the Navy, a lot more people like me, because I am sweet, nice and welcoming. Everyone loves a Southern boy.”

Sales has military ties with relatives who are veterans. He is honored to carry on the family tradition.

“My uncle is the command master chief of Southwest Regional Maintenance Center here in San Diego,” Sales said. “I joined the Navy on my own accord and was pretty surprised to learn that he was also working in the area. I am working to cross rate over to the legalman rate because I want bigger and better for my Navy career.”

Sales has found many rewards in the Navy and is particularly proud of earning a Navy Achievement Medal for working in calibrating ship gauges, ship temperature and maintaining readiness of Makin Island for deployment status.

“Serving in the Navy means not only serving my country but doing something different,” Sales said. “It means doing something that not everyone can qualify to do.”

“Only a small percent of our population is in the Navy, and I feel like it’s a big deal for me. It means being able to defend our country, even though it is a small part that I am doing in playing the role to protect America.”

Makin Island delivers Marines and their equipment to various missions, ranging from amphibious assaults to humanitarian relief efforts. The ship can carry more than 12 helicopters and six fixed-wing aircraft.

The ship is longer than two football fields at 847 feet, 106 feet wide and weighs more than 41,000 tons fully loaded. Gas turbine engines and electric motors can push the ship in excess of 20 knots.

The Media Outreach Department with the Navy Office of Community Outreach in Millington, Tenn. produces these profiles. Kayla Turnbow prepared material for Torion Sales. For more information, visit outreach.navy.mil, Facebook/Navy Outreach, Twitter @NavyOutreach or Instagram @US_Navy_Outreach.