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Portrait of a Police Officer: Petty Officer 3rd Class Anthony Stradford

  • Published
  • Joint Base MDL Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Petty Officer 3rd Class Anthony Stradford stands shoulder-to-shoulder with his fellows - the deep blue of his uniform between the green-and-tan and black of his counterparts. Across his chest is a black tactical vest, a gold badge pinned at the top. It reads "U.S. Navy Security Forces."

Stradford is a master at arms-rated Sailor, one of several in the 87th Security Forces Squadron here at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. This is the start of his shift, during which he "arms up," and stands in formation for guard mount. In layman's terms, this means he gets issued weapons, a radio, and participates in a roll call and briefing about the day's assignments.

Today, he will stand guard at the Route 68 Gate.

Stradford is nearly three years into a naval career, but this is his first assignment as a master at arms. Before his arrival to the joint base in October 2015, Stradford served in the deck department aboard the U.S.S. Carl Vincent in San Diego. Through his first two years in the Navy, including one 10-month deployment, Stradford painted and repaired the ship, stood watch on the bridge and performed other odd jobs at sea and on shore.

When he returned from his deployment to Southwest Asia, Stradford was notified that he had been picked up for the MA rate.

"It was a good feeling, getting picked up for something I want to do," said Stradford.

After completing two months of training, Stradford came to JB MDL close to his hometown of Philadelphia.

"Its one of those places you have to just stay out of the way, try to stay out of trouble and watch out for yourself," Stradford said about growing up in Philadelphia.

The oldest of three children, Stradford said he grew up in a very structured family home with a mother and great grandmother that kept him going in the right direction.

"[My great grandmother] stayed on me a lot, so I didn't really have the opportunity to turn left or right. They allowed me to mess up but always stayed there and had my back and didn't allow me to stray too far from the path. A lot of my friends didn't have that."

At age 27, Stradford looked at his life and his environment and decided he needed to make a change.

"I started going to community college after high school, taking one or two classes at a time, really just dragging it out while I did other stuff, like partying and working," he recalled. "My friends were doing stuff they shouldn't have been doing and it just felt like it was time to go."

Since then, he has made his family proud by doing what he loves - helping people.

"It can just be simple things," Stradford said. "People see you there, and your presence gives them comfort."

He related a story of when he first began standing guard at the gate leading to the Falcon Courts North housing area.

"I'm glad you guys are here," she told him.

He said he's glad his presence makes people feel safe.