Navy helps Patterson woman find path

Fifteen years ago, a Navy recruiter’s spring break visit with Shallon Davis’ baby sister, Kendal Vulgamore, influenced Davis to change course and begin a career in the military.

At the time of the recruiter’s visit, Davis was a Nicholls State student, majoring in sociology.

With the Navy promising extensive travel, tuition assistance and a successful job career, Davis decided then to end her year-and-a-half tenure as a Nicholls student and joined the Navy in 2000.

But Davis could not swim. She was informed by the recruiter that the Navy would teach her how to swim and train her to run. And if she did not like it, she could just leave.

“I found out that was not true because I couldn’t leave,” Davis said. “Once I signed that contract I was stuck.”

But the promise of a successful career is being fulfilled. Recently, Davis received the Shore Sailor of the Year Award for 2015 for her unit.

The award recognizes superior performance of enlisted personnel emphasizing outstanding achievements, exemplary personal conduct and military bearing, and demonstrated initiative in the performance of duty.

It also motivates personnel to strive for improvement in their assigned duties and leadership.

Davis began her career as a legalman in 2003. She completed a paralegal degree program at Roger Williams University in Rhode Island.

“As I was going through school, it taught you basics of being a paralegal and what to expect in the fleet,” Davis said.

“It dealt with charges and specifications, which in the civilian world, if you get read your rights, it’s to let you know what type of charges you’re facing,” Davis said.

“I was able to relate it to the real world. I was like, ‘Oh my god, I get to play lawyer basically.’”

Davis works as direct support for a jag lawyer. She has been a paralegal for 13 years.

“Being in the legal world, you’re constantly learning,” Davis said. “There’s always something different. And it just kept my attention. It wasn’t boring. It was challenging.”

During the time of her naval enlisting, the extent of Davis’ travel was Patterson, Houma and New Orleans.

After joining the Navy, she has lived in Illinois, Florida, Maine, Rhode Island, Georgia, Washington state, Virginia, Maryland and Italy.

When Davis transferred in 2008 to the Officers Military Commissions Defense in Arlington, Virginia, she was afforded the opportunity to work on cases during the time of prosecutions and tribunals of the 9/11 terrorists.

In addition, her work involved the prosecution of people located in Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba.

Davis is serving her 15th year in the Navy. After her first tour of duty, Davis continued to serve because it was easy for her.

“I saw myself advancing … getting recognized, getting awards and qualifications real fast,” Davis said. “It was too easy to be real.”

Davis also realized the Navy recruiter was right in saying that by enlisting, she would be able to see the world. While stationed in Maine, she was deployed to Iceland, Sicily, and Puerto Rico three times within 18 months.

“That was my eye-opener,” Davis said. “When I was picked up as a legalman…I realized I could make this as a career because paralegals are needed in the civilian world.

“They make good money, depending on the state that you’re in. I was like, ‘I’m going to ride this until the wheels fall off. This is easy. I can do this.’ And I stayed.”

Despite the achievements, there were moments when she thought about quitting.

“At the end of the day, I have a son, Reuben, who is 6 years old that depends on me,” Davis said. “And I’m going to give him the world.

“So, whatever it takes for me to make him happy, I’m going to go ahead and walk on those pins and needles to make things happen.”

Davis is a petty officer 1st Class serving with commander Naval Surface Squadron Fourteen. She lives in Jacksonville, Florida.

Her husband, Gerald Davis, retired from the military.

Davis is a 1996 graduate of Patterson High School. She is the daughter of Glory and Russell McGuire. Her mother lives in Patterson.