Justin McFarland enlisted in the United States Navy in 97 during His senior year of high school and departed for basic training after graduation in 98. Justin was stationed on the USS Hawes FFG-53, a guided missile frigate that has since been decommissioned. He departed for a Mediterranean Cruise in early 2000, and in October of that year, the USS Hawes were the first responders to the bombing of the USS Cole in Aiden, Yemen. That experience along with the ensuing months of the incident were the most impactful of his enlistment. The rest were mostly laughs and good times.