25-05-2025
Navy jobs you may not expect: Using social media to manage large crews
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Leah Parks graduated from ETSU with a degree in English and minors in communications and journalism. She graduated after the pandemic and didn't know what the next step should be. She decided to join the Navy, and she hasn't looked back!
'What am I going to do to have free healthcare and also travel and also serve something bigger than myself. I looked into the Navy, and they had the perfect job for me, which is to be a mass communications specialist, and here I am,' said Parks.
Her job gives her creative freedom through social media, video, photography, and writing. She even created her own show for the George H. W. Bush aircraft carrier.
'So what Shop Hop is, is a social media series that goes around to different departments on the ship and asks each sailor what they do. So, one cool thing about an aircraft carrier, when we're fully stocked, we have 5,000 sailors, which is a lot of people, which means a lot of jobs, and a lot of responsibilities.'
Nashville sailor now navigates the open sea
Being from Kingsport, Tennessee, Parks was surprised by people from all over the country.
'Coming into the Navy, you are coming into a melting pot of cultures, of people with different backgrounds, religions, upbringings, and it really just teaches you how to serve with one another humbly.'
Since joining the Navy, Parks has met her soulmate and is a newlywed. Her husband is a Marine, and they are considered a Mil-to-Mil marriage.
'So we are up for orders together at the same time, which is really, really helpful because we're not stationed together. So, one thing you have to do is something called a colocation, where you're like asking the military, can you please put us together so that we can, I don't know, be happily married.'
Park's Navy pride is only heightened by playful banter with her husband.
'Being in different branches is kind of, I mean, the Navy's better, but he's got that 'OORAH' mentality, which makes it fun too, so yeah, I love that he's a Marine.'
To see more from Shelby's naval journey, check out the News 2 special report .
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