Bay Area
Oakland native serves aboard U.S. Navy flagship in Japan
Hospitalman Marco Ford, a native of Oakland, served in Japan aboard the U.S. 7th Fleet flagship, USS Blue Ridge. Ford graduated from Bay Tech High School in 2021.

By Navy Office of Community Outreach
Hospitalman Marco Ford, a native of Oakland, served in Japan aboard the U.S. 7th Fleet flagship, USS Blue Ridge.
Ford graduated from Bay Tech High School in 2021.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Oakland, says Ford.
“I learned growing up to stay calm, especially in tough situations,” he continued. “If you keep your head clear and don’t let your emotions take over, you can still get done what you need to get done.”
Ford joined the Navy two years ago. Today, Ford serves as a hospital corpsman.
“I joined the Navy to learn as a person and to help those around me,” said Ford. “I thought the military would be a good place for me to grow and help others grow as well.”
Blue Ridge is the oldest operational ship in the Navy and, as the 7th Fleet command ship, it supports an admiral’s staff that actively works to foster relationships with allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region.
The U.S. 7th Fleet provides security alongside allies and partners throughout a free and open Indo-Pacific. As the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed fleet, 7th Fleet operates roughly 50-70 ships and submarines and 140 aircraft with approximately 20,000 Sailors.
With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Service members in this region are part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, which has the largest area of responsibility in the world.
“We will earn and reinforce the trust and confidence of the American people every day,” said Adm. Lisa Franchetti, chief of naval operations. “Together we will deliver the Navy the nation needs.”
Ford has many opportunities to achieve some of his goals during military service.
“I’m proud of being nominated for Bluejacket of the Quarter so early in my career,” said Ford. “It’s nice to have that validation for the work that I’m doing. “Service is a good way to see and meet new people. You see a lot of stuff. You’re protecting people and you’re learning to be a part of a team.”
“I’d like to thank my mom, my dad and my chain of command,” added Ford. “They’re all good people who have helped me grow in different ways.”
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Oakland Post: Week of February 5 – 11, 2025
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of February 5 – 11, 2025

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Oakland Post: Week of January 29 – February 4, 2025
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of January 29 – February 4, 2025

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Oakland Poll: Tell Us What You Think About the Cost of Groceries in Oakland
Food banks and grocery giveaways are a large part of the resources nonprofits in Oakland prioritize, particularly in areas like East and West Oakland where low-income families of color tend to reside. These neighborhoods are often labeled as “food deserts” or communities that have limited access to affordable and nutritious foods.

By Magaly Muñoz
In 2023, the average spending on groceries increased by nearly $30 each month from the year before;people are spending over $500 a month to put food on the table.
Through previous reporting by the Post, we’ve learned that families in Oakland are depending more and more on free or low cost groceries from food banks because they can no longer afford the rising costs of food at the store.
Food banks and grocery giveaways are a large part of the resources nonprofits in Oakland prioritize, particularly in areas like East and West Oakland where low-income families of color tend to reside. These neighborhoods are often labeled as “food deserts” or communities that have limited access to affordable and nutritious foods.
We’ve recently spoken to families across these two areas of Oakland and have heard several stories that all point to one problem: food is expensive. Some individuals are spending upwards of $150 a week for themselves or double if they have teens or small children in the family.
We’ve also heard stories of people with chronic illnesses like diabetes and high blood pressure struggling to maintain their diets because they’re having a hard time affording the food that helps them stay healthy.
Do these experiences sound similar to what you or your family are dealing with every month? Are you struggling to afford your basic groceries every week? Do you depend on food banks to help you get by? Are there any chronic illnesses in your household that need to be managed by a special diet?
We want to hear about your experiences and ideas for solutions!
The Oakland Post is investigating food access in Oakland and how residents are surviving as the cost of living continues to increase. Your experiences will help shape our reporting and show local leaders the need to invest in our communities.
In order to get as much feedback as possible, we ask that you click this link to fill out a brief questionnaire or visit tinyurl.com/Oakland-Post-food-survey. You can also scan the QR code above to reach the survey. After you fill it out, please consider sharing the link with your friends and family in Oakland.
If you have questions, please reach out to our Oakland reporter Magaly Muñoz at mmunoz@postnewsgroup or text/call her at (510) 905-5286.
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