A proud child of two nations, faithful in the service of one.

HMAS Toowoomba Assistant Weapons Engineering Officer Sub-Lieutenant Samuel Mendiola Urzua beams with pride when speaking of his Mexican heritage.

“I’m proud to be Mexican. It’s something my parents have fought hard to instil in us. They speak to me and my sisters in Spanish, we attend ex-pat Mexican gatherings and we’ve made lifelong family friends through those,” Sub-Lieutenant Mendiola Urzua said.

Born in Mexico, his family migrated when he was just two. Growing up in Canberra, he said his dual heritage rarely tested his loyalties.

“It’s only a conflict when it comes to sport. When the Word Cup is on this year, I will be cheering for Australia and Mexico, so that’s always pretty tricky to manage.” 

However, there’s one area where his loyalty never waivers.

“Growing up, I learned about Anzac Day, what it meant to Australians and how it came to be. It really struck a chord and I wanted to join the Australian Defence Force ever since,” Sub-Lieutenant Mendiola Urzua said. 

This belief was further forged in his formative years, thanks to growing up in a migrant household. This helped him understand better than most the meaning of ‘the lucky country’.

“Sometimes Australians take safety for granted. My parents have always been cautious in public. Where they grew up, going to an ATM or walking around at night could be dangerous, but here in Australia you generally feel safe,” he said.

Preserving the freedoms Australians have, became high on his priority list for his passion to serve.

“Joining the Defence Force has been about giving back to a country that has given so much to me and my family. 

“This is a beautiful country. I loved growing up here, I loved having the privilege to be here. So when I joined the Australian Defence Force it was to help maintain the status quo, keeping Australia the country I know and love.”

Over the past five months, Toowoomba has visited six of Australia’s regional partners, completed an operational deployment enforcing United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea, and conducted multiple bilateral and multilateral exercises and activities with allied nations.

For other first- and second-generation migrants considering a career in the Australian Defence Force, Sub-Lieutenant Mendiola Urzua has a simple message: give it a go.

“If you’re thinking about it, I recommend it. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in the Navy so far. I have met a lot of really cool people, seen some really cool things, and I’m giving back to a country where it has been a privilege to grow up.”