Master Chief Postal
Clerk Lloyd E. Smethers was born and raised in McAllen, Texas.
In August 1975, he enlisted in the United States Navy and went
to Recruit Training Center, San Diego, California. Following boot
camp, he was assigned to his first tour of sea duty aboard USS
SHASTA (AE-33), homeported at Naval Weapons Station Concord, California.
While stationed on SHASTA, he was assigned to Deck Department
and then to the Post Office where he advanced to Postal Clerk
Third Class.
From December 1979 to August 1982, he served at the U.S. Navy Post Office, Hong Kong where he advanced to Postal Clerk Second Class. His next assignment was a return to USS SHASTA where he advanced to Postal Clerk First Class. During his second tour aboard SHASTA, he performed duties as Duty Master-at-Arms and Chief Master-at-Arms the first few years and Career Counselor his last six months onboard SHASTA.
In August 1986, he was transferred to Naval Recruiting District, San Antonio, Texas to perform the duties as a canvasser recruiter. Prior to transferring in October 1987, he was advanced to Chief Postal Clerk. His next assignment was from October 1987 to October 1990 as Postmaster aboard the forward deployed aircraft carrier USS MIDWAY (CV-41), homeported in Yokosuka, Japan.
From October 1990 to October 1993, he was assigned to the Navy Exam and Course Center, Pensacola, Florida as the Postal Clerk Rating Manual Text-writer. While stationed in Pensacola, he advanced to Senior Chief Postal Clerk. Smethers enrolled in October 1993 and graduated in December 1993 from the Navy's Senior Enlisted Academy, Newport, Rhode Island. He then reported in December 1993 to U.S. Naval Air Station Bermuda as Postmaster and Administrative Department Leading Chief Petty Officer and was later promoted to Master Chief Postal Clerk.
In September 1995, Smethers helped decommission the base post office and NAS Bermuda and then reported to the Fleet Post Office New York, now called Joint Military Postal Activity-Atlantic located at J.F. Kennedy Airport, New York, where he served until November 1997. He then reported on December 5, 1997 to U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where he now serves as the Postmaster and Command Master Chief for FISC Jacksonville Detachment GTMO and U.S. Naval Base and U.S. Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba - Acting.