SAN DIEGO – A native of Norfolk, Virginia, serves the U.S. Navy aboard USS Boxer, operating out of San Diego.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Jahkaya Bazemore, a 2016 Maury High School graduate, joined the Navy two years ago.
“I joined because I wanted to travel the world,” said Bazemore. “I also needed the benefits of the school tuition to go to college.”
Today, Bazemore serves as an operations specialist.
An operations specialist is responsible for reading and analyzing the surface radar for safe navigation of the ship.
Bazemore relies upon skills and values from lessons learned in Norfolk to succeed in the military.
“My parents taught me to accept people for who they are,” said Bazemore. “I learned how to work with them to achieve a common goal.”
USS Boxer is an amphibious assault ship that has recently returned from a Western Pacific-Indian Ocean-Persian Gulf deployment. She is the sixth U.S. ship to bear the name of the original HMS Boxer, which was captured from the British during the War of 1812.
Amphibious assault ships transfer Marines, equipment and supplies and can support helicopters or other aircraft, according to Navy officials. They also are capable of accessing 75 percent of the world’s beaches.
Serving in the Navy means Bazemore is part of a world that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on strengthening alliances, modernizing capabilities, increasing capacities and maintaining military readiness in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“The Navy is a strong presence around the globe that helps to protect our allies and to keep our national interests safe,” said Bazemore.
More than 90 percent of all trade travels by sea, and fiber optic cables on the ocean floor carry 95 percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic.
Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity and security of the United States is directly linked to ready sailors and a strong Navy.
“Maintaining the world’s best Navy is an investment in the security and prosperity of the United States, as well as the stability of our world,” said Adm. Mike Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations.“ The U.S. Navy – forward deployed and integrated with all elements of national power – deters conflict, strengthens our alliances and partnerships and guarantees free and open access to the world’s oceans. As the United States responds to the security environment through integrated deterrence, our Navy must continue to deploy forward and campaign with a ready, capable, combat-credible fleet.”
“The Surface Force will continue to meet the challenge of strategic competition and respond to the realities of the modern security environment,” said Commander of Naval Surface Forces Vice Adm. Roy Kitchener. “ Our efforts are critical to preserve freedom of the seas, deter aggression and win wars.”
Sailors like Bazemore, have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“My proudest moment in the Navy was when I was chosen for the ‘Golden Gator,'” said Bazemore. “This recognizes the most outstanding student of the month on the ship. I worked really hard that month and it was rewarding to get the recognition.”
As Bazemore and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“Serving means I represent the nation,” added Bazemore. “I am a leader of other sailors. I work towards a common goal of freedom.”
By Capt. David Russell, Navy Office of Community Outreach