SAN DIEGO - Petty Officer 2nd Class Natahisa Clark, a native of Blakeslee, Pennsylvania, serves aboard USS Abraham Lincoln, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier operating out of San Diego, California.
Clark graduated from Pocono Mountain West High School in 2010. Additionally, Clark earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 2015 from Kutztown University.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Joey Sitter, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West |
Clark graduated from Pocono Mountain West High School in 2010. Additionally, Clark earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 2015 from Kutztown University.
Clark joined the Navy eight years ago. Today, Clark serves as a personnel specialist.
“My father served in the Marines, and growing up hearing his stories made me want to help service members,” Clark said. “I also would go with him to the VA, and I would talk to people, so that inspired me to help as well.”
Aircraft carriers are the centerpiece of America’s Naval forces. For more than 100 years, they have projected power, sustained sea control, bolstered deterrence, provided humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and maintained enduring commitments worldwide.
“My father served in the Marines, and growing up hearing his stories made me want to help service members,” Clark said. “I also would go with him to the VA, and I would talk to people, so that inspired me to help as well.”
Aircraft carriers are the centerpiece of America’s Naval forces. For more than 100 years, they have projected power, sustained sea control, bolstered deterrence, provided humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and maintained enduring commitments worldwide.
According to Navy officials, aircraft carriers are versatile and have unique mission capabilities that make them a more strategic asset for the Navy than fixed-site bases. They are often the first response in a global crisis because of their ability to operate freely in international waters anywhere on the world’s oceans. In addition, no other weapon system can deploy and operate forward with a full-sized aircraft carrier’s speed, endurance, agility and combat capability of its air wing.
The U.S. Navy is celebrating its 250th birthday this year.
According to Navy officials, “America is a maritime nation and for 250 years, America’s Warfighting Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom.”
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.
Clark has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I am most proud of earning a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for running a massive training and licensing with no discrepancies during an aviation maintenance inspection,” Clark said. “I had just been put on limited duty, and I felt like I had zero capacity for anything. I was very broken, but I showed up every day and I just told myself to do a little something each day. That inspired me to show up every day and do a little something because that effort can turn into a beautiful result.”
Clark serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“Serving in the Navy means I get to carry on my dad’s legacy of helping others,” Clark said.
Clark is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my mom, Brenda Clark, for her massive care packages,” Clark said. “There was one time she sent me a package, and I think it was at least 60 pounds that I had to carry all the way back to the dorms. I am always excited to receive them and feel the love from her when she sends them. To know that my mom is like, ‘I got you’ means a lot to me. I also want to thank my late dad, Pastor James, for putting me on this path. I grew up watching ‘JAG’ on the History Channel, and we would go to the VA where I would hear stories from other veterans. I ultimately wanted to help people, and my dad started all of that.”
According to Navy officials, “America is a maritime nation and for 250 years, America’s Warfighting Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom.”
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.
Clark has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I am most proud of earning a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for running a massive training and licensing with no discrepancies during an aviation maintenance inspection,” Clark said. “I had just been put on limited duty, and I felt like I had zero capacity for anything. I was very broken, but I showed up every day and I just told myself to do a little something each day. That inspired me to show up every day and do a little something because that effort can turn into a beautiful result.”
Clark serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“Serving in the Navy means I get to carry on my dad’s legacy of helping others,” Clark said.
Clark is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my mom, Brenda Clark, for her massive care packages,” Clark said. “There was one time she sent me a package, and I think it was at least 60 pounds that I had to carry all the way back to the dorms. I am always excited to receive them and feel the love from her when she sends them. To know that my mom is like, ‘I got you’ means a lot to me. I also want to thank my late dad, Pastor James, for putting me on this path. I grew up watching ‘JAG’ on the History Channel, and we would go to the VA where I would hear stories from other veterans. I ultimately wanted to help people, and my dad started all of that.”
Clark is also thankful for the support of fellow sailors who have helped along the way.
“I want to thank my mentor, Chief Aviation Electrician’s Mate Dannielle Prough, for being the light in that dark time,” Clark added. “I had to cross-rate and, at one point, I lost sight of why I joined the Navy. However, she was the light and showed me the positive side of having to change rates. She showed me that being an aviation electrician’s mate was not the be-all end-all for me. I also want to thank my bestie, Amber Voisard, from ‘A’ School, for taking me under her wing and being such a good friend. Lastly, I want to thank all the friends I’ve made along the way because what we do is very stressful and they help me always find the light and laughter in everything we do.”