SAN DIEGO – Consstructionman Apprentice Christian Dargatis, a native of Satellite Beach, Florida, serves the U.S. Navy at Amphibious Construction Battalion (ACB) 1 operating out of San Diego, California.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Joey Sitter, Navy Office of Community Outreach |
Dargatis graduated from Satellite High School in 2018.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Satellite Beach.
“I was a landscaper for a long time so I knew how to cut down trees,” Dargatis said. “I apply those skills to my career now because I just recently cut down a tree at a Naval Air Station North Island. I also used my chainsaw skills to build a bunker out of heavy timber.”
Dargatis joined the Navy a year and three months ago. Today, Dargatis serves as a steelworker.
“I joined the Navy because I have done construction my entire life and I wanted to become a Seabee,” Dargatis said.
ACB 1’s primary mission is to provide logistics over-the-shore support for Amphibious Ready Group, Marine Expeditionary Force and Maritime Prepositioning Force operations, including ship-to-shore transportation of combat cargo, bulk fuel/water and tactical camp operations.
With a combination of Seabee and fleet rates, ACB-1 is skilled at offloading equipment through Improved Navy Lighterage System (INLS) operations, as well as providing camp support, perimeter defense, and limited construction support. Fleet rates qualify as craft masters and deck engineers and are proficient in operating and maintaining INLS. Seabee rates such as builders, steelworkers, electricians, equipment operators, construction mechanics and engineering aides provide construction services. Additional deployable Seabee units include Naval Mobile Construction Battalions, Construction Battalion Maintenance Units, and Underwater Construction Teams, which all make up the U.S. Naval Construction Forces.
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.
Dargatis has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I am most proud of building three ship motors by myself,” Dargatis said. “I am proud of that because I did it alone but I got it done because it was needed.”
Dargatis serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“The Seabees support Marines so by serving in the Navy, I feel like I am helping my brother,” Dargatis said.
Dargatis is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.“I want to thank Steelworker 1st Class Caleb Goodnight for helping me anytime I had a problem and for always steering me in the right direction,” Dargatis added. “I also want to thank my brother, Srgt. Dargatis, for supporting me and for answering any questions I have. He is really knowledgeable about his job. Lastly, I want to thank my father, Jeff Dargatis, for being the best dad in the world.”
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Satellite Beach.
“I was a landscaper for a long time so I knew how to cut down trees,” Dargatis said. “I apply those skills to my career now because I just recently cut down a tree at a Naval Air Station North Island. I also used my chainsaw skills to build a bunker out of heavy timber.”
Dargatis joined the Navy a year and three months ago. Today, Dargatis serves as a steelworker.
“I joined the Navy because I have done construction my entire life and I wanted to become a Seabee,” Dargatis said.
ACB 1’s primary mission is to provide logistics over-the-shore support for Amphibious Ready Group, Marine Expeditionary Force and Maritime Prepositioning Force operations, including ship-to-shore transportation of combat cargo, bulk fuel/water and tactical camp operations.
With a combination of Seabee and fleet rates, ACB-1 is skilled at offloading equipment through Improved Navy Lighterage System (INLS) operations, as well as providing camp support, perimeter defense, and limited construction support. Fleet rates qualify as craft masters and deck engineers and are proficient in operating and maintaining INLS. Seabee rates such as builders, steelworkers, electricians, equipment operators, construction mechanics and engineering aides provide construction services. Additional deployable Seabee units include Naval Mobile Construction Battalions, Construction Battalion Maintenance Units, and Underwater Construction Teams, which all make up the U.S. Naval Construction Forces.
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.
Dargatis has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I am most proud of building three ship motors by myself,” Dargatis said. “I am proud of that because I did it alone but I got it done because it was needed.”
Dargatis serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“The Seabees support Marines so by serving in the Navy, I feel like I am helping my brother,” Dargatis said.
Dargatis is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.“I want to thank Steelworker 1st Class Caleb Goodnight for helping me anytime I had a problem and for always steering me in the right direction,” Dargatis added. “I also want to thank my brother, Srgt. Dargatis, for supporting me and for answering any questions I have. He is really knowledgeable about his job. Lastly, I want to thank my father, Jeff Dargatis, for being the best dad in the world.”