SAN DIEGO – Petty Officer 2nd Class Zane Brinker, a native of Southaven, Mississippi, 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 |
Brinker graduated from DeSoto Central High School in 2020.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Southaven.
“Growing up, I learned the importance of having respect for other people and a good work ethic,” Brinker said. “I spent a lot of time in high school doing volunteer work. Now, being a petty officer second class and a leader, I put other people over myself to help develop them as best I can.”
Brinker joined the Navy four years ago. Today, Brinker serves as an engineering aide.
“I joined the Navy to continue a family tradition and for the honor of serving my country,” Brinker said. “My dad, my dad’s uncle and many more family members have served in the military. Most of them on my dad’s side were in the Navy, but we also have some who served in the Marines, Army or Air Force in the family.”
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.
Brinker has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I’m proud of the outdoor gym area we built a few years ago as a project for Naval Special Warfare Command (WARCOM),” Brinker said. “It was all kinds of messed up, but Engineering Aide 2nd Class Taylor and I got out there and fixed it up. I received a Flag Letter of Commendation from a two-star admiral. The pride came from knowing my rate and being able to go in there to use the knowledge that I’ve learned from ‘A’ school and my fellow engineering aides.”
Brinker 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 service over self,” Brinker said.
Brinker is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.“I want to thank my wife, Amy, for being there to support me every step of the way and taking care of our two daughters,” Brinker said.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Southaven.
“Growing up, I learned the importance of having respect for other people and a good work ethic,” Brinker said. “I spent a lot of time in high school doing volunteer work. Now, being a petty officer second class and a leader, I put other people over myself to help develop them as best I can.”
Brinker joined the Navy four years ago. Today, Brinker serves as an engineering aide.
“I joined the Navy to continue a family tradition and for the honor of serving my country,” Brinker said. “My dad, my dad’s uncle and many more family members have served in the military. Most of them on my dad’s side were in the Navy, but we also have some who served in the Marines, Army or Air Force in the family.”
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.
Brinker has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I’m proud of the outdoor gym area we built a few years ago as a project for Naval Special Warfare Command (WARCOM),” Brinker said. “It was all kinds of messed up, but Engineering Aide 2nd Class Taylor and I got out there and fixed it up. I received a Flag Letter of Commendation from a two-star admiral. The pride came from knowing my rate and being able to go in there to use the knowledge that I’ve learned from ‘A’ school and my fellow engineering aides.”
Brinker 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 service over self,” Brinker said.
Brinker is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.“I want to thank my wife, Amy, for being there to support me every step of the way and taking care of our two daughters,” Brinker said.