NORFOLK, Va. - Petty Officer 3rd Class Ben Cleckler, a native of Clanton, Alabama, serves aboard USS George H.W. Bush, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier operating out of Norfolk, Virginia.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Sylvie Carafiol Navy Public Affairs Support Element East |
Cleckler graduated from Chilton County High School in 2022.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Clanton.
“I learned the importance of morale and the value of respect and hard work, which have all contributed positively to my Navy career,” Cleckler said.
Cleckler joined the Navy three years ago. Today, Cleckler serves as a hull maintenance technician.
“I joined the Navy to serve my country and carry on the tradition both of my grandfathers started with their service in the Marine Corps,” Cleckler said.
Commissioned in 2009, the aircraft carrier is named for George H.W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States and a former naval aviator. The ship was the first aircraft carrier to have its namesake participate in its christening.
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.
The Navy’s aircraft carriers are among the largest warships in the world. Bush is longer than three football fields at 1,092 feet. The ship is 252 feet wide and weighs more than 100,000 tons. More than 5,000 sailors serve aboard these self-contained mobile airports.
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.
Cleckler has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“My proudest accomplishment is forming the friendships I have in my Navy family,” Cleckler said. "I never mind coming to work because I am surrounded by great people who can make a bad day better."
Cleckler 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 has given me a great sense of pride,” Cleckler said. "I've learned how to teach, which I never saw myself doing. Most of all, I have learned to be patient and that helps me every day, in and out of the job."
Cleckler is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my wife, Josie, for always being there for me and being an amazing mom to our son,” Cleckler added.
“I plan on continuing my education, either in college or a trade school, to become a welder,” Cleckler said.