By Mr. Dusty Good
Photos by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tom Gagnier
NORFOLK – A 2005 Carver High School graduate and Columbus, Georgia, native is serving in the U.S. Navy with Assault Craft Unit FOUR (ACU 4), one of the Navy’s most advanced amphibious warfare units.
Petty Officer 1st Class Zakia Ayers is a hospital corpsman with the group operating out of Virginia Beach, Virginia.
A Navy hospital corpsman is responsible for the health and safety of the members of the unit.
“I like that my job is to take care of people,” said Ayers. "Part of my job is saving lives."
Ayers credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in her hometown of Columbus.
“Columbus is definitely a military town, which gave me the ambition to do better,” said Ayers.
ACU 4 is one of the components of Naval Beach Group TWO (NBG 2).
Commissioned in 1948, just after World War II, NBG 2 trains and equips military forces for deployment overseas. Sailors with NBG 2 serve a vital role in the Navy our nation needs by ensuring that amphibious operations remain ready to defend and protect America at all times.
ACU 4 operates landing craft, air cushion (LCAC) vehicles, which are specialized to transport personnel and equipment from surface ships to shore. The LCAC is a high-speed, over-the-beach craft capable of carrying a payload of more than 60 tons. The LCAC can be used to transport weapons systems, cargo and personnel of Marine assault units. Air cushion technology allows the vehicle to reach more than 70 percent of the world’s coastline, while only 15 percent of that coastline is accessible by conventional landing craft, according to Navy officials.
The exercises and real-world operations that ACU 4 sailors participate in include evacuation of American citizens from a hostile territory, delivery of food and medical supplies after a natural disaster, and many other tasks that involve movement from ships off-shore to the beach, according to Navy officials.
“I like that I get a chance to be in a different community,” said Ayers. "You get a chance to interact with a lot of different rates and people which shows you a different side of the Navy."
Jobs are highly specialized and keep each part of the command running smoothly, according to Navy officials. The jobs range from operating boats to maintaining engines.
"ACU 4 sailors and craft are the connector and where the rubber meets the sand between the Amphibious Ready Group and the fight,” said Capt. Erik Nilsson, ACU 4’s commanding officer. “The maintenance team is dedicated to ensuring the craft are ready at a moment's notice to engage in missions from high-end combat to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.”
Though there are many ways for a sailor to earn distinction in their command, community, and career, Ayers is most proud of her recent meritorious promotion.
“I was the first to be promoted to first class petty officer on shore duty,” said Ayers. "I earned sailor-of-the-year honors."
While serving in the Navy may present many challenges, Ayers said she has found many great rewards in her service.
“The most important thing the Navy has taught me are our core values,” said Ayers. "Honor, courage and commitment."
A Navy hospital corpsman is responsible for the health and safety of the members of the unit.
“I like that my job is to take care of people,” said Ayers. "Part of my job is saving lives."
Ayers credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in her hometown of Columbus.
“Columbus is definitely a military town, which gave me the ambition to do better,” said Ayers.
ACU 4 is one of the components of Naval Beach Group TWO (NBG 2).
Commissioned in 1948, just after World War II, NBG 2 trains and equips military forces for deployment overseas. Sailors with NBG 2 serve a vital role in the Navy our nation needs by ensuring that amphibious operations remain ready to defend and protect America at all times.
ACU 4 operates landing craft, air cushion (LCAC) vehicles, which are specialized to transport personnel and equipment from surface ships to shore. The LCAC is a high-speed, over-the-beach craft capable of carrying a payload of more than 60 tons. The LCAC can be used to transport weapons systems, cargo and personnel of Marine assault units. Air cushion technology allows the vehicle to reach more than 70 percent of the world’s coastline, while only 15 percent of that coastline is accessible by conventional landing craft, according to Navy officials.
The exercises and real-world operations that ACU 4 sailors participate in include evacuation of American citizens from a hostile territory, delivery of food and medical supplies after a natural disaster, and many other tasks that involve movement from ships off-shore to the beach, according to Navy officials.
“I like that I get a chance to be in a different community,” said Ayers. "You get a chance to interact with a lot of different rates and people which shows you a different side of the Navy."
Jobs are highly specialized and keep each part of the command running smoothly, according to Navy officials. The jobs range from operating boats to maintaining engines.
"ACU 4 sailors and craft are the connector and where the rubber meets the sand between the Amphibious Ready Group and the fight,” said Capt. Erik Nilsson, ACU 4’s commanding officer. “The maintenance team is dedicated to ensuring the craft are ready at a moment's notice to engage in missions from high-end combat to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.”
Though there are many ways for a sailor to earn distinction in their command, community, and career, Ayers is most proud of her recent meritorious promotion.
“I was the first to be promoted to first class petty officer on shore duty,” said Ayers. "I earned sailor-of-the-year honors."
While serving in the Navy may present many challenges, Ayers said she has found many great rewards in her service.
“The most important thing the Navy has taught me are our core values,” said Ayers. "Honor, courage and commitment."