SAN DIEGO – Petty Officer 3rd Class DaiQuan Cook, a native of Los Angeles, California, serves in the U.S. Navy in San Diego, California.
“I had a close friend who was a corpsman in the Navy,” said Cook. "He made me want to join. My two friends' fathers were also both Marines, so they made me want to join the military because I wanted to be like them. Finally, I joined the Navy because I wanted to support my brother."
Cook joined the Navy three years ago. Today, Cook serves with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron EIGHT (HSC 8) in San Diego, working with one of the Navy’s most advanced helicopters, the MH-60S Seahawk.
Growing up in Los Angeles, Cook attended Oceanside High School and graduated in 2016. Today, Cook uses the same skills and values learned in Los Angeles to succeed in the military.
“Growing up, I was taught the importance of making good friends,” said Cook. "That's helped me in the Navy because I've built a support system for myself if I ever encounter hard times."
Navy pilots and aircrew at HSC 8 constantly train to ensure they are prepared for peacetime and warfighting missions. The mission set of the MH-60S includes anti-surface warfare, search and rescue, vertical replenishment, logistics support, personnel transport, humanitarian disaster relief, medical evacuation, support to Naval Special Warfare and organic airborne mine countermeasures. MH-60S helicopters are also equipped with the ability to conduct replenishments at sea, search and rescue missions and enable other operations for the carrier strike group.
Serving in the Navy means Cook is part of a team that is taking on new importance in America’s focus, rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“The Navy protects our waters,” said Cook. "We do a good job keeping things safe in other countries and maintaining peace, so there is never a fight headed to our shores."
With more than 90 percent of all trade traveling by sea, and 95 percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic carried through fiber optic cables lying on the ocean floor, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity and security of the United States is directly linked to a strong and ready Navy.
According to Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday, four priorities will focus efforts on sailors, readiness, capabilities, and capacity.
“For 245 years, in both calm and rough waters, our Navy has stood the watch to protect the homeland, preserve freedom of the seas, and defend our way of life,” said Gilday. “The decisions and investments we make this decade will set the maritime balance of power for the rest of this century. We can accept nothing less than success.”
Cook and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“My proudest naval accomplishment has been watching junior sailors achieve what I have achieved,” said Cook. "I get to watch others succeed through the same things I succeeded in. I like watching others succeed."
As Cook and other sailors continue to train and perform the missions they are tasked with, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“To me, serving in the Navy means I get to keep my family safe,” added Cook. "They aren't in the military, so what I'm doing here is benefiting them. Plus, I get to be paid to do something I believe in, which is an added bonus."