SAN DIEGO – Chief Petty Officer Deleon Dorsey, a native of Dallas, Texas, serves the U.S. Navy as a member of Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 50 located in San Diego, California.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Sang Kim, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West |
Dorsey joined the Navy 15 years ago. Today, Dorsey serves as an aviation maintenance administrationman at Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron 50.
“I joined the Navy because I was home from college on Christmas break when I saw an ‘Accelerate Your Life’ ad from the Navy,” said Dorsey. “I picked up the phone and made the call.”.
Growing up in Dallas, Dorsey attended Arlington Martin High School and graduated in 2005. Today, Dorsey relies upon skills and values similar to those found in Dallas to succeed in the military.
“I learned in Dallas that you can not do anything without the support of your family,” said Dorsey. “The people I work with are my extended family. Without them, I could not accomplish all that I have done in the Navy.”
The CMV-22B is the Navy’s version of the U.S. Marines’ V-22 Osprey. It is designed to replace the C-2A Greyhound, which has provided logistical support to aircraft carriers for four decades.
CMV-22Bs are vertical takeoff and landing tilt-rotor aircraft, which have an increased operational range, faster cargo loading/unloading, increased survivability and enhanced communications compared to the C-2A Greyhound.
According to Navy officials, the mission of the CMV-22B is to provide timely, persistent air logistics for sustained carrier strike group lethality, anywhere in the world.
Serving in the Navy means Dorsey is part of a world that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on strengthening alliances, modernizing capabilities, increasing capacities and maintaining military readiness in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“The U.S. Navy is maritime security,” said Dorsey. “The vast majority of commerce is transported by ships, and the Navy protects those waterways.”
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 ready sailors and a strong Navy.
“Maintaining the world’s best Navy is an investment in the security and prosperity of the United States, as well as the stability of our world,” said Adm. Mike Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations. “The U.S. Navy—forward deployed and integrated with all elements of national power—deters conflict, strengthens our alliances and partnerships, and guarantees free and open access to the world’s oceans. As the United States responds to the security environment through integrated deterrence, our Navy must continue to deploy forward and campaign with a ready, capable, combat-credible fleet.”
“The Surface Force will continue to meet the challenge of strategic competition and respond to the realities of the modern security environment,” said Vice Adm. Roy Kitchener, commander of naval surface forces. “Our efforts are critical to preserve freedom of the seas, deter aggression and win wars.”
Dorsey and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“My proudest moment comes from watching all my junior sailors get promoted to the next pay grade,” said Dorsey. “In a sense, they have helped me get where I am today and that makes me very proud.”
As Dorsey and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“Joining the Navy was an opportunity to do something beyond myself,” added Dorsey. “Now, the Navy is my opportunity to complete something I started and be proud of what I have done.”