MAYPORT, Fla. - Petty Officer 1st Class Cameron Stuart, a native of Austin, Texas, is serving aboard USS Jason Dunham, a U.S. Navy warship, operating out of Mayport, Florida.
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Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Bryan Niegel |
Stuart, a 2016 graduate of Del Valle, joined the Navy five years ago.
“I joined the Navy to learn to become an electrician, so I can have a skill for when I go into the civilian sector,” said Stuart.
Today, Stuart relies upon skills and values similar to those found in Austin to succeed in the military.
“I learned from blue-collar workers that worked in landscaping that hard work pays off,” said Stuart.
These lessons have helped Stuart while serving in the Navy.
Jason Dunham is a guided-missile destroyer that provides a wide range of warfighting capabilities. The destroyer is a multi-mission ship that can operate independently or as part of a larger group of ships at sea. The ship is equipped with tomahawk missiles, torpedoes, guns and a phalanx close-in weapons system.
More than 300 sailors serve aboard Jason Dunham. Their jobs are highly specialized, requiring both dedication and skill. The jobs range from maintaining engines to handling weaponry along with a multitude of other assignments that keep the ship mission-ready at all times, according to Navy officials.
With 90 percent 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 trained sailors and a strong Navy.
"Our mission remains timeless - to provide our fellow citizens with nothing less than the very best Navy: fully combat ready at all times, focused on warfighting excellence, and committed to superior leadership at every single level," said Adm. Mike Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations. "This is our calling. And I cannot imagine a calling more worthy."
Serving in the Navy means Stuart is part of a team 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 Navy is instrumental in maintaining the security of our coasts and protecting the ideals of freedom and democracy,” said Stuart.
Stuart and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“My proudest accomplishment is training electricians and junior sailors,” said Stuart. “I enjoy paying forward what I've learned to my fellow electricians.”
As Stuart and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“Serving in the Navy is a source of professional and personal growth,” added Stuart.