MAYPORT, Fla. - Petty Officer 1st Class Jacob Barczyk, a native of Hamburg, New Jersey, 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, Navy Office of Community Outreach |
Barczyk, a 2015 graduate of Wallkill Valley Regional High School, joined the Navy five years ago.
“I joined for an opportunity to get a job where I also learned a skill,” said Barczyk. "I wanted to travel at the same time."
Today, Barczyk relies upon skills and values similar to those found in Hamburg to succeed in the military.
“I learned that hard work breeds success,” said Barczyk. "In the Navy, as long as you do what you're told, you'll be successful."
These lessons have helped Barczyk 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 Barczyk 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 ensures the freedom of navigation and shows our commitment to the world through our relationship with our allies,” said Barczyk.
Barczyk and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“I am most proud of advancing to petty officer first class,” said Barczyk. "Even though our advancement quotas are low, it just shows that if you work hard, you can achieve anything."
As Barczyk 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 way for me to give back to the country that provides freedom for so many people,” said Barczyk. "My parents grew up in a communist country, and that is not a world that I would want to live in."
Barczyk is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I'd like to thank my wife, Kristen,” said Barczyk. "She supported me in the beginning by being there for me even when I was in boot camp."
“My dad and my brother were also instrumental in my success in the Navy,” added Barczyk. "They told me to never give up."