MAYPORT, Fla. - Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Clark, a native of Jacksonville, Florida, serves aboard one of the country’s most versatile combat ships, USS St. Louis, operating out of Mayport, Florida.
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Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James Green |
Clark, a 2014 graduate of Franklin H. Peterson High School, joined the Navy six years ago. Additionally, Clark graduated from Florida State College of Jacksonville in 2017 with an Associate of Arts.
“Being an only child, I grew up relying on my parents,” said Clark. “I joined to Navy to become a well-rounded and independent person.”
Today, Clark relies upon skills and values similar to those found in Jacksonville to succeed in the military.
“I've had a few jobs before joining the Navy where I learned to be punctual, speak honestly and thoroughly go through the details of every task,” said Clark.
These lessons have helped Clark while serving in the Navy.
St. Louis is a fast, optimally-manned, mission-tailored surface combatant that operates in near-shore and open-ocean environments, according to Navy officials. Littoral combat ships integrate with joint, combined, manned and unmanned teams to support forward-presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence missions around the globe.
Littoral combat ships are hybrid surface combatants that lead manned-unmanned teams using unmanned aerial systems like the Fire Scout and Expeditionary Ordnance Disposal forces unmanned underwater vehicles. They conduct forward and maritime security missions like the Secretary of Defense Oceania Maritime Security Initiative. The ships also strengthen partnerships through port visits in small island nations like Tahiti and Fiji due to their shallow-depth hull.
According to Navy officials, the path to becoming an LCS sailor is unique and challenging. The culmination of their 18-month training pipeline, sailors qualify on a virtual reality simulator that is nearly identical to the ship. This intense and realistic training pipeline allows sailors to execute their roles and responsibilities immediately upon stepping on board.
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 Clark 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 important to national defense because we defend freedom, preserve economic prosperity and keep the seas open and free for trade and from adversaries,” said Clark.
Clark and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“My proudest accomplishment is advancing in rank to petty officer second class,” said Clark. "Making second class is a rank that I was told would be very difficult to get to, so I saw it as a challenge."
As Clark and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“Only one percent of our population serves in the military,” said Clark. “I feel like I’m part of a special community and I’m very proud of that. I serve both my family and our future."
Clark is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my wife, Giovana, who has become my ‘rock of support,’” said Clark. "Without her, I don’t know where my life would've gone. Every day, I wake up happy knowing I'll be coming home to her."
“I want to go back to college and get a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems,” added Clark. “With my bachelor's, I want to become a commissioned officer and be a Navy pilot. On a separate note, I’m very proud to say that I am a plank owner for not only USS St. Louis but for USS Indianapolis as well.”