MAYPORT, Fla. - Petty Officer 1st Class Amadou Dosso, a native of Brooklyn, New York, 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, Navy Office of Community Outreach |
Dosso, a 2019 graduate of Barry University with a Master of Business Administration, joined the Navy 14 years ago.
“I joined the Navy for the educational opportunities after finding college tuition to be very expensive,” said Dosso.
"I came to the United States from Ivory Coast, Abidjan, and the Navy has allowed me to reach my goal of continuing my education," said Dosso. "English is not my first language and there have been challenges however, I've learned to remain humble and I'm thankful for the Navy's diversity and inclusion policies that have helped me to thrive at work."
These lessons have helped Dosso 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 Dosso 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 to national defense by maintaining the security of our coasts and protecting the ideas of freedom and democracy,” said Dosso.
Dosso and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“I am most proud of my selection as the 2022 Stars and Stripes Black Engineer of the Year,” said Dosso. "There is only one enlisted award for all the branches of the Armed Forces, and I got to represent the Navy when I was selected.”
As Dosso 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 means that I can make my family proud,” said Dosso. "My sisters were against me joining and just two years later, they are asking me to get their sons to join."
Dosso is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I'd first like to thank God for the privilege to serve,” added Dosso. "I also like to thank my wife, Aminata, for being very supportive of my decision to join the Navy."
These lessons have helped Dosso 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 Dosso 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 to national defense by maintaining the security of our coasts and protecting the ideas of freedom and democracy,” said Dosso.
Dosso and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“I am most proud of my selection as the 2022 Stars and Stripes Black Engineer of the Year,” said Dosso. "There is only one enlisted award for all the branches of the Armed Forces, and I got to represent the Navy when I was selected.”
As Dosso 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 means that I can make my family proud,” said Dosso. "My sisters were against me joining and just two years later, they are asking me to get their sons to join."
Dosso is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I'd first like to thank God for the privilege to serve,” added Dosso. "I also like to thank my wife, Aminata, for being very supportive of my decision to join the Navy."