PEARL HARBOR – Petty Officer 3rd Class David Arrizon, a native of Whittier, California is serving aboard USS Daniel Inouye, a U.S. Navy warship, operating out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason Waite |
Arrizon, a 2017 graduate of St. Paul High School, joined the Navy five and a half years ago.
“I joined the Navy to see the world and to experience different cultures,” said Arrizon.
Today, Arrizon relies upon skills and values similar to those found in Whittier to succeed in the military.
“My soccer coach, Daniel Alvarez, taught me to have a strong work ethic,” said Arrizon. "This has helped me to teach new sailors and is a great help for my time in the Navy."
These lessons have helped Arrizon while serving in the Navy.
USS Daniel Inouye 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 USS Daniel Inouye. 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 Arrizon 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 for everyone's personal freedom,” said Arrizon. "We protect freedom of navigation and anyone's right to travel the seas."
Arrizon and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“I am most proud of being able to enlist in the United States Navy because it is a hard accomplishment to achieve,” said Arrizon.
As Arrizon 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 to better myself and to grow as a person,” said Arrizon.
Arrizon is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my Grandfather, Rudy Castellanos, and my parents, Mario and Tracy for supporting me and my Navy journey,” said Arrizon.