SAN DIEGO - Petty Officer 1st Class Diwei Qiu, a native of Temple City, California, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Naval Base Point Loma.
 |
| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Joey Sitter, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West |
Qiu graduated from Temple City High School in 2014.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Temple City.
“Just like in a hometown where neighbors help one another, the Navy thrives on teamwork and looking out for your shipmates,” Qiu said. “Resilience, whether facing hardships at home or enduring long deployments, mental toughness and perseverance help sailors push through adversity.”
Qiu joined the Navy eight years ago. Today, Qiu serves as an electrician’s mate.
“I joined the Navy because the Navy provides opportunities to travel the world and experience new cultures,” Qiu said. “The Navy also provides all kinds of training and skills that translate to lifelong careers, whether in the military or civilian world.”
Naval Base Point Loma provides support to 70 U.S. Pacific Fleet commands headquartered on the base, including five nuclear-powered fast-attack submarines. The base is also home to Cabrillo National Park and the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, which averages more than 1.2 million visitors annually.
The U.S. Navy is celebrating its 250th birthday this year.
According to Navy officials, “America is a maritime nation and for 250 years, America’s Warfighting Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom.”
With 90% 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 recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Qiu has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“The most impressive thing I did on my last ship was repair the automatic bus transfer (ABT), a switch to shift the ship from service power to emergency power,” Qiu said. “During the Board of Inspection Survey (INSURV) aboard USS Gonzalez, they tested the ABT and it failed. I had to troubleshoot and disassemble all the parts from the equipment. After I successfully diagnosed the problem as a chafed cable, I replaced the cable and reassembled everything. It took the whole day, 15 hours, and it never had any problems after that. This resulted in the electrical division achieving an outstanding score on the INSURV. It was rewarding for me because I used everything I knew that I learned from my chief to troubleshoot and diagnose the problem. I also utilized the technical manual to disassemble and reassemble the equipment.”
Qiu serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“Serving in the Navy means being part of something greater than oneself,” Qiu said. “It means standing alongside my shipmates as a family and forging unbreakable bonds in the face of adversity. It requires resilience, discipline and the constant pursuit of excellence, whether on a ship or at shore.”
Qiu is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank Electrician’s Mate 2nd Class Xiaoqing Meng, my shipmate from USS Gonzalez,” Qiu added. “I was lost when I just reported to the ship. He gave me all the training I needed and guided me. He has mentored me throughout my Navy career.”