PASCAGOULA, Miss. — Petty Officer 2nd Class Dejai Clark, a native of Houston, Texas, serves aboard Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Bougainville, in Pascagoula, Mississippi.
PCU is a designation used by the U.S. Navy to describe crews aboard vessels under construction prior to official commissioning. As one of the Secretary of the Navy’s priorities, America’s shipbuilding industry is a national security asset that strengthens deterrence, enhances global readiness, and keeps the fleet forward. Modernization efforts are creating American jobs, revitalizing communities, and fueling innovation.
Clark graduated from Nimitz High School in 2018.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Houston.
“I grew up with two parents who are hard working, and I knew I couldn’t be lazy,” said Clark. “I’ve been working since I was 15, and I couldn’t just sit around.”
Clark joined the Navy six years ago. Today, Clark serves as an operations specialist.
“I was in college for the second year, and I didn't really want to stay there,” said Clark. “My dad suggested the military to me, and my great grandfather and my aunt were in the military. She talked to me a lot about the Navy and made me take that step to join.”
This is the second ship named in honor of the Bougainville World War II campaign. As a large-deck amphibious assault ship, Bougainville is nearly three football fields long, with a crew of more than 1,200 that can support up to 1,800 troops and their equipment.
Clark has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“My proudest accomplishment in the Navy is completing a deployment in 2021 aboard the USS Curtis Wilbur,” said Clark. “We didn’t pull into any port because of COVID. The deployment was over 10 months long, and we homeport-shifted at the end of the deployment. The shift from overseas to the home state was a big shock to me because of the cultural differences.”
As Clark and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the U.S. Navy.
“Serving in the Navy means creating a better life,” said Clark. “It means giving a better stepping stone to my daughter and her future.”
This year, the Navy is commemorating its contribution to the nation’s defense as the United States celebrates 250 years of independence. According to Navy officials, for more than 250 years, the Navy has sailed the globe defending freedom and protecting prosperity.
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 trained sailors and a strong Navy.
Clark is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my family–my mom, dad, siblings, and grandparents,” added Clark. “They helped me take care of my daughter, and they talked to me while I was on deployment and sent me care packages.”
Clark has personal goals for the future.
“My next thing to do is to start college, and I’m working on getting into the physician’s assistant program,” said Clark.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Hunter Harwell, Navy Office of Community Outreach |
PCU is a designation used by the U.S. Navy to describe crews aboard vessels under construction prior to official commissioning. As one of the Secretary of the Navy’s priorities, America’s shipbuilding industry is a national security asset that strengthens deterrence, enhances global readiness, and keeps the fleet forward. Modernization efforts are creating American jobs, revitalizing communities, and fueling innovation.
Clark graduated from Nimitz High School in 2018.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Houston.
“I grew up with two parents who are hard working, and I knew I couldn’t be lazy,” said Clark. “I’ve been working since I was 15, and I couldn’t just sit around.”
Clark joined the Navy six years ago. Today, Clark serves as an operations specialist.
“I was in college for the second year, and I didn't really want to stay there,” said Clark. “My dad suggested the military to me, and my great grandfather and my aunt were in the military. She talked to me a lot about the Navy and made me take that step to join.”
This is the second ship named in honor of the Bougainville World War II campaign. As a large-deck amphibious assault ship, Bougainville is nearly three football fields long, with a crew of more than 1,200 that can support up to 1,800 troops and their equipment.
Clark has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“My proudest accomplishment in the Navy is completing a deployment in 2021 aboard the USS Curtis Wilbur,” said Clark. “We didn’t pull into any port because of COVID. The deployment was over 10 months long, and we homeport-shifted at the end of the deployment. The shift from overseas to the home state was a big shock to me because of the cultural differences.”
As Clark and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the U.S. Navy.
“Serving in the Navy means creating a better life,” said Clark. “It means giving a better stepping stone to my daughter and her future.”
This year, the Navy is commemorating its contribution to the nation’s defense as the United States celebrates 250 years of independence. According to Navy officials, for more than 250 years, the Navy has sailed the globe defending freedom and protecting prosperity.
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 trained sailors and a strong Navy.
Clark is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my family–my mom, dad, siblings, and grandparents,” added Clark. “They helped me take care of my daughter, and they talked to me while I was on deployment and sent me care packages.”
Clark has personal goals for the future.
“My next thing to do is to start college, and I’m working on getting into the physician’s assistant program,” said Clark.