SAN DIEGO - Airman Recruit Najeeal Grant, a native of Augusta, Georgia, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to USS Theodore Roosevelt, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier operating out of San Diego, California.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Caleb Kissner, Navy Office of Community Outreach |
Grant graduated from Butler High School in 2023.
Grant joined the Navy eight months ago. Today, Grant serves as an aviation boatswain’s mate (handling).
“I joined the Navy because I wanted a stable lifestyle,” Grant said. “A lot of my immediate family members joined the military, mostly Marines and Navy. I felt like the Navy was a good fit for me. Growing up in my hometown, a lot of people my age weren’t going down paths that I wanted to go down. So, I decided to take a different route.”
Aircraft carriers are the centerpiece of America’s naval forces. For more than 100 years, they have projected power, sustained sea control, bolstered deterrence, provided humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and maintained enduring commitments worldwide.
Among the largest warships in the world, Theodore Roosevelt is longer than three football fields at 1,092 feet. The ship is 252 feet wide and weighs more than 100,000 tons. More than 5,000 sailors serve aboard these self-contained mobile airports.
“This aircraft carrier is one of the most powerful warships in the world, but it is our sailors that give the U.S. Navy our warfighting advantage,” said Capt. Will Mathis, commanding officer of Theodore Roosevelt. “For over 250 years, sailors have built the foundation of our readiness and resolve, enabled us to keep America safe and ensured the U.S. Navy remains the strongest and most capable maritime force in the world.”
According to Navy officials, aircraft carriers are versatile and have unique mission capabilities that make them a more strategic asset for the Navy than fixed-site bases. They are often the first response in a global crisis because of their ability to operate freely in international waters anywhere on the world’s oceans. In addition, no other weapon system can deploy and operate forward with a full-sized aircraft carrier’s speed, endurance, agility and combat capability of its air wing.
Grant has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“My biggest accomplishment as of right now is graduating ‘A’ school in the top three of my class,” Grant said. “I’m also proud of finishing boot camp.”
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 recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
“Serving in the Navy means a lot to me because of the opportunities it’s given me,” Grant said.
Grant is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my Uncle Drew for motivating me to do what’s best,” Grant said. “I also want to thank my mom for always reminding me how much she loves and appreciates me, and my cousin, Kiki, for always checking on my mental health.”