LEMOORE, Calif. - Every sailor’s story of naval service is unique. For Petty Officer 1st Class Rolker Perceval, this story has ties to Lakewood, Florida, where skills and values learned there are foundational to success in the Navy.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Mitch Meppelink |
“In high school I ran track and cross country,” Perceval said. “I really enjoyed being part of a team and having others count on me. The area I grew up in was a very diverse community and I was surrounded by many immigrants who worked hard every day for a better tomorrow. I immigrated to the U.S. from Haiti when I was five and have always wanted to give back to this country.”
Perceval graduated from Lakeworth Community High School in 2016.
Perceval joined the Navy nine years ago.
“I joined the Navy looking for a career that would allow me to travel, see the world as well as provide job security as I started a family,” Perceval said. “I was also looking to learn valuable skills I could keep with me for life.”
Today, Perceval serves as an aviation structural mechanic assigned to Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit, Lemoore onboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore.
NAS Lemoore is home to Commander Strike Fighter Wing Pacific and Commander Joint Strike Fighter Wing. More than half of the Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft reside here, and it is the only Navy installation to house the F-35C Lightning II.
Carrier strike groups, and the embarked aviation squadrons, are the cornerstone of U.S. naval power projection and sea power. They can quickly maneuver thousands of miles with the world’s most capable warships and top-notch Sailors, remaining on station in areas of interest without relying on land bases or overflight agreements. U.S. Navy aircraft carriers are the most adaptable, lethal, and survivable airfields in the world and their presence serves as the most credible commitment to our Allies and partners.
Naval aviation provides the Navy and our nation with a flexible, adaptable, and lethal force to preserve peace, respond in crises, and win decisively in combat. The U.S. Navy maintains and operates more than 2,000 aircraft to fulfill various mission sets in order to preserve the American way of life and ensure freedom, security and 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.
Perceval has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I am very proud of the man and sailor I have become and all the skills I have learned in my career,” Perceval said. “I am also proud of advancing to the rank of petty officer 1st class and can now be a leader for younger sailors and help them with their qualifications and training.”
Perceval serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
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. More information is available here: https://www.navy.mil/navy-250/
“Serving in the Navy means selfless servitude to one's country,” Perceval said. “U.S. sailors work on the front lines to contribute and do our part to maintain safety and prosperity in this great country.”
Perceval is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my mom, Nomise, and dad, Luckner, for raising me to be the man I am today,” Perceval said. “I would also like to thank my wife, Fariba, for always being by my side and making this career that much more important.”