LEMOORE, Calif. - Every sailor’s story of naval service is unique. For Petty Officer 3rd Class Paulina Bakalevu, this story has ties to Sacramento, California, where skills and values learned there are foundational to success in the Navy.
 |
| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Mitch Meppelink |
“In high school I took a cooking class taught by Mr. Scott and enjoyed being involved in different sports as well as the student government,” Bakalevu said. “Having an amazing teacher and being social and involved in different groups has helped set me up for success in my rate here in the Navy. Mr. Scott helped introduce me to my love of butchering and taught me many technical skills I still use today out in the fleet.”
Bakalevu graduated from Rosemonte High School in 2021.
Bakalevu joined the Navy four years ago.
“I joined the Navy looking for adventure, the opportunity to earn a college degree and see the world,” Bakalevu said. “The Navy gave me an opportunity to test myself and set myself up for success.”
Today, Bakalevu serves as a culinary specialist assigned to 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.
Bakalevu has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I am very proud of the woman and sailor I have become,” Bakalevu said. “The Navy is full of surprises and changes but I am able to bob and weave and always get the job done. It gives me pride that I am trusted and allowed to cook and be part of a team that makes the food that sailors eat each and every day. We play a big part in morale here on base.”
Bakalevu 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 being a part of something bigger than yourself and carrying on a tradition going back 250 years,” Bakalevu said. “I am forever thankful for all of the freedoms given to me by this country and it gives me pride to serve for the betterment of my country.”
Bakalevu is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank all of my family for their continuous support and always being on my side,” Bakalevu said. “I would also like to thank my husband, David, and my son, Warren, for making this job that much more important.”