By Rick Burke, Navy Office of Community Outreach
MILLINGTON, TENN. — A Boca Raton, Florida, native was recently named “Warrior of the Week” assigned to U.S. Navy aircraft carrier, PCU John F. Kennedy (CVN 79).
Petty Officer 2nd Class Juli Delarosa, a 2016 Spanish River High School graduate, was inspired by one of his older brothers to join the Navy. In turn, Delarosa infuenced his other brother to join the Army.
“My older brother explored military career options, which ultimately led me to joining the Navy,” said Delarosa. “I also wanted to create better opportunities for me and the people around me.”
Today, Delarosa serves as an information systems technician.
“What I enjoy most about my job, is the people I’ve met and my ability to learn something new every day,” said Delarosa. “These people have shown me new ways of approaching life, and I’m most grateful for that. I never thought I’d be in this situation. Now, I feel like there are so many opportunities for me and my future.”
John F. Kennedy’s “Warrior of the Week” program recognizes sailors whose hard work and dedication to service inspires those around them and contributes to John F. Kennedy’s mission to deliver a combat ready warship to the fleet.
Delarosa, assigned to John F. Kennedy for 10 months, was recognized for the work he is doing while temporarily assigned to USS Oscar Austin, a guided-missile destroyer, homeported in Norfolk, Virginia. Delarosa is leading a team of six sailors to assess and improve network infrastructure throughout the ship.
Delarosa uses skills and values similar to those found in Boca Raton to succeed in the Navy.
“I learned that everyone can provide a teaching opportunity for you,” said Delarosa. “Everyone can teach you a lesson, no matter who it is.”
PCU (Pre-Commissioning Unit) is a designation used by the United States Navy to describe vessels under construction prior to their official commissioning. John F. Kennedy is under construction at Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding division in Newport News, Virginia.
John F. Kennedy is the second aircraft carrier to honor President John F. Kennedy for a lifetime of service to the nation. The first USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) aircraft carrier served the fleet for over 50 years before decommissioning in 2007. John F. Kennedy wore our nation’s uniform as a Navy lieutenant during WWII before serving as the 35th President of the United States from Jan. 1961 to Nov. 1963.
Serving in the Navy means Delarosa is part of a world that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on strengthening alliances, modernizing capabilities, increasing capacities and maintaining military readiness in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“The Navy contributes to national defense by being a show of force and maintaining freedom of the seas,” said Delarosa.
More than 90 percent of all trade travels by sea, and fiber optic cables on the ocean floor carry 95 percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic. Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity and security of the United States is directly linked to ready sailors and a strong Navy.
“Maintaining the world’s best Navy is an investment in the security and prosperity of the United States, as well as the stability of our world,” said Adm. Mike Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations. “The U.S. Navy – forward deployed and integrated with all elements of national power – deters conflict, strengthens our alliances and partnerships and guarantees free and open access to the world’s oceans. As the United States responds to the security environment through integrated deterrence, our Navy must continue to deploy forward and campaign with a ready, capable, combat-credible fleet.”
Delarosa and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“I am proud of being able to help out my family financially,” said Delarosa. “I like to make people smile or just help people laugh through the day a little bit as well.”
As Delarosa and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“Serving in the Navy means being part of one of the largest most powerful militaries that ever existed in history,” added Delarosa. “We are a force to be reckoned with.”
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