By Ashley Craig, Navy Office of Community Outreach
SAN DIEGO – Petty Officer 2nd Class Chevar Cummings, a native of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, serves the U.S. Navy at Assault Craft Unit One (ACU 1) operating out of San Diego.
Cummings graduated from Nova High School in 2011. Additionally, Cummings earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Central Florida in 2014.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Fort Lauderdale.
“One of the biggest things I learned from Fort Lauderdale was to be honest,” said Cummings. “I got in trouble a lot and tried to lie to get out of it, but that only made it worse. Being in the Navy, you have to be honest because if you say you did something and you didn’t, you could kill someone. Growing up, I also learned how to be a good team leader. You have to be a good team leader in the Navy to do your job effectively.”
Cummings joined the Navy seven years ago. Today, Cummings serves as an electronics technician.
“I joined the Navy for the camaraderie,” said Cummings. “I’m a big people person, so being a part of a close-knit group of people is awesome.”
ACU 1 is comprised of more than 300 sailors who are responsible for 32 landing crafts. Landing craft are used across the range of military operations to deliver vehicles, personnel and cargo from the sea to the shore and from shore to shore. They are also used to support civilian humanitarian operations.
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.
“We will earn and reinforce the trust and confidence of the American people every day,” said Adm. Lisa Franchetti, Chief of Naval Operations. “Together we will deliver the Navy the nation needs.”
Cummings has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I’m most proud of advancing to the rank of petty officer second class,” said Cummings. “I’m proud of that because it is difficult. Only 3% of electronics technicians in the Navy advanced when I advanced.”
Cummings serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“I’m just so thankful for the opportunity to possibly put my life on the line for the people back home,” said Cummings. “Not everyone gets to do it. A small percentage of the people in the world are allowed to be in the military. Since I was allowed in, it’s a great honor.”
Cummings is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank Lt. Cmdr. Suddath, Master Chief Electronics Technician Dodson and Senior Chief Information Systems Technician Jenkins for their help throughout my career,” added Cummings. “I also want to thank my wife, Sydnee, for just being the awesome woman that she is. She’s never let me down and I don’t think she ever will. I also want to thank my friend, Michael Feinberg, for being a great role model. We had all the same classes together and he supported me throughout.”