Calexico native serves U.S. Navy at Assault Craft Unit Five
SAN DIEGO – Petty Officer 3rd Class Deborah Chavez, a native of Calexico, California, serves the U.S. Navy at Assault Craft Unit Five (ACU-5) operating out of San Diego, California.
Chavez joined the Navy one year ago. Today, Chavez serves as a yeoman.
“I joined the Navy, because I wanted to do something different,” said Chavez. “There are a lot of benefits to being in the military, and I wanted to serve my country.”
Growing up in Calexico, Chavez attended Calexico High School and graduated in 2010. Today, Chavez uses the same skills and values learned in Calexico to succeed in the military.
“I grew up in a single parent household and watched my mom work hard,” said Chavez. “I learned at an early age the value of hard work to accomplish your goals.”
Located on a Marine Corps base, ACU-5 is a self-sustained command established in 1983 and encompasses 34 buildings across shore and sea-components including a control tower, eight hangars, a 100,000- gallon fuel storage-and-supply facility, a HAZMAT storage and collection center and a 50- acre flight apron. ACU- 5 is composed of over 600 Sailors and 30 Civilians that train, maintain, repair and operate the 32 Navy hovercraft, Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC).
The Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) is a highspeed, over- the- beach fully amphibious landing craft, capable of carrying up to a 75-ton payload. It is used to transport the weapons systems, equipment, cargo and personnel from ship to shore and across the beach. LCAC can carry heavy payloads, such as an M-1 tank, at high speeds. The air cushion technology allows this vehicle to reach more than 70 percent of the world’s coastline, while only about 15 percent of that coastline is accessible by conventional landing craft.
With more than 90 percent of all trade traveling by sea, and 95 percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic carried through fiber optic cables lying on the ocean floor, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity and security of the United States is directly linked to a strong and ready Navy.
Chavez and the sailors she serves with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“Completing basic training was a huge accomplishment for me,” said Chavez. “I was nervous, because I didn’t know what to expect, but I focused on my future and that helped push me through.”
As Chavez 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 a part of something bigger than myself,” added Chavez. “It’s an honor to serve, because not everyone is willing to or qualified to serve their country.”