Petty Officer 2nd Class Nicholas Rinker, a native of Surprise, is serving aboard USS John C. Stennis, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier operating out of Newport News, Virginia.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Surprise, the 2018 graduate of Valley Vista High School said.
“Growing up, I played baseball all the time, and I learned being part of a team and working together is the key to success, which is definitely true in the Navy as well,” Rinker said.
Rinker joined the Navy four years ago. Today, Rinker serves as a machinist’s mate.
“I joined the Navy to see the world and because I felt like I had to answer the call to serve my country,” Rinker said.
Aircraft carriers are the centerpiece of America’s Naval forces. For more than 100 years, they have projected power, sustained sea control, bolstered deterrence, provided humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and maintained enduring commitments worldwide.
USS John C. Stennis is longer than three football fields at 1,092 feet. The ship is 252 feet wide and weighs more than 100,000 tons. More than 5,000 sailors serve aboard these self-contained mobile airports.
According to Navy officials, aircraft carriers are versatile and have unique mission capabilities that make them a more strategic asset for the Navy than fixed-site bases.
They are often the first response in a global crisis because of their ability to operate freely in international waters anywhere on the world’s oceans. In addition, no other weapon system can deploy and operate forward with a full-sized aircraft carrier’s speed, endurance, agility and combat capability of its air wing.
The U.S. Navy is celebrating its 250th birthday this year.
According to Navy officials, “America is a maritime nation and for 250 years, America’s Warfighting Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom.”
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 U.S. is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Rinker has several opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“My proudest accomplishment so far has been completing nuclear power school,” Rinker said.
Rinker serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“Serving in the Navy means I am now part of something bigger than myself, and I have to be a more selfless person in everything I do,” Rinker said.
Rinker said he is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“First and foremost, I want to thank my wife, Kenzy, for her continued support and always being my rock, no matter what,” Rinker said. “I want to thank my parents, Richard and Margaret, for always being there and for giving me the support I need.”
Rinker earned his associate’s degree in diesel power generation in 2020.
“I would like to complete my education before I leave the Navy,” Rinker said.
