Petty officer 2nd Class Quantarius Reed, a native of Bryan, Texas, joined the Navy 10 years ago, but today, he serves as an aviation boatswain’s mate (equipment) aboard the PCU John F. Kennedy, a Pre-Commissioning Unit aircraft carrier that’s currently under construction in Newport News, Virginia. (‘PCU’ is a designation used by the U.S. Navy to describe crews aboard vessels under construction prior to official commissioning).
Reed attended James Earl Rudder High School and graduated in 2014. The mindset and skills he acquired for success in the Navy aren’t far off from Bryan’s own hard working values.
“I learned early on that having a strong work ethic is vital,” said Reed. “You have to put in the work to get the reward and that is a key lesson for success in the Navy. I joined the Navy to get my college education paid for and to travel the world,” he added.
Aircraft carriers are the centerpiece of America’s Naval forces. For 101 years, they have projected power, sea control, bolstered deterrence, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and maintained enduring commitments worldwide.
Reed serves a navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock. He has found many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service, and says his proudest accomplishment is starting school at Liberty University 18 months ago and working toward a degree in health sciences. Reed’s future goals include buying one house in Virginia and another in Texas, because he plans to move back to Bryan when he retires.
Reed says that he is thankful for his family in supporting his Navy career and making it possible.
“I want to thank my mother, Kimberly Henderson, my grandparents, Marvin and Carolyn
Cooper, and my sisters, Dasjas Dickey and Olivia Reed, for supporting me in every way throughout my Navy career.”
Carriers are a strategic asset for the Navy and are often the first response in a global crisis. They can operate freely on international waters and deploy craft for defense, rescue, and other duties.
Navy officials emphasize the prosperity of the United States is tied to the oceans: 90 per cent of global commerce travels by sea, and access to the internet relies on undersea fiber optic cables. More than 5,000 sailors serve aboard these carriers, safeguarding the seas and representing our country.
