Culinary Specialist Seaman Vijay Cephas, from New York City, enlisted into the Navy March 11, 2014. He is currently stationed aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), which is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. “I wanted to get out on my own and travel the world,” said Cephas.
Cephas graduated from East Side Community High School and attended New York City College of Technology for two and a half years before joining the Navy.
As a culinary specialist, Cephas helps ensure proper nutrition for a crew of more than 2,300 Sailors and Marines through serving approximately 7,000 meals a day.
“I like cooking,” said Cephas. “It gives me the opportunity to be creative and show my artistic skills as well as boost the morale of the crew.”
Cephas is serving on his first deployment.
“It gives you an opportunity to advance yourself, focus and become a better you through discipline and hardwork,” said Cephas.
While deployed, Cephas said he plans to earn his enlisted surface warfare and enlisted air warfare qualification pins and promote to the rank of 3rd class petty officer (E-4).
So far, Makin Island has conducted port visits to Hong Kong and Singapore where Cephas and other Sailors and Marines were able to venture, sight-see, and participate in tours and community relations projects.
“Hong Kong was really cool,” said Cephas. “It’s a very diverse place. It has that same city feel as New York but at the same time, has that cultural feel of being across the world.”
The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the embarked 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) are deployed in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.
For more news from USS Makin Island (LHD 8), visit www.navy.mil/local/lhd8/.
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Lawrence Davis, USS Makin Island Public Affairs