By Kayla Good, Navy Office of Community Outreach
SAN DIEGO – A 1990 Trotwood Madison High School
graduate and Dayton, Ohio native is serving
in the U.S. Navy with Afloat Training Group San Diego.
As a Navy boatswain's mate he acts as a search and rescue inspector which
inspects all ships are up to date with training, gear and equipment.
“I enjoy training the junior sailors,” said Simpson. “I
like watching them learn, and seeing that ‘aha moment’ when everything comes
together.”
The training
group provides dynamic training to Navy and Coast Guard sailors to ensure a
combat ready force capable of performing a broad spectrum of missions,
according to Navy officials. Special emphasis is placed on preparing ships'
training teams, special evolution teams and watch teams to institutionalize the
onboard capability to sustain and improve combat readiness throughout an
employment cycle.
“I like this command
because I have time to spend with my family now
but I still get to go aboard the ships and contribute to the fleet,” said
Simpson.
Afloat Training
Group San Diego strives to keep sailors’ warfare expertise sharp by maintaining
professional knowledge and skills through a robust training program of
installations and factory training, technical symposiums, informal training and
self-study. By maintaining a group of subject matters experts in different
warfare areas, they prepare ships to be missions ready.
"It’s amazing to hear our sailors’ stories,” said Capt. James Storm, commander of Afloat Training Group San Diego.
“Some of them are working on their PhDs and others are working on their first
degree. I’ve met sailors who grew up in extreme poverty, and now they own their
own home here in Southern California. Serving here at Afloat Training Group is
considered a career enhancing tour because these sailors are recognized
experts. They lay the foundation for successful deployments.”
According to Navy officials, approximately 355 sailors
make up the training group making their jobs highly specialized in
order to
keep each part of the command running smoothly.
As a member of
the Afloat Training Group San Diego, sailors prepare ships to deploy. Simpson explained
they are building a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes. The trainers
know how important it is for the Navy to maintain and uphold war-fighting
capabilities to continue their success on the world’s oceans.
“It
makes me proud to know I am serving my country,” said Simpson. “It's hard to
put it into words. I know that I can take care of my family and have stability
for them.”