By Kayla Good, Navy Office of Community Outreach
SAN DIEGO – A 2000 Grants Pass High School
graduate and Grants Pass, Oregon native is serving
in the U.S. Navy with Afloat Training Group San Diego.
A Navy operations specialist is responsible for the safe
navigation of the ship and maintaining surveillance through multiple radars of
surface and air contacts.
“My job is challenging,” said Venzke. “It changes
everywhere you go which keeps it from ever getting boring.”
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.
“This command allows me to maintain a good balance between
time at home and time at work,” said Venzke. “You have the aspect where you can
do personal things with your life while still having time for the professional
aspects like mentoring sailors and being out to sea.”
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. Venzke 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.
“I get a great pride and honor
in serving my country,” added Venzke. “It’s an honor to continue the traditions
of the generations that passed before you.”