By
Navy Office of Community Outreach
SAN DIEGO – A 1992 Taylor High School
graduate and Taylor, Texas native is serving
in the U.S. Navy with Afloat Training Group San Diego.
A Navy boatswain’s mate is responsible for leading sailors
in maritime operations. They drive the ship, maintain the ship, and do
everything that most people think of when they think about being a sailor.
“I like being outdoors and getting a sense of accomplishment
when I'm on a ship,” said Savedra. “At the end of the day, you know you earned
your money.”
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 enjoy teaching sailors and carrying on the traditions of our
Navy,” said Savedra. “Even though we're serving in a new Navy, we don't ever
want to lose the traditions that helped build our Navy.”
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. Savedra 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.
“Serving in the Navy means being an American,” added Savedr. “I think it's every Americans
responsiblity to serve our nation, whether it's in the military or local
community.