GROTON, Conn. - This is the story of how a young woman from Michigan would become a plank owner of a warship, an electrician, and a teacher of sailors.
Electronics Technician 2nd Class Chelsea Cooper was born and raised in Allen Park, Michigan, a stone’s throw from Detroit. Going to college, Cooper was originally studying to be a civil engineer but found that path unfulfilling and sought out something greater.
“I didn’t want my mom paying for classes I wasn’t fully focused on,” said Cooper. “My stepbrother and stepsister were in the Navy and that sounded interesting, so I joined the Navy to pay for my own college.”
From the start, Cooper’s Navy career took a number of unexpected, but ultimately welcomed turns. She wanted to pursue the Navy’s submarine force, which at the time had just started accepting women into its ranks, but a series of administrative events sent her to the surface fleet instead.
“I was originally going to go for nuke (nuclear field), but I missed qualifying by one test question, but I could take it over in a couple weeks,” said Cooper. “They said I had to pick a rate in the meantime, so I picked ET. Later my recruiter told me I had actually qualified for nuke by one question, but then he transferred out and turned over without noting that, so they said I could either go through MEPS again or just go in as an ET.”
Cooper ultimately stuck with the ET rating and was sent to her first command, a newly-built littoral combat ship, where she got her first glimpse of what would ultimately become her path in the Navy.
“My first command was PCU Arlington, LPD 24, a pre-commissioned unit,” said Cooper. “I’m actually a plank owner for that ship. It was a really cool experience. I did a lot at that command to redo the maintenance program. I was there for six years because as a pre-com it was treated as shore duty, then my regular five years of sea duty kicked in.”
Following her stint aboard Arlington, Cooper received orders to Naval Submarine Base (SUBASE) New London where she hit her stride as a sailor who trains sailors.
“I was originally working at Port Ops as the lead scheduler,” said Cooper. “Training has always been one of my biggest passions. I feel the Navy has a lot of good information and programs, but they really fail at making it accessible, especially to junior sailors.”
During the time she was there, Cooper revamped training for junior sailors to bring to their attention programs that would benefit them, and she was noticed by SUBASE leadership for her organization skills.
“Command Master Chief Clark found out about my presentation and I was able to support it through the Junior Enlisted Association,” said Cooper. “When the previous career counselor left, they knew they would not get another counselor for a while, so they offered the job to me. As much as I enjoyed working at Port Ops, I thought this would be a good way to enhance my career.”
Now currently working in the career counselor office onboard SUBASE New London, Cooper has set her sights even higher. She is going to school for biochemistry and pursuing returning to Navy Recruit Training Command (RTC), the Navy’s basic training facility, this time as an instructor.
“Right now two good friends are working at RTC as recruit division commanders and I’ve always been interested in doing it for myself,” said Cooper. “It’s a chance to train everyone who comes through the Navy. I joined the Navy because I thought it was going to be a higher standard. RTC meanwhile is one of those places where a higher standard is expected. Sailors come from RTC and go to the fleet and sometimes lose some of that motivation and skill. I want to see if I can inspire them to keep that a little past boot camp.”
For the time being, however, Cooper will remain at SUBASE until 2020 so she can finish her schooling before reporting to RTC. She is vice president of the Junior Enlisted Association and continues to help sailors assigned to the command with their career paths.
“If I had any advice for any sailor, it would be, don’t listen to the word ‘no,’” said Cooper. “Anyone who’s met me can tell you I’m very persistent. At the end of the day, it’s your life and you have to train yourself to reach past everyone who tells you no.”
The story of ET2 Chelsea Cooper is the story of a women from the Midwest who raised her right hand and put on the uniform. It’s the story of a woman who became part of a warship’s history and began to find her craft. It’s the story of a woman who found her passion in helping others find theirs.