GREAT LAKES, Ill. - Sailors are some of the most highly-trained people on the planet, according to Navy officials, and this training requires highly-dedicated instructors.
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| Photo by Lt. Cmdr. Jake Joy, Navy Office of Community Outreach |
At Naval Education and Training Command (NETC), instructors at advanced technical schools teach sailors to be highly skilled, operational, and combat ready warfighters, while providing the tools and opportunities for continuous learning and development.
Seaman Matthew Thayer, a native of Canton, Ohio, is a student at NETC, learning the necessary skills needed to be an electronics technician.
As an electronics technician, Thayer is responsible for operating, maintaining, and repairing Navy communications systems.
Thayer, a 2018 Jackson High School graduate, joined the Navy one year ago.
“I joined the Navy to make a difference in the world and to better myself," said Thayer. "I always had a desire to serve my nation. I've never been to a nation that has the opportunities that this nation offers.”
According to Thayer, the values required to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Canton.
“Growing up, I learned about the importance of volunteerism and humility," said Thayer. "They go hand-in-hand.”
Students attend advanced technical schools after “boot camp.” They are taught the basic technical knowledge and skills required to be successful in their new careers.
NETC educates and trains those who serve, providing the tools and opportunities which enable life-long learning, professional and personal growth and development, ensuring fleet readiness and mission accomplishment.
Made up of six commands, NETC provides a continuum of professional education and training in support of Surface Navy requirements that prepare enlisted sailors and officers to serve at sea, providing apprentice and specialized skills training to 7,500 sailors a year.
With more than 90 percent of all trade traveling by sea, and 95 percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic carried through fiber optic cables lying on the ocean floor, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity and security of the United States is directly linked to a strong and ready Navy.
According to Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday, four priorities will focus efforts on sailors, readiness, capabilities, and capacity.
“For 245 years, in both calm and rough waters, our Navy has stood the watch to protect the homeland, preserve freedom of the seas, and defend our way of life,” said Gilday. “The decisions and investments we make this decade will set the maritime balance of power for the rest of this century. We can accept nothing less than success.”
Serving in the Navy means Thayer is part of a team that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“It's a big world out there and we have a lot of ground to cover," said Thayer. "You need the land powers and air powers, but you also need the Navy to help complement it.”
As Thayer and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“The Navy means the world to me," added Thayer. "It will highlight your strengths and attempt to convert your weaknesses into strengths. You will find out things that you never thought were possible with yourself. It will transform you.”