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, staff and support.
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| Photo by Lt. Cmdr. Jacob Joy, Navy Office of Community Outreach |
At Naval Service Training Command (NSTC), staff oversee 98 percent of new Navy Accessions, including Recruit Training Command, Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps, and Officer Training Command, ensuring officers and sailors enter the fleet tough, disciplined, courageous and trained in five warfighting competencies – firefighting, damage control, seamanship, watchstanding and small arms handling and marksmanship.
Michael Miller, a Navy reservist and native of El Paso, Illinois, plays an important role as a civilian at NSTC, supporting these sailors as a Deputy Department Head for service training.
As a Deputy Department Head, Miller is responsible for the communication program for 98 percent of the Navy's initial programs, including boot camp, Officer Candidate School and the Naval Reserve Officers Traning Corps.
Miller, a 1998 El Paso High School graduate, has served in the Navy for over nine years and has since served as a civilian at NSTC for 16 years.
“I joined the civil service out of college after serving seven years in the Marine Corps,” said Miller. “I joined the Navy Reserves because they had a direct commission program for my particular set of skills and I wanted to continue to serve my country.”
Miller uses skills and values similar to those found in El Paso to succeed in the Navy.
“I grew up in a small Midwestern town that has a friendly attitude and instills the values of working together while building a positive work environment,” said Miller.
NSTC’s mission is to transform volunteers into naval service professionals by instilling and reinforcing enduring core values, knowledge, and skills to prepare them for the fleet.
A key element of the Navy the nation needs is tied to the fact that America is a maritime nation, and that the nation’s prosperity is tied to the ability to operate freely on the world’s oceans. More than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water; 80 percent of the world’s population lives close to a coast; and 90 percent of all global trade by volume travels by sea.
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 Miller 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.
“The Navy controls our waterways and the freedom of navigation throughout the world,” said Miller. “It gives each country the right to safely navigate waters around the globe.”
Miller and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“My proudest moment in the military was serving as a spokesperson for Afghan refugees who were being relocated across the United States,” said Miller. “In the civil service, I enjoyed working with a great team where I won many Navy media awards.”
As Miller and other sailors continue to train and perform the missions they are tasked with, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“Being in the Navy means having love for serving our country and wearing the uniform,” added Miller. “I enjoy the amount of work that we do to build sailors who will go out and defend our Nation.”
As a Deputy Department Head, Miller is responsible for the communication program for 98 percent of the Navy's initial programs, including boot camp, Officer Candidate School and the Naval Reserve Officers Traning Corps.
Miller, a 1998 El Paso High School graduate, has served in the Navy for over nine years and has since served as a civilian at NSTC for 16 years.
“I joined the civil service out of college after serving seven years in the Marine Corps,” said Miller. “I joined the Navy Reserves because they had a direct commission program for my particular set of skills and I wanted to continue to serve my country.”
Miller uses skills and values similar to those found in El Paso to succeed in the Navy.
“I grew up in a small Midwestern town that has a friendly attitude and instills the values of working together while building a positive work environment,” said Miller.
NSTC’s mission is to transform volunteers into naval service professionals by instilling and reinforcing enduring core values, knowledge, and skills to prepare them for the fleet.
A key element of the Navy the nation needs is tied to the fact that America is a maritime nation, and that the nation’s prosperity is tied to the ability to operate freely on the world’s oceans. More than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water; 80 percent of the world’s population lives close to a coast; and 90 percent of all global trade by volume travels by sea.
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 Miller 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.
“The Navy controls our waterways and the freedom of navigation throughout the world,” said Miller. “It gives each country the right to safely navigate waters around the globe.”
Miller and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“My proudest moment in the military was serving as a spokesperson for Afghan refugees who were being relocated across the United States,” said Miller. “In the civil service, I enjoyed working with a great team where I won many Navy media awards.”
As Miller and other sailors continue to train and perform the missions they are tasked with, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“Being in the Navy means having love for serving our country and wearing the uniform,” added Miller. “I enjoy the amount of work that we do to build sailors who will go out and defend our Nation.”