PENSACOLA, Fla. - Petty Officer 1st Class Erick Arnsby, a native of Clinton Township, Michigan, is serving in the U.S. Navy assigned to Navy Recruiting Orientation Unit (NORU) with the next generation of U.S. Navy Recruiters.
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| Photo by Ensign Tiffany Savoie, Navy Office of Community Outreach |
Arnsby is a 2004 graduate of Chippewa Valley High School.
Arnsby joined the Navy 15 years ago. Today, Arnsby is a student learning the skills necessary to be a Navy recruiter.
“I joined to serve my country, create purpose for myself and secure a future with endless possibilities and opportunities,” Arnsby said.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Clinton Township.
“A majority of my failures provided lessons learned that gave me tremendous drive and motivation,” Arnsby said. "When I was playing hockey up in Canada, I got kicked off the team. Then I went to work in a machine shop and later got laid off due to seniority. These experiences eventually led to joining the Navy."
Located at Naval Air Station Pensacola, NORU is the Navy’s sole recruiting schoolhouse responsible for the instruction of Enlisted and Officer personnel in professional sales, prospecting techniques, marketing, applicant processing, recruiting terminology, leadership, ethical behavior and activity analysis. It also provides continuum training for the Navy’s Career Recruiting Force and prepares selected leaders for the challenges of operating a Navy Talent Acquisition Group.
Over 3,500 students come from sea duty and shore to attend basic recruiting courses and receive a good dose of public speaking classes to develop communications skills that will help them not just in recruiting but throughout their Naval careers. Students must demonstrate what they learn in the classroom with prepared speeches and perform in a simulated sales environment, where they must help an applicant make an informed, mutually beneficial decision to join the Navy. These steps are critical to ensuring that prospective applicants fully understand what naval service entails and that the Navy receives highly motivated and committed officers and enlisted sailors to serve.
The U.S. Navy is celebrating its 250th birthday this year.
According to Navy officials, “America is a maritime nation and for 250 years, America’s Warfighting Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom.”
With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Arnsby serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation's prosperity and security.
Arnsby has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“There is no better feeling than helping another sailor and watching them succeed,” Arnsby said.
Arnsby can take pride in serving America through military service.
“Serving in the Navy requires sacrifice and setting a good example and standard for others to follow,” Arnsby said.
Arnsby is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank all my family and friends who are always willing to help and support my wife and five kids, especially when I'm gone,” Arnsby added.