PENSACOLA, Fla. - Petty Officer 1st Class Herbert Babin, a native of Fernandina Beach, Florida, 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 |
Babin is a 2006 graduate of Fernandina Beach High School.
Babin joined the Navy 18 years ago. Today, Babin is a student learning the skills necessary to be a Navy recruiter.
“I wanted to follow in my father's footsteps,” Babin said. "He served in the Navy for more than 20 years. My family has a lot of military background and stories, both on my mom's and dad's side."
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Fernandina Beach.
“I did four years of Navy JROTC in high school under Capt. Greetis and Chief Cegielski,” Babin said. "They taught us a lot about teamwork and discipline, and took time to really focus on molding us to achieve greatness."
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.
Babin serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation's prosperity and security.
Babin has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I'm grateful to have started my career with a Navy recruiter in Jacksonville, and now I'll be ending my career as a Navy recruiter in Jacksonville,” Babin said. "It's kind of like a nice circle of life."
Babin can take pride in serving America through military service.
“It's extremely meaningful to be part of fighting for freedom for my family,” Babin said. "Being able to give back to those who laid the foundations of our freedom is an honor."
Babin is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my dad, Herbert J. Babin, who is a retired Navy senior chief,” Babin added. "He's always been my rock and quiet strength through every step of my journey. His example of discipline, resilience and integrity shaped the sailor I am today. I carry his lessons every time I put on this uniform. I also would like to thank my sister, Deborah Babin, for all the support she's provided me throughout my life. Of course, I want to thank my wife, Chelsea Bladen Babin, and my daughter, Mariana Babin. I couldn't do this without their support. Many people have come into and out of my life over the years, but they've always been there for me, and I'm eternally grateful to them both."