By Rick Burke, Navy Office of Community Outreach
MINNEAPOLIS - A Minneapolis, Minnesota, native volunteers in the Minneapolis community to help those in neeed during Minneaopolis Navy Week, Sept. 26 - Oct. 2.
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| Force Master Chief Christopher William Chelberg |
"As the senior enlisted advisor to the Commander Naval Air Force Atlantic, I am responsible for advising and providing input to the Admiral regarding day-to-day operations and policies that affect over 60,000 sailors," said Chelberg. "We are responsible for the manning, training, and equipping of aviation assets across the Atlantic domain. This includes all aircraft carriers and most aircraft on the east coast."
Chelberg felt he was drawn to miltary service and joined the Navy 31 years ago for a desire to be a part of something bigger than himself.
"My grandfather served in the Navy during WWII as a Seabee and was very influential in my life," said Chelberg. "I honored his service to our country by enlisting in the Navy right out of high school."
"The Navy has provided me the opportunity to not only serve my country but to gain educational and leadership experience that I could only have dreamed of had I not joined," added Chelberg. "From a very early time in the Navy, at the age of 18, I was entrusted to maintain multi-million dollar aircraft and worked in some of the most exciting and dangerousness environments in the world. As my career progressed and advancements were earned, I was given the chance to lead larger and larger groups of sailors meeting our nation's callings no matter the mission, no matter the location."
Navy Weeks are the service’s signature outreach program, designed to give the citizens of Minneapolis the opportunity to learn about the Navy, its people and its importance to national security and prosperity, and to strengthen the service’s ties to the community.
Navy Weeks focus a variety of outreach assets, equipment and personnel on a single city for a week-long series of events with key influencers and organizations across the market. During a Navy Week, 75-100 outreach events are occur in participation with corporate, civic, government, education, media, veterans, community service and diversity organizations throughout the city.
"It is important to me to give back to the community," said Chelberg. "Whether overseas in a third world country painting an orphanage or building homes stateside for those in need, including some of our veterans, giving back is something that was instilled in me a as a child and reinforced during my career. It is always the right choice to help those that haven’t had the same blessings I have had in my life. Even on my worst day, I know that there is someone out there experiencing something much more difficult than me."
As a member of the U.S. Navy, Chelberg, as well as other sailors, know they are a part of a service tradition providing unforgettable experiences through leadership development, world affairs and humanitarian assistance. Their efforts will have a lasting effect around the globe and for generations of sailors who will follow.
"My choice of lifelong service in the Navy was born from the amazing opportunities the Navy has a offered me," said Chelberg. "My service is driven by the fact that this is the best nation in the world and the liberties we enjoy are because of those who have gone before me, and to defend freedom and democracy around the world. I felt compelled to join the Navy to ensure that the generations after me would enjoy the same freedoms that many Americans take for granted today."
"Serving in the Navy also afforded me the opportunity to provide for my beautiful family," added Chelberg. "After my first deployment, I married my high school sweetheart. Despite numerous deployments and various assignments pulling me away from her, she raised our talented and beautiful daughter who recently graduated from college."