PENSACOLA, Fla. – Airman Mathews Soares, a native of Pembroke Pines, Florida, serves the U.S. Navy at Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC) in Pensacola, Florida.
 |
Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Anna-Liesa Hussey Navy Office of Community Outreach |
As a student at NATTC, Soares is serving among sailors and Marines developing the skills needed to be successful naval aviation warfighters.
Students at NATTC are taught the requirements and skills needed to be successful in their new careers.
Soares joined the Navy five months ago. Today, Soares serves as an aviation structural mechanic.
“I joined the Navy to better myself, not just for myself, but for my family as well,” said Soares.
According to Soares, the values required to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Pembroke Pines.
“Growing up, I learned the importance of resilience and mental toughness,” said Soares. “I also learned the ability to ‘power through’. These lessons have helped a lot in my Navy career."
NTCC’s mission is to provide world class professional aviation warriors to the Navy fleet supporting combat readiness anywhere on the globe, while taking good care of our people, families and being good neighbors and stewards in the city of Pensacola and the surrounding region.
The training center’s leaders and experts develop, deliver and leverage technology to optimize performance of our Navy, Marine Corps and foreign national students. We provide the most up-to-date and relevant training available to our sailors and Marines ensuring Naval aviation’s success.
Serving in the Navy means Soares 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.
“We are the greatest Navy in the world and an important part of our national defense because we maintain freedom of navigation around the world,” said Soares.
Soares and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“So far, I am most proud of finishing my qualification school because I didn’t really apply myself or try too hard in high school,” said Soares. “However, here I was motivated to give it all I had. Now, I am proud to hold the rate of aviation structural mechanic safety equipment.”
As Soares and other sailors continue to train and perform the mission they are tasked with, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“Being in the Navy means that I know I will be able to protect and serve my country and that my family back home is safe and sound,” added Soares.
The Naval Education and Training Command is the U.S. Navy’s Force Development pillar and largest shore command. Through its “Street to Fleet” focus, Naval Education and Training Command recruits civilians and transforms them into skilled warfighters ready to meet the current and future needs of the U.S. Navy.