By Rick Burke, Navy Office of Community Outreach
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.
As a machinist's mate, Joseph is responsible for operating, upkeeping and repairing any damages on various machines on board submarines.
Joseph, a 2015 Immokalee High School graduate, joined the Navy three months ago.
“I joined the Navy to prove my doubters wrong,” said Joseph. “I wanted to create a steady income for myself, and make my father proud of me.”
Joseph uses skills and values similar to those found in both Immokalee and Haiti to succeed in the Navy.
“Growing up, I learned that hard work and determination can take you farther than you may expect,” said Joseph.
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 Joseph 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 is one of the oldest lines of defenses when it comes to protecting oceans and shorelines around the world,” said Joseph.
Joseph and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“I'm most proud of completing boot camp,” said Joseph. “I joined the top 10 percent of becoming a submariner.”
As Joseph 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.
“Serving in the Navy has given me more confidence and pride by knowing how important I’ve become as a Navy sailor,” added Joseph.