By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jerry Jimenez, 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.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Gianmarco Delgado Flores, a native of Peru with hometown ties to Springfield, Virginia, plays an important role as an instructor at NETC, providing the fleet with sailors who possess the basic technical knowledge and skills necessary for naval service.
“I enjoy being a factor in the first stepping stone of a sailor's journey of becoming an operations specialist,” said Delgado Flores.
Instructors are experts in the subject matter they teach, and they provide cutting-edge technical training that transforms civilians into mission-ready sailors.
Delgado Flores, a 2016 graduate of West Springfield High School in Springfield, Virginia, joined the Navy five years ago.
“I joined the Navy because I wanted a challenge in life and to do something different than normal,” said Delgado Flores.
According to Delgado Flores, the values required to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in both Peru and Springfield.
“Being originally from Peru, the Navy gave me a sense of appreciation for a lot of things in life,” said Delgado Flores.
NETC educates and trains those who serve, providing the tools and opportunities which enable life-long learning, professional and personal growth and development, ensuring fleet readiness and mission accomplishment.
Made up of six commands, NETC provides a continuum of professional education and training in support of Surface Navy requirements that prepare enlisted sailors and officers to serve at sea, providing apprentice and specialized skills training to 7,500 sailors a year.
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 Delgado Flores 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 a deterrence for conflicts around the world and helps to maintain peace and liberty,” said Delgado Flores.
Delgado Flores and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“I'm proud of earning the rank of petty officer second class because I am able to lead sailors in positions that I held, and being able to influence them in a positive way both professionally and personally,” said Delgado Flores.
As Delgado Flores and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“Serving in the Navy means being able to achieve a personal goal, not only as becoming a sailor, but also becoming a better person,” added Delgado Flores.