MILLINGTON, Tenn. - Sailor with family ties to Titusville, Florida is serving as a Navy Talent Scout assigned to Navy Recruiting Station Roseville, a part of Navy Talent Acquisition Group (NTAG) Golden Gate located in Mountain View, California.
Petty Officer 1st Class Chinedu Darlington, a 2007 graduate of Wayland High School, joined the Navy over nine years ago.
“I am actually the first member of my family to join the United States Military and I wanted to branch into something we have not done before that still does a lot for many people," said Darlington. “My parents are both ministers of the faith and spent so much time helping people that way, I decided to do my community service with the United States Navy.”
Skills and values learned in the Navy are similar to those found in Wayland, Massachusetts, where Darlington grew up.
“My hometown was very small and my immediate family is very large, as I am one out of 10 children," said Darlington. “What helped the most was the discipline that both of my parents showed me. It helped me get through the challenges I first faced coming into the Navy. However, the discipline the U.S. Navy showed me and the discipline I knew made my Navy career successful.”
Today, Darlington serves as a Navy Talent Scout and Navy Counselor.
A Navy Talent Scout uses various recruiting methods to identify qualified applicants and create interest in joining the Navy.
“As a Navy Career Recruiter, I love helping people,” said Darlington. “I love interviews because it truly is the time to get down to business, the time to truly build a relationship with a person that will be the next replacement of a fellow shipmate,”
According to Navy officials, NTAG Golden Gate's mission is to leverage an inspirational culture that informs, attracts, influences and hires the highest quality candidates from America's diverse talent pool. This goal ensures the success of America's Navy and establishes the foundation for sailors to thrive in a life-changing experience.
With 90 percent 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 trained sailors and a strong Navy.
"Our mission remains timeless - to provide our fellow citizens with nothing less than the very best Navy: fully combat ready at all times, focused on warfighting excellence, and committed to superior leadership at every single level," said Adm. Mike Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations. "This is our calling. And I cannot imagine a calling more worthy.”
As a member of the Navy, Darlington is part of a world-class organization focused on maintaining maritime dominance, strengthening partnerships, increasing competitive warfighting capabilities and sustaining combat-ready forces in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“The U.S. Navy is a monumental importance of the national defense and the continuation of our country,” said Darlington. “As America stands, we got there, through evidence, from a strong Navy. We traversed this world time and time again, and continue to meet our nation's calling while providing world assistance, decade after decade.”
Darlington has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I am happy to have received recognition from my sailors,” said Darlington. “They personally tell me, ‘That without leadership like yours it would be a one-term or two-term career.’ I try to recognize as much hard work and dedication as I can amongst my sailors, so they can continue on, to want to lead and drive sailors of the next generation,”
As Darlington and other sailors continue to perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
"Every day counts as a blessing in the Navy, I cannot mention enough how much it has done for my family and for my sailors, within my short nine years,” said Darlington. “This short time has brought many options for me outside the Navy, but the Navy has become my family. As I give to it, it gives to me.”