MILLINGTON, Tenn. – Milwaukee Navy Week will bring between 50 and 75 Sailors from across the nation to volunteer throughout the community and discuss why the Navy matters to Milwaukee. For some of these Sailors, their participation in this Navy Week has special meaning because they have hometown ties to Wisconsin.
One of the Sailors with hometown ties includes Lt. Cmdr. Pete Schwab.
High School (year graduated): Brookfield East (1984)
College (year graduated): University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (1992)
Rank: Lieutenant Commander
Rating (job): Civil Engineer Corps Officer
Years in Navy: 27
Current Duty Location: Navy Reserve Recruiting Command Great Lakes
Reason for joining the Navy: Individual growth. "I was the first and only person to join the military and simply wanted the training and opportunity to be part of something much bigger than myself," said Schwab. "Additionally, I wanted to get to work and start making money immediately, enlisting after an early High School graduation gave me that opportunity and the training/experiences cannot be beat!"
Favorite part of job: Recruiting. "I love recruiting because I get the opportunity to inform young people about all the opportunities that exist in the Navy and military in general, that they simply cannot get anywhere else," said Schwab.
Lessons learned from hometown that have helped serving in the Navy: "I've learned to treat people fairly, work hard, don't take no for an answer, always keep learning and pushing to be better, and make the most of the talents you were given," said Schwab. "Use all of this to help others do the same and to give back to others around you."
Proudest accomplishment serving in the Navy: "Taking a group of young men and women into a combat zone and bringing them all home after a successful deployment," said Schwab. "This doesn't mean that we do not carry scars with us, but we all came home alive and have the opportunity to share our experiences with others."
Service in the Navy: "It has been an opportunity to be a part of something much larger than myself and to be in an environment where everyone is striving to accomplish a shared goal," said Schwab. "I have learned a great deal from all the people I have served with, including leaders, peers, and those junior to me or under my command. In addition, having served in third-world countries I have seen real oppression of people based on race, religion and ethnicity. Seeing refugees living in Shanti towns fleeing war-torn countries to other war-torn countries just for a chance at life and seeing the excitement of a chance at life is amazing."
Additional information: "Being a Mechanical Engineer and serving in the Civil Engineering field has been a great way for me to utilize a skill set that I never thought the Navy needed," added Schwab. "Being in the Reserves has kept me in uniform much longer than I ever planned and allowed me the opportunity to serve our country and to spread peace around the globe. I wish more people would choose to at least try this for a few years and see what we do, they might be surprised at what they learn about the world and themselves."
In addition to hometown Sailors, Milwaukee Navy Week will feature in-person demonstrations, performances, and engagements throughout the week including:
- Namesake Sailors – Sailors serving aboard USS Milwaukee (LCS 5), a Freedom-class littoral combat ship.
- Navy Band Great Lakes – Performances and masterclasses with Navy Musicians.
- Naval History and Heritage Command – Educational presentations and lesson plans about the deep ties between Wisconsin and the Navy.
- USS Constitution – Demonstrations about the oldest commissioned ship in the Navy.
- Navy Expeditionary Combat Command – Educational STEM presentations and fitness demonstrations by technicians, medics, and divers.
- U.S. Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command – Educational presentation on the importance of atmospheric and oceanographic science and the overall value of STEM education to the Navy.
For more information on Milwaukee Navy Week, contact Melissa Heintz at (703) 203-4352 or melissa.l.heintz.civ@us.navy.mil.
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