MAYPORT, Fla. - Petty Officer 1st Class Corey Schell, a native of Satellite Beach, Florida, serves aboard Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Training Facility, Atlantic in Mayport, Florida.
 |
| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James Green, Navy Office of Community Outreach |
Schell, a 2007 graduate of Satellite Beach High School, joined the Navy over seven years ago. Additionally, Schell graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.
“I joined the Navy to make my family proud, to serve my country and to fulfill a sense of purpose in life,” said Schell. “I also wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps who served in the Air Force and retired as a Master Sergeant.”
Today, Schell relies upon skills and values similar to those found in Satellite Beach to succeed in the military.
“My parents were very influential in my life by instilling in me good morals, values and a hard work ethic,” said Schell. “These traits have helped me both professionally and personally and have made me who I am today.”
These lessons have helped Schell while serving in the Navy.
The Mayport-based training facility supports the increased demand for training at the waterfront. Each section of the trainer replicates the basic layout and design of the LCS command and control, bridge and propulsion control systems. Mockups reproduce scenes from a ship’s bridge windows to provide realistic training scenarios that mimic what crews will experience at sea.
According to Navy officials, the path to becoming an LCS sailor is unique and challenging. The culmination of their 18-month training pipeline, sailors qualify on a virtual reality simulator that is nearly identical to the ship. This intense and realistic training pipeline allows sailors to execute their roles and responsibilities immediately upon stepping on board.
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."
Serving in the Navy means Schell is part of a team that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on strengthening alliances, modernizing capabilities, increasing capacities and maintaining military readiness in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“The main purpose of the Navy is to ensure battles are fought on foreign soil and not on our shores,” said Schell. “We support national defense by protecting freedom and democracy worldwide.”
Schell and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“My proudest accomplishment in the Navy is advancing in rank to petty officer first class,” said Schell. “I am proud of that because now I am able to pass on my knowledge and leadership to help junior sailors get promoted.”
As Schell 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 is a very fulfilling and rewarding experience,” said Schell. “Putting on the uniform and representing our country also gives me a sense of pride.”
Schell is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank both my parents, Lowell and Cindy Schell, who reside in Melbourne, Florida, for all their love and support,” added Schell. “I would also like to thank my wife, Jessica, for her unwavering support and the sacrifices that she has made that have helped me in my career. Lastly, I want to thank my three kids, Lowell, Dawson, and Ashlyn, for always being there for me.”