KANSAS CITY, Mo. – U.S. Navy sailors from across the fleet are in the area this week for Kansas City Navy Week, volunteering in the community and discussing why the Navy matters to the Heart of America.
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| Cryptologic Technician (Collection) 2nd Class Ashton Olson stands at attention during a promotion ceremony. |
While many of the visiting sailors are from all over the country, this Navy Week will carry special meaning for those sailors from the area, including Petty Officer 2nd Class Ashton Olson, a native of Kansas City, Missouri. Olson is currently assigned to Navy Information Operations Command Pensacola, Florida, whose mission is to execute cyberspace operations and signals intelligence in support of Naval, Joint Forces, and National tasking authorities.
Olson graduated from Staley High School in 2021.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Kansas City.
“I learned a lot from my dad, David Olson, who is still in the Army National Guard and served four years in the Marine Corps,” said Olson. “His stories and lessons growing up have helped mold me into the service member I am today. I owe a lot to him and still to this day ask him for advice and help especially with him now being a non-commissioned officer.”
Olson joined the Navy three years ago.
“I joined the Navy because, honestly, I was a horrible high school student who didn’t have much of anything going for him,” said Olson. “I knew that if I went to college I would drop out because of my lack of discipline at the time. I knew that joining would help give me a better path in life. I pretty much owe a lot of my current life to joining the Navy, so it means a ton to me.”
Today, Olson serves as a cryptologic collection technician.
“To be completely honest, I drive to work and enter a pure brick building with no windows, sit down at a computer, play a round of chess at lunch, then leave that brick building to finally be exposed to sunlight at the end of the day,” said Olson. “I would love to go more into my job but unfortunately that isn’t really possible.”
Navy Weeks are a series of outreach events coordinated by the Navy Office of Community Outreach (NAVCO) designed to give Americans an opportunity to learn about the Navy, its people, and its importance to national security and prosperity. Since 2005, the Navy Week program has served as the Navy’s flagship outreach effort into areas of the country without a significant Navy presence, providing the public a firsthand look at why the Navy matters to cities like Kansas City.
This is the fourth Navy Week to be hosted by Kansas City and the surrounding communities, with the last visit in 2021.
“Sailors are the reason America’s Navy is the most powerful in the world,” said Cmdr. Julie Holland, NAVCO’s director. “We are thrilled to bring your Navy Warfighters to Kansas City. At Navy Weeks, Americans will connect with sailors who have strong character, competence, and dedication to the mission, and who continue a nearly 250-year tradition of decisive power from the seabed to cyberspace.”
Throughout the week, sailors have been participating in various community events across the area, including ceremonial celebrations at Harry S. Truman Museum, WWI Museum, and Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; volunteering with the Kansas City Urban Youth Academy, Habitat for Humanity Kansas City, Bishop Sullivan’s Center, Happy Bottoms, and Thelma’s Kitchen; and engaging with students across multiple high schools. Navy Band Great Lakes will be on hand all week providing free live music at venues across the area for residents’ enjoyment.
“It’s important to me that people hear a story that is from someone who is in my rate (CTR),” said Olson. “I definitely think working in intelligence offers a very fulfilling opportunity and outlook to the Navy that isn’t really seen by other rates.”
Olson has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I was meritoriously promoted to petty officer second class,” said Olson. “I have been working extremely hard ever since I got to my command and within three years went from seaman to petty officer second class.”
Olson is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“My dad, mom and two brothers have shaped me into the person I am today,” added Olson. “That is a debt I don’t think you can ever pay back.”