SAN DIEGO - Seaman Christian Kilber, a native of San Angelo, Texas, serves aboard USS Abraham Lincoln, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier operating out of San Diego, California.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Joseph Sitter, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West |
Kilber graduated from Texas Leadership Charter Academy in 2022.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in San Angelo.
“Growing up, I saw a lot of people who were very smart and capable of amazing things but didn’t have the confidence to go out and do it,” Kilber said. “I never wanted to become one of those people, so I learned to take advantage of opportunities when I had them. They taught me to be friendly, but they also taught me to have the confidence to step outside of the box and challenge myself. People from Texas take pride in themselves. I’m super proud to be an American, but I’m also proud to be a Texan. They taught me to fight for what I want.”
Kilber joined the Navy two and a half years ago. Today, Kilber serves as a mass communication specialist.
“My dad and I had an agreement; it was go to college or move out,” Kilber said. “My dad was worried I wasn’t going to make anything of myself. I wasn’t having much luck with colleges, so I started looking into the military. He pushed me to do something. I joined the Navy and haven’t looked back.”
Aircraft carriers are the centerpiece of America’s Naval forces. For more than 100 years, they have projected power, sustained sea control, bolstered deterrence, provided humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and maintained enduring commitments worldwide.
According to Navy officials, aircraft carriers are versatile and have unique mission capabilities that make them a more strategic asset for the Navy than fixed-site bases. They are often the first response in a global crisis because of their ability to operate freely in international waters anywhere on the world’s oceans. In addition, no other weapon system can deploy and operate forward with a full-sized aircraft carrier’s speed, endurance, agility and combat capability of its air wing.
The U.S. Navy is celebrating its 250th birthday this year.
According to Navy officials, “America is a maritime nation and for 250 years, America’s Warfighting Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom.”
With 90% 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 recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Kilber has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I’m proud of earning a Combat Action Ribbon during my time aboard USS Michael Murphy in the Red Sea,” Kilber said. “I feel like I earned that. I was up there making sure I did my job. I was doing something unique, and I served my country as the only person on my ship doing my job. Going through that experience changed my whole perspective on life. I always saw things glass half-empty, but after that experience where they were shooting missiles at us, after going through that, I can get through anything. I started feeling more grateful for everything. It’s a good feeling, that the Navy recognized that.”
Kilber serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“For me, serving in the Navy gave me a way out of where I was in life,” Kilber said. “It allowed me to make something of myself and has challenged me in a lot of ways, built a lot of character and taught me to be a better man. It’s cool how my family and younger siblings treat me when I go home. I think it gave me a lot of confidence. People respect me, and it’s nice. I love my country too, but serving in the Navy has given me a way to better my life and do something significant.”
Kilber is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my dad,” Kilber added. “He was hard on me growing up because he didn’t want me to go through what he did when he was growing up. He’s helped me with everything and has helped me become who I am. He’s my best friend. I also want to thank my mom and siblings for their encouragement.”