BILOXI, Miss. — Petty Officer 1st Class Antonio Vonbank, a native of Beaumont, California, serves in the U.S. Navy assigned to Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit (CNATTU), located at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Vonbank graduated from Beaumont High School in 2013.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Beaumont.
“I learned the importance of building relationships with friends and to reach out as much as possible,” Vonbank said. “Having a firm foundation back home makes it easier to serve wherever we are.”
Vonbank joined the Navy 12 years ago.
“My family served, and I wanted to continue the tradition,” Vonbank said. “My mom was a yeoman and my dad was a disbursing clerk in the Navy. Hearing their experiences motivated me to join and travel the world. My siblings and I were all born in different countries. I was born in Panama, my brother was born in Spain and my sister was born in Guam.”
Vonbank is currently stationed at CNATTU Keesler serving as an instructor, training sailors to become aerographer’s mates.
Navy aerographer’s mates are experts in meteorology and oceanography who provide environmental information to support Navy missions. They collect, record and analyze weather and oceanographic information.
CNATTU Keesler is a training command that falls under Naval Education and Training Command (NETC), the largest shore command in the Navy with more than 24,000 military and staff personnel at more than 624 subordinate activities, sites, talent acquisition groups, stations, and detachments throughout the world. NETC recruits, trains and delivers those who serve our nation, taking them from "street to fleet" by transforming civilians into highly skilled, operational and combat-ready warfighters.
Vonbank has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I'm proud of being an instructor and a command career counselor at the same time,” Vonbank said. “Being able to shape the future of Navy aerographers and giving career advice to help them think about the future is very rewarding.”
Vonbank serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“Serving in the Navy gives me the opportunity to continue my family tradition of military service while serving with honor,” Vonbank said.
This year, the Navy is commemorating its contribution to the nation’s defense as the United States celebrates 250 years of independence. According to Navy officials, for more than 250 years, the Navy has sailed the globe defending freedom and protecting prosperity.
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.
Vonbank is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my wife, Diane, and our children, Nathaniel and Emerie, for their support,” Vonbank said. “I'd also like to send a shout-out to my parents, Maricela and Douglas, along with my in-laws, Martha and David.”
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Hunter Harwell, Navy Office of Community Outreach |
Vonbank graduated from Beaumont High School in 2013.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Beaumont.
“I learned the importance of building relationships with friends and to reach out as much as possible,” Vonbank said. “Having a firm foundation back home makes it easier to serve wherever we are.”
Vonbank joined the Navy 12 years ago.
“My family served, and I wanted to continue the tradition,” Vonbank said. “My mom was a yeoman and my dad was a disbursing clerk in the Navy. Hearing their experiences motivated me to join and travel the world. My siblings and I were all born in different countries. I was born in Panama, my brother was born in Spain and my sister was born in Guam.”
Vonbank is currently stationed at CNATTU Keesler serving as an instructor, training sailors to become aerographer’s mates.
Navy aerographer’s mates are experts in meteorology and oceanography who provide environmental information to support Navy missions. They collect, record and analyze weather and oceanographic information.
CNATTU Keesler is a training command that falls under Naval Education and Training Command (NETC), the largest shore command in the Navy with more than 24,000 military and staff personnel at more than 624 subordinate activities, sites, talent acquisition groups, stations, and detachments throughout the world. NETC recruits, trains and delivers those who serve our nation, taking them from "street to fleet" by transforming civilians into highly skilled, operational and combat-ready warfighters.
Vonbank has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I'm proud of being an instructor and a command career counselor at the same time,” Vonbank said. “Being able to shape the future of Navy aerographers and giving career advice to help them think about the future is very rewarding.”
Vonbank serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“Serving in the Navy gives me the opportunity to continue my family tradition of military service while serving with honor,” Vonbank said.
This year, the Navy is commemorating its contribution to the nation’s defense as the United States celebrates 250 years of independence. According to Navy officials, for more than 250 years, the Navy has sailed the globe defending freedom and protecting prosperity.
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.
Vonbank is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my wife, Diane, and our children, Nathaniel and Emerie, for their support,” Vonbank said. “I'd also like to send a shout-out to my parents, Maricela and Douglas, along with my in-laws, Martha and David.”