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Navy Career

After graduating from high school, I served in the United States Navy for 6 years, from August of 2015 to August of 2021.

Nuclear Power School and Nuclear Power Training Unit (Oct 2015 - Apr 2017)

Upon completing bootcamp in Great Lakes, Illinois, I went to Naval Weapons Station Charleston, South Carolina, for training in the machinist’s mate nuclear (MMN) rate at Machinist’s Mate Nuclear A-School and Nuclear Power School (NNPTC), and Nuclear Power Training Unit (NPTU).

Topics I learned include:

basic machinery
introduction to mechanical systems
atomic and nuclear physics
fluid dynamics
general chemistry
general physics
heat transfer
industrial safety
nuclear reactor engineering
radiation protection technology
technical mathematics

You may find all of this information and more on my Joint Services Transcript.

MMN A-School (Nov 2015 - Feb 2016)

At Machinist’s Mate Nuclear A-School, I was instructed in math, basic machinery, and machinery equipment. View more here: NAVSEA NNPTC: A-School.

Nuclear Power School (Feb 2016 - August 2016)

At Nuclear Power School, I was instructed in science and engineering fundamentals to the design, operation and maintenance of naval nuclear propulsion plants. View more here: NAVSEA Nuclear Power School.

Power School was challenging and I gained a lot from it. The weeks were long, usually 75 hours, consisting of about 45 hours of classroom instruction plus 30 hours of documented study time. Additionally, we participated in weekly PT, a weekly 5K run every Wednesday, and stood watch on a rotating duty section.

Nuclear Power Training Unit (Oct 2016 - Feb 2017)

At Nuclear Power Training Unit, I trained for shipboard nuclear power plant operation and maintenance of surface ships and submarines. View more here: NAVSEA Nuclear Power Training Unit.

I began qualifying on the operation of the nuclear reactors aboard two moored training submarines, MTS-626 and MTS-635 (formerly the USS Daniel Webster and USS Sam Rayburn). This included rotating shift work, oral exams and checkouts on the reactor and steam systems, and practical watch standing in the engine room under the supervision of senior qualified personnel.

Due to circumstances out of my control, I could not continue training at NPTU. Though I still attribute much of my success to the knowledge and discipline I gained at NNPTC and NPTU. I was transferred to the Department of Transient Personnel (DTP) where I awaited my next assignment.

Department of Transient Personnel (Feb 2017 - Apr 2017)

While waiting at DTP, I was given two options for my new job: aviation boatswain’s mate equipment (ABE), and aviation boatswain’s mate handling (ABH). The woman who was handling my paperwork in admin was also an ABE, so I picked that option after discussing the job with her. This role involves operating steam catapults, arresting gear, and supporting flight operations equipment aboard aircraft carriers. This is one of the few jobs in the Navy that only operates on carriers.

Rather than receiving orders to an aircraft carrier, I got orders to Naval Health Clinic Patuxent River at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. This was a mystery to my master chief at DTP, and myself, as I was fully expecting to go to a carrier and we couldn’t think of any reason why a medical command would need an ABE. Master Chief considered me very lucky and asked me if I was related to any high-ranking admirals in the Navy (I’m not). Nevertheless, I was at the mercy of the needs of the Navy and I began planning my move to Maryland.

A School Class

Machinist’s Mate “A” School Class Photo

Power School Graduation

Nuclear Power School Graduation

Power School Diploma

Power School Diploma

Naval Health Clinic Patuxent River (Apr 2017 - Aug 2021)

At the clinic I began working as a facility technician. In addition to my position in facilities, I was attached to the USNS Comfort in Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. This meant that whenever the Comfort mobilized for deployment, I would travel down to Norfolk and join them.

Facilities Department (Apr 2017 - Dec 2019)

While working in the facilities department, I completed work tickets related to building maintenance. Our facility team was responsible for the main building at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, as well as three other medical facilities at Naval Support Facility Indian Head, Naval Support Facility Dahlgren, and Joint Base Andrews. After my time in facilities, I moved to the logistics department.

Logistics Department (Dec 2019 - Aug 2021)

In logistics, we received, delivered, issued, and stored medical supplies for the command. During the onset of the COVID pandemic, the tempo of our job increased dramatically. Medical supply shortages around the nation and world meant that we had to carefully track and inventory every item in the clinic daily. When we received the first COVID vaccines, we had to account for each vial and dose - compiling a report to send to senior executives of Navy Medicine daily.

USNS Comfort (Sep 2017 - Nov 2017 and Aug 2018 - Dec 2018)

Aboard the USNS Comfort, I was assigned to the fuel team of the air department, where we played a crucial role in issuing JP-5 jet fuel to helicopters on the flight deck. This job was unrelated to my rate ABE - it falls under the rate ABF, but I was trained on the job by a senior ABF and I learned it well. I was qualified up to fuel team leader and would go on to train new fuel team members and air department personnel on the fuel system. In addition to fueling helicopters during flight operations, I operated a small quality assurance lab to test fuel quality, operated mechanical equipment to pump fuel around the ship, assisted in chocking and chaining down aircraft, deck upkeep, and trained in aircraft firefighting.

In 2017 we participated in relief efforts after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico. In 2018 we embarked on a mission to Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, and Honduras, where we provided medical care to nearly 27,000 patients and performed 599 surgeries.

Transition to Civilian Life (Aug 2021)

In the Navy, I achieved the rank of petty officer second class and was honored with a few awards, including the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. During my last year of service I applied to Clemson University for computer engineering and was accepted. I left the Navy in August of 2021 and started classes immediately.

Me in Panama