New sailors welcomed at Pensacola NAS
- April 1, 2015
- / Ed Barker
- / government
The Chief of Naval Operations held an all-hands call for area sailors at the Naval Air Technical Training Center at Pensacola Naval Air Station.
Adm. Jonathan Greenert entered NATTC’s main hangar on Tuesday to a rousing welcome by nearly 4,000 sailors from area commands.
Before addressing the crowd Greenert reenlisted six sailors; two staff members from NAS Pensacola, Information Technology Technician 3rd Class Kaitlin Carter and Master-at-Arms 3rd Class Andrew Livasy; two instructors from the Center for Information Dominance, Cryptologic Technicians Technical 1st Class Benjamin Mold and Bobby Bruno; and two instructors from NATTC, Chief Aviation Electrician Mate Kenny Stone and Naval Air crewman 2nd Class Steven Gabby.
Greenert said he was glad to be back at NATTC to speak with some of the Navy’s newest sailors and talk with them about what the future holds.
"Your challenges are not going to be my challenges," Greenert said. "I would never have guessed that you would have the instability around the world that you see today. We are going to see instability for at least the next five years and probably into the next decade, so prepare yourself to deal with that. But the good news is that you are in an organization that the country depends upon to be the away team - that's what we do. We are where it matters, when it matters around the world. The foundation of all of it is here in front of me today; you are the ones that are going to get us through the future."
After his opening remarks, Greenert answered questions on topics, including retirement, uniforms, reenlistment bonuses and the introduction of females into the special warfare community.
Since most of the audience was in training for aviation maintenance, many of the questions dealt with the future of Navy aircraft and aircrews, specifically UAVs.
"It will be a very long time before we have all unmanned aircraft," said Greenert. "I think in the future, unmanned aircraft will become an adjunct to the airwing and it will be a part, but will not replace pilots or NFOs; the ability to change things in flight takes artificial intelligence and we're just not there yet."
For the petty officers that reenlisted, taking the oath with the Navy’s top officer held special meaning.
Petty officer Carter was able to see the CNO during his last visit to Pensacola in 2012 when she was a student at Corry Station.
“Now three years later I am able to meet him again, but this time I had the great pleasure of having him reenlist me,” said Carter. “Many don't get an opportunity to reenlist with an officer so renowned in the naval community, so for me to have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity at such an early stage in my naval career it is a great honor.”
As a chief and instructor on his way back to the fleet, Chief Stone said that it was an honor to be reenlisted by the CNO.
“As I get closer to my time to transfer to a sea going squadron, I am thinking about the young sailors that I have mentored and had an interaction within the last three years,” said Stone. “I hope that this can be a positive motivation for the young sailors in the audience and that they could possibly be checking into my next command with me.”
For Petty Officer Livasy, this was his first reenlistment and one that he will not soon forget.
“I was nervous to do a reenlistment ceremony in front of so many aailors, but I hope that it will show the students what they can accomplish in a few short years.”
For more information on the naval education and training command, visit the NETC website: https://www.netc.navy.mil. You can also follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/navaleducationandtrainingcommand and on Twitter: @NETCPAO.
After his opening remarks, Greenert answered questions on topics, including retirement, uniforms, reenlistment bonuses and the introduction of females into the special warfare community.
Since most of the audience was in training for aviation maintenance, many of the questions dealt with the future of Navy aircraft and aircrews, specifically UAVs.
"It will be a very long time before we have all unmanned aircraft," said Greenert. "I think in the future, unmanned aircraft will become an adjunct to the airwing and it will be a part, but will not replace pilots or NFOs; the ability to change things in flight takes artificial intelligence and we're just not there yet."
For the petty officers that reenlisted, taking the oath with the Navy’s top officer held special meaning.
Petty officer Carter was able to see the CNO during his last visit to Pensacola in 2012 when she was a student at Corry Station.
“Now three years later I am able to meet him again, but this time I had the great pleasure of having him reenlist me,” said Carter. “Many don't get an opportunity to reenlist with an officer so renowned in the naval community, so for me to have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity at such an early stage in my naval career it is a great honor.”
As a chief and instructor on his way back to the fleet, Chief Stone said that it was an honor to be reenlisted by the CNO.
“As I get closer to my time to transfer to a sea going squadron, I am thinking about the young sailors that I have mentored and had an interaction within the last three years,” said Stone. “I hope that this can be a positive motivation for the young sailors in the audience and that they could possibly be checking into my next command with me.”
For Petty Officer Livasy, this was his first reenlistment and one that he will not soon forget.
“I was nervous to do a reenlistment ceremony in front of so many aailors, but I hope that it will show the students what they can accomplish in a few short years.”
For more information on the naval education and training command, visit the NETC website: https://www.netc.navy.mil. You can also follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/navaleducationandtrainingcommand and on Twitter: @NETCPAO.
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