Westside Story Newspaper – Online The News of The Empire – Sharing the Quest for Excellence
By Lt. Cmdr. Chris Donlon, Navy Office of Community Outreach
PENSACOLA, Fla. – Airman Recruit Jayden Avila, a native of San Bernardino, California, serves the U.S. Navy at the Naval Aviation Technical Training Center (NATTC) in Pensacola, Florida.
As a student at NATTC Avila is serving among sailors and Marines developing the skills needed to be successful naval aviation warfighters.
Students at NATTC are taught the requirements and skills needed to be successful in their new careers.
Avila joined the Navy one year ago. Today, Avila serves as an aviation ordnanceman.
“I joined the Navy because I always wanted a job where I can help people and the Navy is a great place to not only help people, but work toward becoming a fireman later on,” said Avila.
According to Avila, the values required to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in San Bernardino.
“My hometown taught me to always set goals and keep working to achieve them, and to treat people the way you want to be treated,” said Avila. “These lessons have served me well in the Navy so far.”
Naval Air Technical Training Center’s mission is to provide world class professional aviation warriors to the Navy fleet supporting combat readiness anywhere on the globe, while taking good care of our people, families and being good neighbors and stewards in the city of Pensacola and the surrounding region.
NATTC’s leaders and experts develop, deliver and leverage technology to optimize performance of our Navy, Marine Corps and foreign national students. We provide the most up-to-date and relevant training available to our sailors and Marines ensuring Naval aviation’s success.
Serving in the Navy means Avila is part of a team that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“The Navy is important to national defense because we represent strength, honor and freedom around the world,” said Avila. “We’ll do anything we can to protect freedom.”
Avila and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“So far, I am most proud of becoming the athletic petty officer at bootcamp and earning my marksman ribbon,” said Avila.
As Avila and other sailors continue to train and perform the mission they are tasked with, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“Serving in the Navy means being able to protect the nation’s freedoms and to protect those who can’t protect themselves,” added Avila.
The Naval Education and Training Command is the U.S. Navy’s Force Development pillar and largest shore command. Through its “Street to Fleet” focus, Naval Education and Training Command recruits civilians and transforms them into skilled warfighters ready to meet the current and future needs of the U.S. Navy.
