Alaina Clay
At this time in my life, I remain undecided as to what career I will choose when my service in the Navy is complete. I do know, however, that the skills and knowledge I gain from my time in the military will equip me for any occupation in any field of work.
Growing up, I had always had a special interest in all things military-related. Neither of my parents served in the military, but did instill in me an enormous amount of patriotism and sense of duty. The same has been taught to me by my grandparents. My grandfather was a marine during the Korean War and has told me all sorts of stories and lessons from his time of service. I am honored to be given the chance to not only serve the navy, but also, my country. The pride I have in being an American is my primary motivation for choosing a first career in the military.
I am currently pursuing a mechanical engineering degree that I hope will help me a great deal in the Navy's Nuclear Surface Warfare program that I intend to join upon graduation. Once my naval career has concluded, I will either continue work as an engineer in the civilian sector or will go back to school and work towards a master's degree or MBA. No matter what I choose, I know that I will succeed because I will have acquired a skill set that will prepare me for anything.
In being a part of the rigid command structure of the armed forces, a great deal of knowledge will be gathered in not only leading a division of subordinates, but also in following those above me. Most importantly, it is imperative to learn how to work to the very best of your abilities as an individual under a significant amount of pressure. Before even this is achieved, the responsibility and accountability thrown upon you as a junior officer for those who look to you for guidance forces one to succeed or falter. The NROTC program that I am currently a part of has started this learning process and has opened my eyes to what will be expected of me the day I step onto my first ship as an ensign. I am very confident that I will succeed. I have learned that it is vital to stay loyal to yourself and steadfast in your beliefs if you are to be entrusted with the lives and well-being of a group of subordinates. On the other hand, in the military, a leader is at the same time a follower. The skills learned from this are to be an effective listener and then be able to turn around and follow out the orders given to you. This is fabulous preparation for any other career because it is essential to pay close attention to what your superior is telling you to do and then carry out those exact instructions whether it is something for you to do immediately or to relay to workers under you. Also, it is necessary to report back once the mission/task is complete.
Before the start of my college career, I had some sense of time management, but after almost three and one half years as a mechanical engineering major with a minor focus in naval science, I have definitely improved. Such a skill is beyond necessary in the military, especially in the branch that I wish to enter. Once I am accepted into the Navy's nuclear program, I will not only have to study to become qualified as a surface warfare officer, but almost two years into my career, I will find myself back in the classroom studying nuclear power. Being able to manage my time will hopefully help me to qualify quicker and earn high scores in the classroom. All of this must be done on top of leading a division of sailors and being accountable for a large amount of equipment on the ship that I will work on. No matter what I choose to do once I have finished my naval career, having tremendous time management skills will hopefully put me above my competition when I am competing for a job position. In addition, when I do acquire a position, I will be able to work effectively and efficiently.
There are many skills that I am sure I will learn once I commission into the Navy upon graduating from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Some, I'm sure, are impossible to describe and are just inherent to the armed forces world. I do know that I will respect myself, those above me, those under me, and the tradition and honor of the naval service itself. This all exists under the pride and trust I have in my country and those leading it. All that I learn and all that I become will be put one-hundred percent into whatever I choose to do with my life.
