Henrico High School hosts Navy Week presentations

A 34-foot patrol boat and Navy Seabee truck towered over the other vehicles parked at Henrico High School Thursday as sailors spoke to students about serving in the U.S. Navy as part of Richmond’s first Navy Week.

Sailors were stationed around the vehicles and in the school’s gymnasium, answering student questions and speaking about their own experiences. Varina and James River high schools hosted similar presentations.

Up on the boat, Chief Engineman Andrew Baldwin answered student questions about the particular Navy field they should consider and what life on the sea has to offer.

“I know we spoke with some students that already planned to join the Navy, so they’ve been asking things like what the different fields are and what we would recommend based on their interests,” Baldwin said. “It helps them to see the Navy from an aspect that isn’t a recruiting aspect.”

He said the most frequently asked questions he received were about the infamous trials and torments of boot camp, a statement that First Class Machinist Mate Matt Goolsby seconded.

“Everyone’s got that mentality that boot camp is something to be feared, but it’s not like what you see on TV, it’s not as hard as Hollywood makes it seem,” he said.

Nathan Harmon, a third class gunner’s mate who gave the students an inside look of the Seabee truck, said: “Not everyone knows too much about the expeditionary side of the Navy. It’s great to show these kids that serving in the Navy is a possibility for them. I’ve been telling them, ‘it’s hard work, but it’s fun.’”

In the gym, Navy members were spread across five tables, providing students with information about their particular roles.

The Naval History and Heritage Center’s table featured mannequins sporting vintage uniforms, one lined with golden buttons and the other accented by a spiffy beret. Officials at the table spoke about their work as historians and archivists.

“Richmond is actually home to the Navy’s collection, which a lot of people don’t know,” a woman at the table said. “We have over 300,000 artifacts in this collection alone, in addition to artifacts held in Navy museums.”

The Artifact Collection Management Facility is a warehouse in Richmond created for the conservation and curation of the Navy’s historic artifacts, some of which date back to the foundation of the republic. The Navy moved the artifacts to the facility – which is closed to the public – in March 2015, according to the Naval Historical Foundation website.

Beside a display table, a Naval Academy admissions counselor spoke to students about requirements for admission and the application process.

Meanwhile, at the recruiting stand, sailors told students why they decided to join the Navy, what benefits it offers, and the many forms a career in the Navy can take.

Among them were two soldiers who work on the USS Virginia, a nuclear-powered cruise missile attack submarine. Chef Jabari Ashmon spoke about his experience providing culinary service under the water’s surface.

“A lot of students have asked what I cook and I tell them, ‘you name it, I’ll make it,’” Ashmon said. “I make anything – bread, desserts, general meals, salads, pretty much anything you can think of.”

On the other side of the gym, sailors who work in the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command spoke with students about their role in identifying weather, tides and forecasting. Next to them, two sailors donning vintage, checkered jackets and black scarves caught the eyes (and ears) of students.

Goolsby explained that the eye-catching sailors work on the USS Constitution, a ship that first was constructed in 1797 and played a critical role in the War of 1812, making it the oldest Naval ship in operation today. The ship’s sailors wear antique uniforms to celebrate the history of not only the ship, but the Navy as a whole, he added.

Several sailors expressed hope that the wisdom, experience and knowledge they shared with the high school students will inspire them to enlist in the Navy.

The presentation at Henrico High School did not feature the virtual reality experience trailer brought to Varina and James River high schools.

At those schools, students had the opportunity to equip VR headsets that immersed them in an interactive digital mission, allowing them to experience the sights and sounds of a high-speed rescue mission. During the experience, the headset-wearer is issued a dog tag, briefed, then sent to rescue Navy SEALS under enemy fire. The VR mission concludes after the player is debriefed on his or her success and failures.

Navy officers hope that the futuristic recruitment method will be both informative and exciting for students seeking an inside look of what the Navy does.