A man in a sailor 's uniform smiling for the camera.

My Calling to Join the Navy

I am Jacob, and I’ve been a musician all my life and this page is a little bit about me. I am also a three-time Iraq veteran. Following September 11, 2001, I felt a calling to join the Navy so I took my first step into the Navy on January 10, 2002, the eve of my 24th birthday.

From Training to Deployment

After completing A-school in Great Lakes, IL, I headed to El Paso, Texas, to pursue further training at stinger operator school. From there, I was assigned to my first command at Navy Special Boat Squadron 2 aboard the USS Tornado (PC-14) in Little Creek, Virginia. A year later, our command was transferred to the Second and Fifth Fleets, where I spent two deployments supporting Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom operations.

The Third Deployment

During my third deployment, I volunteered to transfer to the USS Nashville (LPD-13) and played a crucial role in the rescue of US citizens amidst the Lebanon/Israel conflict. We evacuated over 2700 US citizens from Lebanon to Cyprus. Following that mission, I relocated to sunny Buffalo, New York, for my shore duty assignment. Upon leaving government service, I fulfilled a promise to my father by returning to school to earn my college degree. Semper Fortis!

A Devastating Diagnosis

In 2014, I received the devastating diagnosis of a brain tumor, specifically an oligodendroglioma. During the biopsy procedure, a blood vessel was accidentally nicked, leading to a brain bleed and, ultimately, a stroke. This left me without sensation or motor skills on the right side of my body. However, I've overcome these challenges after years of perseverance and determination. I'm proud to say that I've reclaimed my ability to shoot, leveraging my Navy shooting qualifications to assist fellow shooters.

Certifications

Qualifications

DD-214 and Primary Specialties
GM - 0812 Small Arms Markmanship Instructor
GM - 9525 Ammunition Inventory Management Specialist
GM - 9501 Anti-terrorism Training Supervisor Instructor
GM - 9540 Anti-terrorism Weapon (ATW) Operator and Maintenanceman

Anti-terrorism Officer Level II
Anti-terrorism Training Supervisor
Small Arms Marksmanship Instructor
Nonlethal Weapons Basic Instructor
Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat Coxswain
25MM MK 38 Mod 1 Machine Gun Operator and Maintenanceman.
Visit/Board/Search/Seizure Training Team
Basic Boat Coxswain
Ammunition Administator
Retail Ordnance Logistics System Database Administrator
Gunner’s Mate “A” School

US Navy Awards

Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist Insignia
(5) Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals
Navy “E” Ribbon
(2) Good Conduct Awards
National Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Globlal War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
(4) Iraq Campaign Medals
Humanitarian Service Medal
(3) Sea Service Deployment Ribbons
Expert Rifle Qualification Medal
Expert Pistol Qualification Medal

Navy Duties

A sunset over the ocean with waves in front of it.

Sea Duty

  • USS Nashville
    Junior Petty Officer filling the billet of CPO; OPS/WEPS Department; ROLMS Information System Security Officer; ROLMS Database Administrator; Fleet Sentencing Accountability Officer; Watchstander Carry Card Issue Accountability Officer; Gunnery Liaison Officer; Lebanon NEO ops – 2706 US citizens evacuated.
  • Patrol Coastal (PC) Years
    Crew swap Initiative (3); Weapons department (4.5 yrs); ROLMS database administrator.
  • Watches Underway
    OOD; QMOW; CCRS System Operator; Coxswain; Master Helmsman; VBSS Team Member; Non-lethal Weapons Instructor.
  • Watches In-Port
    OOD; S&S; Duty Gunner’s Mate; Topside/Pier Rover.
A person holding a gun in their hand.

Shore Duty

Training Officer
Anti-terrorism Officer
Security Officer
SAMI
AA&E Accountability Officer
Assistant Contract Technical Representative
Information Security Officer
Personnel Liaison Representative
GTCC Agency Program Coordinator
Assistant UPC

Let’s Connect

Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or to schedule your training session. I look forward to hearing from you, and thank you for learning more about me.