By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jerry Jimenez, Navy Office of Community Outreach
PENSACOLA, Fla. — A New Palestine native is serving at the Navy’s largest aviation training center. Airman Declan O’Daniel serves as an aviation ordnanceman and operates out of Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC) at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida. An aviation ordnanceman is responsible for the maintenance, inventory and loading of ordnance onto aircraft.
O’Daniel credits success in the Navy with lessons learned growing up in New Palestine. “I learned that hard work pays off which is really important in the Navy,” said O’Daniel.
NAS Pensacola, “The Cradle of Naval Aviation” is best known as the initial primary training base for all U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard officers pursuing designations as Naval Aviators and Naval Flight Officers.
Once these service members finish training they are deployed around the world putting their skill set to work flying jets from aircraft carriers, submarine-hunting helicopters, serving as aircrew operating sophisticated radar and weapons systems, electronic warfare and more. Operating on land, air, or sea, they represent the best of operational and training support.
Pensacola is home to the world-renowned Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron and boast an overall workforce of 16,000 military and 7,400 civilian personnel.
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, O’Daniel and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“To me being in the Navy is proof that can I achieve something,” O’Daniel added. “It means a whole lot to me.”
