Enough Ship for the Both of Us: brothers serve aboard CVN 77

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Brooke Macchietto | 180323-N-JU894-0013 ATLANTIC OCEAN (March 23, 2018) Machinist's Mate (Nuclear) 3rd Class Sean Burke, left, and Chief Machinist's Mate (Nuclear) Kaleem Burke, brothers from Bronx, New York, pose for a portrait in the hangar bay aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). The two brothers joined the Navy about six years apart and serve in the same career field aboard George H.W. Bush. The ship is underway conducting sustainment exercises to maintain carrier readiness. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brooke Macchietto)  

ATLANTIC OCEAN

03.27.2018

Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Omar Diaz 

USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77)

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Omar Diaz, USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) Public Affairs

“He came to me one day and asked me what I liked and disliked about the Navy,” said Chief Machinist’s Mate (Nuclear) Kaleem Burke, when speaking about his younger brother’s decision to join the Navy. “I was totally honest with him, and told him about all my experiences in the Navy and allowed him to absorb that information without telling him to join or not.”

The younger brother, Machinist’s Mate (Nuclear) 3rd Class Sean Burke, completed several semesters of college and considered joining the Air Force before becoming a Sailor.

“Joining the Navy was a last resort for me because I was going to school and working, but I had no idea what I wanted to do,” said Sean. “I asked him what he did on a daily basis and was interested about being a machinist’s mate because I like working on cars and other mechanical things.”

Upon entering boot camp with a nuclear contract, recruits are told which nuclear job they will eventually study in “A” school. Electrician’s mates, electronics technicians, and machinist’s mates (MMN) are available nuclear. Sean, coincidentally, was selected to be an MMN like his older brother.

The elder Burke’s path to the Navy was similar to that of his younger brother, only six years earlier. Before joining the Navy, Kaleem was a 19-year-old college student from Bronx, N.Y., lacking career direction.

“I wasn’t focusing in school, but I was interested in having a career in the medical field and knew I needed some discipline,” said Kaleem. “After researching all the branches, learning about hospital corpsman, and taking the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery), the recruiter presented me with the option of the Navy nuclear program.”

After completing boot camp, Kaleem completed the same schools his brother would go on to complete six years later. He went to Nuclear Power School in Charleston, South Carolina, then Prototype School in Saratoga Springs, New York, and was eventually stationed on USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) for four years.

Kaleem says his success in the Navy is definitely the result of hard work, but more importantly having a chain of command that supported his development, molded him to be a successful Sailor, and recognized his work.
Kaleem’s chain of command wasn’t the only one to recognize his success. His mother who had seen him transform from a struggling college student to a successful Sailor knew the benefits the Navy could have on Sean.

“My mom saw my progress firsthand and absolutely loved it, so she supported my brother when he decided to join,” said Kaleem. “The Navy gave my brother and me the opportunity to be adults and stand on our own two feet, which was a huge benefit to our growth.”

After making chief in seven years, Kaleem, who recently hit his nine-year mark is certain he will make a career out of the Navy. Kaleem said he enjoys being an MMN, but more importantly, mentoring junior Sailors to be technically and socially successful in the Navy.

Sean says he enjoys what he does, but isn’t certain if he’s going to stay in after his first contract.

“I do find a lot of enjoyment in the maintenance and qualifications associated with being an MMN,” said Sean, who has been in the Navy for three years. “But the Navy was a big transition for me that I’m still adjusting to, and I’m still not sure if I want to reenlist.”

Sean says since his brother’s arrival in January 2018 the transition to Navy life in Norfolk has been much easier.

“Some days I don’t see him at work, and sometimes I see him several times,” said Sean. “Having a family member in Norfolk, let alone my older brother on the same ship, makes life a lot better.”

While the future is unknown for the Burke brothers, coincidences definitely follow the two. Six years apart, the two brothers completed the same boot camp, nuke school, and have ended up on GHWB serving together as MMNs.

• Date Taken: 03.27.2018
• Date Posted: 03.27.2018 14:58
• Story ID: 270804
• Location: ATLANTIC OCEAN
• Hometown: BRONX, NY, US