Photo By Chief Petty Officer Stephane Belcher | 230227-N-PG340-2005 GREAT LAKES, Illinois (Feb. 27, 2023) Aviation Boatswain’s Mate...... read more read more
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Meet Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 1st Class Bradley Walker! He’s a Recruit Division Commander (RDC) at Recruit Training Command (RTC), the Navy’s only boot camp.
Walker currently works in Fleet Quality Assurance (FQA) where he inspects and evaluates recruits and other RDCs to ensure they are following the correct military standards and training procedures.
Serving in the Navy runs in his family. His mom served four years and his dad served five. His uncle is still in the Navy as a chief warrant officer 5.
“They've been the ones pushing me to continue to go,” said Walker. “[My mom and dad] wish they stayed in. My uncles like, ‘Hey I made it this far and it’s going to pay dividends in the end.’ So, they keep me focused on moving forward along with some good mentors.”
Walker joined the Navy in 2016. He’s been stationed in Japan and San Diego. He wanted to go to Camp David on special orders. However, the Navy needed RDCs so he ended up reporting to RTC. He talked about making the best out of the situation.
“Whatever I do, I do to the best of my ability,” said Walker. “I like taking pride in what I do and helping others too; not just recruits, but other RDCs so they can be up to that standard you're at, or even better.”
He was nominated for RTC’s RDC of the Push in January. He always assisted the team and did daily Ship’s Training Team walkthroughs. He also helped the naturalization program representatives fill out forms and schedule interviews.
“I just did my job honestly,” Walker said. “I did my job, got qualified as a Master Training Specialist—just did as good as I could on push.”
Walker said RTC has made him realize how much he loves training and helping others. At first, he didn’t notice the impact he had on the recruits, but after his first couple of divisions, he realized it.
“The more you get into the push, and the more you know what you're talking about, the more you help them and can mentor and train them,” he said. “They really appreciate it, and sometimes they’ll even thank you at the end.”
“Their families run up to me after the graduations and say thank you; so just the impact you have on them and their family is rewarding.”
Boot camp is approximately 10 weeks and all enlistees into the U.S. Navy begin their careers at the command. Training includes five warfighting competencies of firefighting, damage control, seamanship, watchstanding, and small arms handling and marksmanship along with physical fitness and lessons in Navy heritage and core values, Warrior Toughness, Life Skills, teamwork and discipline. More than 40,000 recruits train annually at the Navy’s only boot camp.
For more news from Recruit Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/rtc
| Date Taken: | 03.02.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 03.02.2023 12:45 |
| Story ID: | 439572 |
| Location: | GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS, US |
| Web Views: | 417 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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