KITSAP, WASHINGTON – After nearly a decade on active duty, Personnel Specialist (PS) 1st Class Paul Spartz, a native of Naples, Florida and a U.S. Navy Reserve Sailor assigned to Navy Reserve Center (NRC) Kitsap in Kitsap, Washington, wasn’t looking to slow down when he transitioned to the Navy Reserve earlier this year.
Instead, he immediately began preparing himself to succeed in an environment where personal accountability and readiness are essential to maintaining warfighting capability.
Spartz recalled attending college right out of high school, initially pursuing a degree in physical therapy before realizing he lacked passion for that career path.
“Do I really want to do this? There is no purpose here,” Spartz remembered thinking while walking around campus one day.
After finishing his associate degree, he enlisted in the Navy in June 2014 to pursue new opportunities beyond his hometown.
During his active-duty career, Spartz served at Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 85 in San Diego, where he deployed to Djibouti. He later received orders to Navy Personnel Command in Millington, Tennessee.
As a PS, Spartz handles a wide range of administrative and personnel support responsibilities, including processing pay and personnel records, assisting Sailors checking in and out of commands and resolving administrative issues impacting readiness and career progression.
Through his experience working alongside reservists while on active duty, Spartz became familiar with the reserve component and the level of personal responsibility required to succeed in it.
Spartz transitioned into the Navy Reserve in April 2026, seeking greater stability while still maintaining his connection to the Navy and its mission.
“I’m good at this and I want to keep doing it,” Spartz said.
The reserve component offered him the opportunity to establish roots in Washington without sacrificing the career and community he built during his time on active duty.
Spartz hit the ground running following his transition into the reserves, ensuring that his records, paperwork and administrative requirements were completed prior to his first drill weekend.
Spartz emphasized that success in the reserve component requires sailors to take ownership of their careers and remain proactive in managing their responsibilities, noting that personal accountability directly impacts operational readiness and the Navy’s ability to maintain a mission ready force.
“You have staff at the reserve center to assist you,” said Spartz. “But at the end of the day you are your own functioning command.”
Looking ahead, Spartz hopes to continue advancing within the Navy Reserve while taking advantage of opportunities to travel and support missions across the fleet.
“I would like to stick around and make Chief,” said Spartz. “And if I put on anchors maybe I'll go active again.”
Spartz also encourages Sailors in the reserves to take initiative to become involved in their reserve community, to ensure success in the Navy and your civilian life.
“Get to know people at your reserve center,” said Spartz. “It's a big web of community, as long as you make the effort to become part of it.”
| Date Taken: | 08.07.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 08.15.2026 12:17 |
| Story ID: | 571884 |
| Location: | WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 54 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, From Active Duty to Reserve Readiness, by PO3 Tyranny Chartrand, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
