As one Sailor’s career is coming to a close, another’s career is just beginning. After more than 20 years of service Chief Electronic Technician Aryn Kriska is set to retire from the Navy, while his son, Keegan, is just beginning his naval service.
More than 163,000 people enlisted in the U.S. military last year, of those more that 44,000 joined the Navy. One of the main reason people join the military is legacy of service. They follow the footsteps of a close family member: A parent. A sibling. A Grandparent. An uncle. An aunt. Someone who has influenced them to serve their country.
“I enlisted to follow my father into service,” Keegan said. “He told me about the opportunities he has had and the traveling he has done while serving and I want to do the same.”
For the elder Kriska, having his son following his footsteps into the Navy is another changing moment in his career.
“Having my son join the Navy makes me extremely proud of him,” said Kriska. “He’s taking on the responsibilities of defending our nation. I know while he’s serving, he’ll always have a bed to sleep in and three meals a day.”
Keegan hopes to have similar experiences his dad has had such as learning new skills, education and traveling the world. Keegan is enlisting in the nuclear propulsion program.
“My father inspired me to join,” Keegan said. “Because of his career and his experiences, I want to do the same.”
“My son is going to have some great experiences like I’ve had,” Kriska said. “He’ll also have stories to tell for the rest of his life.”
One of Kriska previous duty stations was as a Recruit Division Commander (RDC) at Navy bootcamp and finishing his career as a recruiter he now sees the young adults prior to going to bootcamp.
“I love changing people’s lives,” Kriska said. “When I have an individual come into my office that has had a terrible start to their adulthood and get them into the Navy, knowing that bootcamp is going to reshape them into a respectable adult.”
“I know this firsthand due to being a prior RDC,” Kriska explained. “I’ve had parents come up to me on graduation day in tears, thanking me for helping their son or daughter mature.”
As Kriska retires from the Navy and his son starts his career, he knows he has put more than enough people in the Navy to take his place.
Navy Talent Acquisition Group Ohio River Valley recruits high-quality applicants for the U.S. Navy throughout Ohio, Kentucky, southern West Virginia and southern Indiana, covering more than 110,000 square miles.