|
The Best Decision Of My Life
by Daniel Puleio,
U.S. Navy Recruiting Command
June 27, 2021
Damage Controlman 1st Class Casey Dean was born and raised in
Salt Lake City. It was there that he and his two best friends
decided to embark on a life-changing journey into the U.S. Navy.
|
June 11, 2021 - Damage Controlman 1st Class Casey Dean, assigned to Navy Talent Acquisition Group Rocky Mountain after being selected as the Recruiter in the Spotlight, which is a program designed to highlight top-performing recruiters throughout the Navy Recruiting Command global enterprise. (U.S. Navy
photo
by Navy Talent Acquisition Group Rocky Mountain Public Affairs Office)
|
“My friends and I made a pact to join the Navy,” said Dean. “It
sure made my recruiter happy as all three of us qualified! As it
turned out, that was the best decision of my life.”
Upon
completion of his damage control training, Dean was assigned to USS
Vandegrift (FFG 48) where he was immediately called to action when
the ship was assigned a search-and-rescue mission titled “Rebel
Heart.” He and the crew ultimately saved a family on a foundering
sailboat hundreds of miles off the coast of Mexico.
“This
was an incredible experience for my first week at sea,” said Dean.
“It certainly drove home the fact that I had made the right career
decision”.
Afterward, Dean spent a short time in the ship’s
homeport of San Diego before leaving on an eight month deployment to
South America. This deployment included assignment as part of
“Operation Martillo,” which targeted and combatted drug trafficking
in South America.
Dean was part of the team that intercepted nearly 9,000 kilograms
of cocaine. During this deployment, he had the opportunity to spend
time with children in the Aid for AIDS community. After completing
the final deployment of the ship, he helped decommission USS
Vandegrift in February of 2015.
Dean then received orders
aboard USS Gridley (DDG 101), where he met the ship in Perth,
Australia, to complete her 10-month deployment. While serving
onboard, Dean advanced to 3rd class petty officer followed shortly
thereafter to 2nd class petty officer. He quickly assumed supervisor
roles for junior Sailors and maintained hundreds of pieces of
equipment while training the crew on basic fire-fighting, flooding
and CBR-N.
He also led the way through various inspection cycles until his
six years at sea came to an end. During his time, Dean’s superior
performance earned three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, a
surface warfare pin and Good Conduct Medal.
Dean then opted
to return to his hometown of Salt Lake City by accepting a Navy
recruiting assignment. Upon completion of the Enlisted Recruiting
Orientation School in Pensacola, Florida, he began a shore tour in
his hometown.
For the last two years, Dean has shown his ability to share the
Navy’s opportunities and advantages to countless individuals
throughout this land-locked region. He participated in the Sandy,
Utah 9/11 Memorial and represented the Navy in multiple county fairs
as well.
Dean is currently studying Applied Management at
Grand Canyon University with plans to graduate in the coming year.
He continuously strives to live by the Navy ethos of Honor, Courage,
and Commitment while assisting others to maximize their potential.
Navy Recruiting Command consists of a command headquarters,
three Navy Recruiting Regions, 26 NTAGS and 64 Talent Acquisition
Onboarding Centers (TAOCS) that serve more than 1,000 recruiting
stations around the world. Their mission is to attract the highest
quality candidates to assure the ongoing success of America’s Navy.
Commander, Navy Recruiting Command |
U.S. Navy | U.S. Navy Gifts | U.S.
Department of Defense
Our Valiant Troops |
I Am The One |
Veterans |
Citizens Like Us
|
|
