Logistics Specialist Petty Officer Second Class Michael Semler considers it an honor to serve as part of the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) Aviation Unit in Panama City, Florida.
“As a kid, I always loved being on the water. I loved ships and admired almost everything I learned about our country’s Navy,” the Old Bridge resident said in a statement prepared by Dan Broadstreet of the U.S. Navy’s Public Affairs division. “I can also remember after Sept. 11 [2001] happened thinking, ‘I want to become a part of something bigger than myself to counter that threat to my country.’”
Interested in aviation from youth, Semler sought his family’s support so he could learn to fly.
“It was one of the first things I did after graduating high school. I took some flying lessons until it became too costly to continue,” Semler said in the statement. “So, I went down to the local recruiting station to speak with the Navy recruiters. And although I joined primarily out of an appreciation for naval aviation, I chose the career path of logistics because I wanted to travel the world and being in logistics offered more options to do so.”
Citing various ports around the world, Semler said he has visited many countries that he, otherwise, might not have ever seen.
“I’ve gotten to see ports in places like Spain, Portugal, Bahrain, Dubai, Turkey, England and even Singapore — one of my favorite cultural experiences among others,” he said. “But travel is just one of many great opportunities that serving in the military offers. I would strongly recommend it to anyone.”
Semler said he appreciates the fact that the Navy has equipped him with professional career skills and experience.
“I’ve always been in aviation and for my first three deployments I was in units supporting F-18s on aircraft carriers,” Semler said in the statement. “So, just like it was gratifying watching those planes fly off the end of those ships, it’s equally rewarding seeing Panama City’s helicopters flying. I know by doing my job right I’m also, in part, responsible for enabling that to happen.”
Citing his own experience as a logistics specialist, Semler explained how just one job can have an impact on the unit as a whole.
“So if something is broken on a helicopter, whether it’s an engine part, a rotor blade, or something as simple as a small nut or screw, it’s critical for me to track the ordering, shipping and receiving of these parts,” Semler said. “Otherwise, our pilots and aircrew aren’t going to be able to fly when needed.”
According to Semler, NSWC PCD’s Aviation Unit not only understands the importance of teamwork, but excels at it.
“It’s the combination of everyone in the Aviation Unit doing their job efficiently and in support of each other that makes it possible for us to achieve our mission,” said Semler. “And part of the mission at The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division is all about incorporating more autonomy into our Airborne Mine Countermeasures systems. Eventually, the Navy will leverage this technology to take the sailor out of the mine field.”
After eight years with the Navy, Semler described his career as a daily privilege.
“I wake up every day looking forward to coming to work,” Semler said in the statement. “It’s a great feeling to be working to help make our country a safer place to live. My wife tells me she is proud of me, my mother too and like many other men and women in uniform, occasionally our fellow citizens express their gratitude. I’m pretty sure my father is also looking down from above feeling the same.”
