Ensign Keirra Harvey – Photo by Ensign Tiffany Savoie,
Navy Office of Community Outreach
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tracey Bannister, Navy Office of Community Outreach. PENSACOLA, Fla. – Ensign Keirra Harvey, a native of Waldorf, Maryland, is serving in the U.S. Navy amongst sailors, Marines and guardsmen at Naval Aviation Schools Command (NASC) who are developing the skills needed to be a combat-ready aviation professional.
Harvey is a 2013 graduate of Bacon Academy.
Harvey joined the Navy less than one year ago. Today, Harvey is a student at NASC.
“I joined the Navy because I wanted to serve my country in a meaningful, real-time way,” Harvey said. “I wanted to turn the discipline and resiliency I learned growing up into a purposeful career and lifestyle.”
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Waldorf.
“Growing up in southern Maryland, I learned the value of humility, hard work and staying grounded,” Harvey said. “All of those lessons stayed with me in the Navy and remind me to lead with integrity, never take opportunities for granted and to always carry the strength of where I came from into new challenges.”
Located at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, NASC provides an educational foundation in technical training, character development and professional leadership to prepare Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and partner nation officers and enlisted students to be combat quality aviation professionals, and deliver them at the right time, in the right numbers, to be the forces their nation needs.
NASC is comprised of four schoolhouses: Aviation Training School (ATS), Aviation Enlisted Aircrew Training (AEATS), Aviation Rescue Swimmer School (ARSS) and Aviation Water Survival School (AWS), with instructor cadres that provide a well-rounded curriculum of academics and physical training on topics such as aviation training, aircrew duties and assignments, survival, first aid and water rescue procedures, that produce the highest quality officer and enlisted aviation personnel for the U. S. military.
The U.S. Navy is celebrating its 250th birthday this year.
According to Navy officials, “America is a maritime nation and for 250 years, America’s Warfighting Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom.”
With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Harvey serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
Harvey has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“My proudest accomplishment is receiving my commission from Officer Training Command Newport,” Harvey said. “It was a struggle getting through the preparatory part of the commission.”
Harvey can take pride in serving America through military service.
“Serving in the Navy means leading with empathy, integrity and discipline for your sailors,” Harvey said. “It means maintaining a growth mindset by being accountable and dependable.”
Harvey is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my mom, aunt and grandparents for their unwavering, consistent love and support,” Harvey said. “They have built me into who I am today.”
“I graduated from St. John’s University, Tobin College of Business in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in business management,” Harvey added. “I worked previously as a Navy civilian employee working at the Navy International Programs Office (NIPO) in Washington, D.C.”
