Airman Hunter Palmer serves as an aviation electronics technician and operates out of Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC) at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida. (Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Amanda Rae Moreno)
PENSACOLA, Fla. – A 2014 Caledonia Mumford High School graduate is serving at the Navy’s largest aviation training center.
Airman Hunter Palmer serves as an aviation electronics technician, who is responsible for troubleshhoting and repairing aircraft electronics systems, and operates out of Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC) at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida.
The former Raider was featured in an article published by Navy the Navy Office of Community Outreach.
Palmer credits success in the Navy with lessons learned growing up in Mumford.
“I learned the importance of hard work which I apply to the Navy every day,” Palmer told the website.
NAS Pensacola, “The Cradle of Naval Aviation” is best known as the initial primary training base for all U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard officers pursuing designations as Naval Aviators and Naval Flight Officers.
NATTC was commissioned in 1943 and today, the training center is 5,300 strong including students, instructors and support personnel. Sailors and Marines who move on to fleet duty arrive prepared and motivated. Their training must continue “on the job” as they become acclimated to a particular aircraft in a particular squadron, be it a carrier-based F-18 Hornet unit, a land-based P-3C Orion squadron or an SH-60 Seahawk detachment operating from a cruiser.
“As sailors forged by the sea, we will continue to be the Navy the nation needs,” said Capt. Maxine Goodridge, Commanding Officer Naval Air Technical Training Center. “Providing high velocity learning at every level is what we do best.”
Once these service members finish training they are deployed around the world putting their skill set to work flying jets from aircraft carriers, submarine-hunting helicopters, serving as aircrew operating sophisticated radar and weapons systems, electronic warfare and more. Operating on land, air, or sea, they represent the best of operational and training support.
More than 15,000 Navy and Marine Corps students graduate from NATTC each year illustrating how their existing programs fit into their philosophy of completing the mission with well-trained, well-led and motivated personnel, according to Navy officials.
Palmer has military ties with family members who have previously served and is honored to carry on the family tradition.
“My grandfather served in the Army,” said Palmer.“Serving in the Navy brings me a sense of pride to get out of my hometown and see more of the world.”