GROTON, Conn. – Petty Officer 1st Class Victor Ventimilla, a native of Sparks, Nevada, is training sailors to continue the U.S. Navy’s 125-year tradition of service under the sea.
Ventimilla graduated from Edward C. Reed High School in 2017.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Sparks.
“Growing up, I worked a lot with my uncles, doing odd jobs and fixing things,” Ventimilla said. “Being an A-Ganger is exactly like that. A-Gang literally just fixes things that are broken on the submarine.”
Ventimilla joined the Navy seven years ago. Today, Ventimilla serves as a machinist’s mate (non-nuclear, submarine auxiliary) and is an instructor at Naval Submarine School, training sailors to serve in the submarine force.
“I joined the Navy for the opportunity to travel and make my family proud,” Ventimilla said.
Located aboard Naval Submarine Base New London, Naval Submarine School is where officers and enlisted sailors learn the basic knowledge needed to join operational submarine commands in the Atlantic and Pacific fleets. Once in the fleet, this foundation allows sailors to build competence and proficiency in operating and maintaining submarines and all their systems. The school also provides refresher and advanced training to members of the submarine force and those supporting submarine commands to increase proficiency in specific skills.
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