Lieutenant Junior Grade Garret Enslin, who graduated from Western Wayne in 2012, has gone on to achieve many outstanding accomplishments in the United States Navy.
Enslin graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2016. He earned a degree in mechanical engineering. After graduation, Enslin was stationed on a ship in Everett, Washington, for about two and a half years. He worked as a gunnery ordnance officer where he led twenty sailors in maintenance work. This type of work included working with the guns on the ship, logistics projects, management of the ammunition itself, getting missiles on board, coordinating teams, etc.
Once his first tour was completed, Enslin received a Navy Achievement Medal for his work as Gunnery and Ordnance Officer onboard the U.S.S. Momsen.
Enslin went on to Nuclear Power School, a technical school operated by the U.S. Navy in Goose Creek, South Carolina, to train enlisted sailors, officers, KAPL civilians and Bettis civilians for shipboard nuclear power plant operation and maintenance of surface ships and submarines in the U.S. nuclear navy. There he learned theory about how nuclear reactors work among many other aspects of this field. He graduated second in his class from Nuclear Power School. Then Enslin applied the theory he learned at Nuclear Power School in prototype school, which is a Nuclear Power Training Unit.
Enslin explained that at the training unit there are essentially two nuclear power submarines that were decommissioned from naval service and refitted for the specific purpose of training nuclear operators now. Enslin graduated first in his class from prototype.
He discussed how his training was a progression because first he learned the theory in Nuclear Power School, then he applied that theory in his prototype training, and now he will begin applying all of this acquired knowledge from school and training on a ship that has two actual nuclear reactors, the U.S.S. Nimitz.
Enslin started on the Nimitz on November 4. He is a surface warfare officer (nuclear). He will spend 28 months there running and overseeing operations and working to lead about forty sailors.
Enslin explained why he chose this path in his military career.
“I love the technical aspect of it,” Enslin said. “I was able to get a lot of in-depth technical training, and this has allowed me to be really able to think about problems. This path has given me the chance to lead others very early on in my career. It is a great opportunity.”
In addition, Enslin also fondly reflected on his days at Western Wayne. He recalled enjoying his time on the wrestling team. He was a part of the team from his time in middle school through his four years of high school.
Another highlight from Enslin’s time in high school was the leadership qualities he learned as a member of the Future Business Leaders of America club that was led by advisor Fran Vitosky at the time Enslin was a member.
“My time in FBLA in which I learned how to speak well in front of others has most directly translated to some of the success I have had,” Enslin explained. “Speaking well to another person when you meet that person for the first time is very important. First impressions are very important in life and in the military.”
Enslin also has some words of wisdom for Western Wayne students who will soon be entering the real world upon their graduation this coming year.
“It is very important to be humble,” Enslin said. “Being able to admit that you are wrong and to seek help even if you don’t want to is a very important part of succeeding.”
Enslin discussed how he, at a young age, after graduating the Navy Academy, had to oversee some people who were much older than him. He explained that he learned a lot about critical thinking and humility from that experience.
The second piece of advice he gives Western Wayne High School seniors involves resilience.
“It is important to be resilient and come back from failure,” Enslin said. “You need to reflect honestly about why a failure occurs, so you can learn from that mistake.”
Enslin is excited for his experience on the Nimitz, and says that after this tour he plans to look for work outside of the Navy. He thinks his experience on this ship will be a good transition to him working in the future in civilian engineering.
Western Wayne administration, faculty, and staff are very proud of Enslin’s many great accomplishments and wish him the very best in all of his future endeavors.
