'Why I Serve Wednesday!'⚓️
We are #PCDproud of our Panama City military service members and excited to highlight some of them and why they answered our nation's call. Today, we feature Electronics Technician Petty Officer 1st Class (ET1) Kory Olshefski, assistant fleet liaison to Maritime Special Projects, who is responsible for the upkeep and inventory management of the maritime communications special projects at Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD).
“I’m ET1 Olshefski and I arrived here in late 2021. I was born and raised in southeastern Wisconsin where I spent more than 20 years and met (and married) my high school sweetheart.
In 2016, I joined the US Navy at a time when no other option seemed fitting for me. I had $50 dollars in my savings account, my car was driving on hopes and dreams, and I had no…thought of future visions. [From there] I have served eight years on active duty and will soon be transitioning to the Navy Reserve. I have served on three deployments with the 5th and 7th fleets on board the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) as an air traffic control technician and a combat systems officer of the watch.
My family’s military legacy includes uncles and grandfathers who served in World War II, but I am the last grandchild to serve since then. For me, it was never about continuing on the tradition, but rather paving a new path forward myself.
My favorite part of working at NSWC PCD has been having the time to reflect on those stressful years [when serving on a five-year sea duty], while still making a difference in the fleet. It has been an incredible breath of fresh air that has allowed me to make critical decisions that will leave me in a better place. The support from peers has been an immense positive impact on my life.
As for hobbies, I’m an avid freshwater fisherman who also enjoys boating. I also enjoy watching Short Track Super Late Model racing from a series that runs back at home.
Something people may not know about me is my wife and I suffered a great deal of loss at very young ages when each of our fathers passed away a year apart when we were in middle school. Our friendship started in a grief group and later blossomed into a beautiful family with our newest addition [our daughter]. I believe that life’s circumstances brought us together to motivate and push each other to grow into the adults we are. I’ve learned that time is short and you can’t get it back. Having our daughter opened our eyes to a whole new world, where time together is time well spent… and I can’t wait to spend them.”
📸: Jeremy Roman
#NAVSEA #warfighter #service