Christopher Padilla

November 12, 2019 - 11:30 AM

Petty Officer 2nd Class
United States Navy
8 Years of Service
Mt. SAC Alumni- Communications A.A. 2014
Univ. of La Verne Graduate Communications B.A. 2018
Mt. SAC Humanities and Social Sciences Department

Christopher M. Padilla joined the United States Navy and left for boot camp on July 7, 2003.  Upon graduation from Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Illinois, he was transferred to his “A” school at Naval Air Station Meridian, Mississippi.  He graduated top of his class and was awarded a shore duty billet at NAS North Island (Coronado, CA) with Sea Control Squadron 41 in November 2003.  While at VS-41, he advanced from E-3 to E-5 in 16 months along with receiving numerous awards and recognition including high marks on all physical fitness tests, “early promote” evaluations, Junior Sailor of the Month (June 2004), JSOY for the Quarter (2nd Quarter, 2004), JSOY of the Year (2004) for VS-41, JSOY of the Year (2004) for the entire Pacific Fleet Sea Control Wing, and a Navy Achievement Medal for accomplishment while with the squadron.  Because of this, he requested, screened, and was awarded orders to train as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician.

December 2005, he was transferred to EOD Mobile Unit Three for training under the Prospective Student Indoctrination (PSI) program at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado.  In April 2006, he began training at the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center (NDSTC) in Panama City, Florida for SCUBA and Mk-16 mixed gas giving operation for EOD missions.  Due to a previously unknown medical condition and hardships at home with his family, he voluntarily dis-enrolled in June 2006, transferred to the US Navy Reserve, and returned home.

While at CVNPAC 0294 at his old home station of NAS North Island, he volunteered to augment a US Army mission to Ramadi, Iraq.  He began training for that mission at Fort Lewis, Washington in February 2008, which included training with the 2nd Ranger Battalion.  In August 2008, following training, the mission was cancelled by the US Navy.  He then moved to Seattle, Washington and joined NROSU 2213 where he was awarded Sailor of the Quarter (3rd Quarter, 2010) and held the position of Leading Petty Officer of the unit and was responsible for the training of all new Petty Officers.  He regretfully concluded his service in the US Navy Reserve in April 2012 after over 8 years of total service due to manning constraints in the Reserves.

“I am incredibly proud of my service as a United States Sailor.  There is nothing more I wanted to do as a child growing up than to serve my country like my family of military veterans that came before me.  Though there is more I wish I could have done with my time, I have no regrets and only great memories with some of the best friends I will ever have.

To continue to serve my military family, I have joined Operation: Enduring Warrior, which is a charity that offers motivational assistance to disabled veterans through various endurance racing events like the Spartan Races and marathons throughout the country.”