Buckeye native continues tradition of service under the sea

Petty Officer 2nd Class Brendan Schweitzer, a Buckeye native, is one of the sailors serving aboard USS Maine, continuing the U.S. Navy’s 124-year tradition of service under the sea.

Schweitzer graduated from Verrado High School in 2019.

The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Buckeye.

“I developed a lot of social skills growing up,” Schweitzer said. “Some people grow up in isolated areas and come to the Navy never having interacted with different types of people. However, having those social skills made me more equipped to interact with diverse sailors from all over the world.”

Schweitzer joined the Navy four years ago. Today, he serves as a nuclear machinist’s mate.

“I joined the Navy because I thought it would be an interesting career path and because I found the nuclear rates really interesting,” he said. “It was also something I was drawn to because I had known a lot of people who served.”

These submarines are capable of conducting rapid defensive and offensive operations around the world to support national security. A major component of that maritime security is homeported at Naval Base Kitsap, in Washington.

Schweitzer has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.

“I am most proud of making it through the nuclear power school pipeline because it was academically intensive and took a lot of effort for me to accomplish,” he said.