By Alvin Plexico
Navy Office of Community Outreach
Chief Petty Officer Colin Richards, a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center, the largest diving facility in the world.
Richards graduated from Forest Hills Eastern High School in 2008.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Grand Rapids.
“Growing up in the Midwest, there’s a lot of value in being honest,” said Richards. “You have to be honest to perform your job, so having that value made serving in the Navy so much easier.”
Richards joined the Navy 14 years ago. Today, Richards serves as a Navy Diver Instructor.
“I joined the Navy because I wanted to perform a public service for the country and explore the world,” said Richards. “During my time in the Navy, I’ve been to the Philippines, Guam, Japan, Diego Garcia, Singapore, and Bahrain.”
More than 1,200 students from the Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard train at Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center each year. These students include candidates for submarine SCUBA, U.S. Navy deep sea divers, Seabee underwater construction divers, joint service diving officers and explosive ordnance disposal officers.
Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center houses 23 certified diver life support systems, which include two diving simulation facilities capable of pressing divers to a depth of 300 feet, an aquatics training facility with the second largest pool in the U.S., a submarine lock-out trunk that holds nearly one million gallons of water and two 133-foot Yard Diving Tenders for open ocean diving support.
“Having a cadre of instructors who have immense knowledge and operational experience, ensures we deliver the best trained, qualified, and most professional divers to the military fleet and force, all while ensuring our communities are ready for major combat operations,” said Cmdr. Troy Lawson, commander, Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center.
Serving in the Navy means Richards is part of a team that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“The U.S. Navy guarantees the entire world’s navigational waterways are open ensuring that we and our allies have the benefit of free trade,” said Richards.
With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to trained sailors and a strong Navy.
Richards has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I’m proud of maintaining a cohesive team responsible for underwater repairs during COVID,” said Richards. “We couldn’t let the global pandemic stop us from completing our mission.”
As Richards and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the U.S. Navy.
Richards is continuing a family tradition of military service.
“My grandfather served in the Navy during World War II,” said Richards. “He always spoke highly of his time in the service and had a lot of stories he loved to share.”
“We’re part of the greatest military in the history of mankind,” added Richards. “It’s rewarding to turn on the television and see coverage about operations where there are people I know actively supporting those missions.”
