Sailor in the Spotlight

MA2 Robert Harper (Pittsburgh, PA)

Naval Air Station Sigonella’s security department is in charge of the largest naval security operation in Europe. Within the department, the armory is in responsible for the weaponry and training of all Master-at-Arms and Auxiliary Security Force members. That entails the safekeeping, maintenance, and issue of around 350 small arms weapons, along with instruction of their use. It takes Sailors like Master-at-Arms second class Robert Harper to ensure the mission runs smoothly and safely.

At the armory, Harper is the small arms marksmanship instructor. He is responsible for qualifying all MAs and ASF members in the use of pistols, rifles, and shotguns. At any given time, there are approximately 300 personnel who need to achieve qualifications on each weapon, for 900 total qualifications. Harper says that the hardest part of his job is keeping track of the personnel rotating in and out of Sigonella who need training. Harper arrived almost exactly

three years ago and is getting ready to rotate to Naval Medical Center San Diego to join Balboa Hospital’s security team. His first year here, he was the field training officer. During that time, he trained MAs in the field how to be patrol officers.

Harper says that training other Sailors has been the most fulfilling aspect of his job.

“I’m one of the first instructors they have,” said Harper of many Sailors whose first tour is at Sigonella. “I take a lot of pride in teaching them but also being someone they can come to for help. I want them to have a good first experience at their command.” When Harper enlisted, he was originally planning on staying in the Navy for four years. But nine years later, he is aiming to make a full career of it.

Right out of the gates, Harper has had an interesting career. In his first tour, he served as a casket bearer at Arlington National Cemetery. He describes the tour as being physically grueling but highly fulfilling. In that capacity, he met President Obama twice and had countless interactions with other top officials. He also was charged with the burial at sea of astronaut and former U.S. Navy aviator, Neil Armstrong.

Since then, Harper’s tours have included “A” school in San Antonio and at the security department at Naval Air Station North Island, Coronado. In the future, he would like to work in the specialty protective services field, where he would act as a bodyguard for admirals, generals, and other senior Defense officials.

As his tour at Sigonella wraps up, Harper is reflecting on his extensive travels throughout Sicily and Europe. One final trip is planned to drive Italy’s Amalfi Coast.

“We wanted to [visit] 25 countries but we got to 19. So we took complete advantage of the traveling. Here in Sicily too, especially in the summertime with the beaches,” said Harper.