Sailor in the Spotlight

AD2 Chanakya Sharma/ Department: Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Detachment /Hometown: Bhopal, India

Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Detachment is just one of the many tenant commands here a Naval Air Station Sigonella. AIMD’s purpose is to support and repair aviation components and support equipment. AIMD itself is broken down into many shops, and in one of those shops there is a Sailor that is standing out. That Sailor is Aviation Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Chanakya Sharma. In addition to being nominated as Sailor in the Spotlight, Sharma was also selected as Junior Sailor of the Year for his command.

Sharma started out his life in India, where he was raised in Bhopal, a city in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. He moved to the states in 2011 and began looking for work. One of the big problems he ran into was that the U.S. economy was in the middle of a recession, and jobs were scarce. Joining the Navy seemed like one of his best options.

“The big thing for me was getting a job to support my family,” said Sharma. “Once I started working for the Navy, I saw what my leadership was doing and that pushed me to continue. Even though joining the Navy was an accident, it was a really good accident and I really love what I do.”

For some people joining the Navy as an undesignated Sailor, it doesn’t work out the way they wanted it to, but some end up getting the perfect rate for them.

“AD was definitely my first choice,” said Sharma. “I really researched the rate before making my choice. I joined as an undesignated airman and they gave me a couple of choices. Out of those choices I chose AD as my number one.”

Sharma works in the 400 Division part of AIMD. The 400 Division is made up of two shops, 430 and 470. In the 430 shop they work on building propellers for the P-3 Orion and the C-130 Hercules. 470 is the oil lab where Sharma works. There, he analyzes the oil he receives from the squadron and checks for contamination in the oil and notifies the squadron if it is out of regulation.

Sharma is leaving soon, so he has already passed on most of his collateral duties. He was a Sexual Assault Prevention and Response volunteer, a Morale, Welfare and Recreation volunteer, and he still serves as an Assistant Command Fitness Leader for his command.

Sigonella is Sharma’s second tour in the Navy and he doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. Right now he is focusing on making 1st class petty officer, and maybe someday submitting an officer package. He already has a bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering that he completed in India. His main goal while in the military is to someday work at the embassy.

In addition to the many travel options, there are also a lot of local activities that Sicily offers. Sharma has enjoyed exploring the island during his tour at Sigonella.

“I think this is one of the best shore duties a person can go to,” said Sharma. “My favorite thing to do was go camping during summer time. There were a lot of nice places to go around Sicily.”