Hancock County arts educator experiences life aboard USS Nimitz

NAVAL CONSTRUCTION BATTALION CENTER GULFPORT, Miss. – For most Americans, the opportunity to visit a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier is something they will never experience. For Sarah Shelton, founder of Diamondhead School of Fine Arts, that opportunity came with a once-in-a-lifetime taxi ride and a chance to see firsthand what life is like aboard one of the Navy's largest warships.

When Naval Construction Battalion Center (NCBC) Gulfport reached out with an invitation to participate in a visitor embark aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68), she did not hesitate.

“There was zero hesitation. As soon as I opened the email and saw ‘Osprey’ and ‘USS Nimitz,’ I knew I was going,” said Shelton. “It was an opportunity I never imagined having, and I couldn’t wait to experience it firsthand.”

Getting aboard the ship was an experience of its own. Rather than walking up a gangway, Shelton traveled aboard an CV-22B Osprey for her first ever military flight.

“I had no idea the back of the Osprey would be open during our flight! It’s hard to describe that mix of excitement and nervousness, but I always felt we were in safe hands,” she said. “Landing on an aircraft carrier in the middle of the ocean was incredible. Stepping aboard, I still couldn’t quite believe I was there.”

Once aboard, the ship's sheer size was a lot to take in. Thousands of Sailors live and work aboard Nimitz, and keeping a ship that size operating takes more than pilots and flight deck crews. Someone has to prepare the meals, provide medical care, maintain the equipment and handle the everyday work that keeps a small city running.

“The ship is enormous, and I was amazed by how far down it goes. It really is a floating city that needs people from so many different career paths,” said Shelton.

During her visit, Shelton had the opportunity to see some of those operations and meet the Sailors responsible for them. From preparing meals to producing news stories and press releases, the work aboard the ship extended well beyond the aircraft on its flight deck.

“One of our first stops was the media room, where I learned the ship has its own magazine. As an arts educator, I loved seeing how the arts have a place in the Navy, too,” she said. “We saw everything from chefs and surgeons to media professionals, engineers and barbers. And yes, the mustaches and flight suits were definitely part of the ship’s aesthetic!”

For someone whose work centers on education and the arts, the visit offered a different perspective on the Navy and the people who serve in it.

“Looking back, I’m so thankful I said yes. This experience changed me. Seeing the Sailors working and training aboard just one ship gave me a deeper appreciation for the people defending our nation. How could it not? As an educator, I’m coming home with stories that can help my students see possibilities they may never have considered. This visit will live on in the stories I share with them for years to come.”

Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, located on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, serves more than 10,000 service members, civilian personnel, veterans and family members. NCBC Gulfport is home to the Atlantic Fleet Seabees, the Naval Construction Training Center, the Expeditionary Combat Skills Training Center and nearly 40 tenants from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. The Sailors of NCBC Gulfport personify the "Can-Do" motto of Seabees and are ready to deploy and serve globally. For more information about NCBC Gulfport, visit our website at https://cnrse.cnic.navy.mil/Installations/NCBC-Gulfport/

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