Navy chief retires
Chief William J. Schweikert, a 1985 graduate of Pottsville Area High School, retired from the Navy on July 31. A retirement ceremony was held at the National Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola, Fla.
Schweikert enlisted in the Navy in 1988 and completed boot camp and Seaman Apprentice School at Recruit Training Command, San Diego, Calif. His first duty station was the USS Saratoga.
While on board, he transitioned to the lithographer rating and advanced to petty officer third class. In July 1992, Schweikert re-enlisted in the full-time support community as an interior communications electrician (IC) and completed IC "A" school in San Diego.
Subsequent tours include Shore Intermediate Maintenance Activity San Francisco and Pascagoula Mississippi as a technician aboard Navy ships home ported in the San Francisco Bay area and along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. During this time, he was promoted to petty officer second class. In 1996, he reported on board the USS John F. Kennedy and was promoted to petty officer first class. Additionally, he earned the qualification as an enlisted surface warfare specialist.
Schweikert transferred to New Operational Support Center, Norfolk, Va., where he served as the training department leading petty officer. His next set of orders proved to be the most challenging and rewarding - recruit division commander, Recruit Retraining Command, Great Lakes, Ill. Early in this tour, Schweikert was informed that he was one of only two IC's in the Navy Reserve selected for the rank of chief petty officer in 2003.
Schweikert trained an additional 15 divisions and served as a facilitator at the center point of Recruit Training - Battle Stations. Following this successful tour, Schweikert reported to NOSC Austin, Texas, and served as the senior enlisted leader.
Schweikert has received numerous personal awards, including Navy Commendation Medal (two gold stars) Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two gold stars), Navy Good Conduct Medal (five awards) and Navy Reserve Meritorious Service Medal.
He resides in Jacksonville, Fla., with his wife, Chazvon. He is a son of William P. and Maryanne Schweikert, Pottsville.