By Ashley Craig, Navy Office of Community Outreach
GULFPORT, Miss. — Since 1942, sailors assigned to the U.S. Navy’s Construction Force have been building and fighting around the world. Naval Construction Battalion Center (NCBC) Gulfport, located on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, is home to the Atlantic Fleet “Seabees” (a play on the C and B initials).
Petty Officer 2nd Class Austin Caswell, a native of Hutchinson, Kansas, currently serves with NCBC Gulfport as a gunner’s mate serving with more than 10,000 service members, civilian personnel, veterans and family members associated with the installation.
Whether serving in the construction force or in a supporting role, the sailors of NCBC Gulfport personify the “Can-Do” motto of Seabees and are ready to deploy and serve globally.
As a gunner’s mate, Caswell is a member of the NCBC Gulfport’s Navy Security Force (NSF). NSF processes more than 1 million access control transactions and conducts more than 50 security drills each year to keep the installation’s personnel and families safe.
Caswell graduated from Nickerson High School in 2015.
Caswell joined the Navy five years ago.
“I wanted to travel and see the world,” said Caswell. “I wanted to get out of Kansas and have a look around. I joined the Navy to travel and experience new places. We get to go out, have fun and really see the places we visit when we’re in port.”
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Hutchinson.
“Growing up, I learned the importance of a good work ethic,” said Caswell. “In Kansas, when you’re 14 you can’t get a real job, but you can go work for a farmer. You don’t get paid by the hour, you get paid by the bale. It teaches you that the work you put in directly correlates to what you get back. I was a bad test taker and, on my last ship, I couldn’t advance through tests. I got meritoriously advanced instead. It was directly the work I put in on that ship that resulted in me getting meritoriously advanced.”
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 recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Caswell serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“We will earn and reinforce the trust and confidence of the American people every day,” said Adm. Lisa Franchetti, chief of naval operations. “Together we will deliver the Navy the nation needs.”
Caswell has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I’m most proud of the work I did as a vertical launching system technician,” said Caswell. “I’m proud of it because the team I had and the work we put into our system was well known throughout the ship at the highest level. Our captain was aware that he had some of the best technicians and our contractors told him our team was the best to work with. I’m proud of working hard enough to get recognized, not only by the commanding officer but by people outside of the Navy.”
Caswell can take pride in serving America through military service.
“Serving in the Navy means quite a bit to me,” said Caswell. “It means a lot. It teaches you to be a team player. It’s taught me so much about myself. Before the Navy, I didn’t really have a direction in life and when I get out I’ll have a much more solid set of goals to accomplish and direction and a structure for life. It gives you perspective.”
Caswell is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my wife, Payten,” added Caswell. “That woman is a champ. When we got to my first command during COVID, we lived there for about a week before I went on deployment for 292 days aboard USS Sterett. We stayed strong through that.”
