(PHOTO PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
NAVY FAMILY … Stephanie and her Veteran father Doug Dangler.
By: India Kenner
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
india@thevillagereporter.com
Stephanie Dangler (Edgerton graduate) served in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Inherent Resolve, as Information Systems Technician Petty Officer in the US Navy. She did see combat although from afar since she was deployed on ships.
However, there were several times during her service when she had to help with damage control due to fires, make 1MC calls during emergencies, and otherwise manage her battle station assignment during real-world GQs (General Quarters).
Her boot camp experience had a few good moments but also had several traumatic moments. A shipmate got very hurt. Plus, RDCs were EXTREMELY tougher on them than today’s RDCs.
On her first day of Naval service was when she was checking into her first command; she was excited but VERY anxious.
As for her first day getting salty (heading out to sea), She was quite excited to see the vastness of our oceans, but also very sad to know that she would be missing out on so many “mundane” things…. music, movies, traffic, trees, the ability to eat whatever she wanted….even the ability to connect with her friends & family–she first joined in the early 2000s, so many people still didn’t have cell phones yet, or use the internet unless they went to a library or had it at their places of employment.
There are lots of positive memories to choose from her Navy experience… Mainly graduating from boot camp & experiencing her first liberty weekend; She loved wearing all uniforms, except for summer whites, and enjoyed the smells of aircraft, salt, iron, and GP.
Another exciting and positive experience was the tours she took while in the ports of all the countries she visited. They were so worth it.
Stephanie’s time in service gave her the undeniable hands-on experience and formal education to make one of her hobbies, “computer stuff”, come to fruition.
Thanks to her different assignments and roles while serving as an IT in the Navy, she was able to quickly figure out what things she did and didn’t like about working as an IT.
So, when she left the Navy after 10 1/2 years, it made her want to explore being a civilian IT. She has now been working as a cybersecurity contractor for nearly eight years–so she has nearly 18 total years doing all-things-IT & intends to stay on this path for as long as it suits her.
Veterans’ Day is a time to honor and thank those who have served in the military for their sacrifices and dedication. Thank you to Stephanie Dangler and all the Veterans for their service.