This Week We Honor Culinary Specialist First Class Anthony Collett As Our Hometown Hero!

It’s time once again for our Hometown Hero, brought to you by Batavia Downs Gaming. This Week’s Hometown Hero is First Class Petty Officer Anthony Collett!

His nomination says:

Officer Collett joined the Navy in August 1993. He was a young man who wanted to serve his country and earn some money for college.   CS1 Collett arrived in boot camp in Great Lakes, IL on November 3, 1993. After boot camp CS1 Collett was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk CV-63 where he was assigned to Officers wardroom.   After only being on board for a few months CS1 and the USS Kitty Hawk departed for a six month deployment known as a West Pac.   During this six month at sea CS1 and fellow sailors visited such ports as Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, and Hawaii. In 1995 CS1 attended CS A-school when he learned his rate. As a fleet returnee CS1 was the class leader where he mentored and supervised fellow classmates. After CS A-school CS1 returned back to the USS Kitty Hawk to finish his enlistment.

In August 1996 CS1 Collett was discharged from active duty and made his way back home. In that same month CS1 Collett joined the Naval Reserves. He was assigned to MIUW 214. CS1 quickly learned his new responsibilities in this warfare unit. With this unit CS1 went on various ATs across the country and abroad. Serving in such places like Hawaii, Alaska, Lithuania, and Puerto Rico. In December 1998 CS1 was promoted to 3^RD Class Petty officer.  In June 2000 CS1 earned his BS in criminal Justice from Hilbert College fulfilling one of his goals for joining the Navy.

In February 2003 CS1 was deployed to Augusta Bay Sicily to support operation enduring Freedom.   CS1 and his unit were tasked to protecting US ships while in port.

CS1 was promoted to a 2^nd class petty officer in September 2006. Shortly after this CS1 and fellow MUIWU 214 unit members were deployed to support MIUWU 202 in Kuwait for Operation Iraqi Freedom. . CS1 was the navy’s primary credit card holder in the region. CS1 was directly responsible for 1.3 million in purchases to support his unit and the rest of the navy in the region during the war. While in the Middle East CS1 was sent to UAE to purchase supplies for an ongoing mission the unit was supporting. During this deployment CS1 earned an Army Achievement Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, and a Navy Commendation Medal for all his hard work and dedication. After nine month boots on ground in Kuwait CS1 and MIUWU 202 were on their way back home.

In May 2012 CS1 was promoted to his current rank as a 1^st class petty officer.   In May 2014 CS1 was a member of a security team to protect US ships in NYC for fleet week. CS1 was awarded Reserve Component Command Sailor of the quarter for the 3^rd quarter 2014 for all going above and beyond his role as a squad leader and LPO of the supply department. CS1 is dedicated Country and the Navy and looks forward to serving his country in the future.

In May of 2015 CS1 Collett was lead contact for Fleet Week NYC. CS1 worked the front ECP of the Staten Island Pier. His responsibilities was to verify entry and protect high the value assets of the USN.

On April 1, 2016 CS1 will hang up his boots and dog tags for retirement. After over 22 years of service to his country he is looking forward to spending time with son Tucker making up for missed time to his service.

We want to say thank you to him for his service too. We are proud to call Anthony Collett our Hometown Hero of the week.

If you would like to nominate your own Hometown Hero, click the button below. We like to honor both active duty and veteran heroes from right here in Western New York.

Thanks once again to Culinary Specialist First Class Anthony Collett, our Hometown Hero of the week!