Journeys Through Service

An Impactful Choice and Countless Opportunities

Following what he loves — from snowboarding to boats — opened doors for Nick and let him support others.

Meet Nick

Special Warfare Combat Crewman

The Maritime Mission Specialist

Navy Petty Officer First Class Nick O’Sullivan operates state-of-the-art boats, plans precise personnel transportation to mission locations and trains special operations forces candidates for real-world operations. He collaborates with the Army, Marines, Coast Guard and more to ensure maritime missions run safely, efficiently and successfully. 

SIMILAR JOBS OUTSIDE THE MILITARY

Professional Boat Captain, Operations Coordinator, Outdoor Adventure Instructor

BRANCH

Navy

RANK

Petty Officer First Class

NICK’S JOURNEY AT A GLANCE

Developed his passion for hands-on activities like snowboarding and technical graphic design

Chose a Navy special operations path to turn a love of adventure and teamwork into a rewarding career and a higher calling

Leads trainings and missions that prepare the next generation of elite maritime operators

What Led Nick to the Military

“I saw this boat just flying down the river and then just stopping on a dime — I was hooked. And I was like, I’ve never done anything like this before, I want a change, why not?”
 

The Spark

The Spark

Jobs in graphic design and meat cutting weren’t cutting it. He wanted something with a bigger bite and greater responsibility.

The Drive

The Drive

A special operations video his brother’s recruiter showed him flipped the switch: speed, teamwork, skill, responsibility. 

The Decision

The Decision

One year of military prep led to a contract as a special warfare combat crewman (SWCC). 

What Nick Does on the Job

As a special warfare combat crewman, Nick is part of the Navy’s elite maritime force. He approaches each mission with focus, preparation and genuine care. Whether he’s planning routes or mentoring special forces candidates, his goal is always the same: perform at a high level and protect his team. 

 

 

 

 

 

“Our motto is ‘On Time, On Target, Never Quit.’ A lot of our job is preparation and planning. Understanding the boat, the weather, fuel, comms — it’s all critical. Every day is different, every challenge unique.”
 

A Week in Nick’s Life

Monday: Prep and Plan

Nick starts the week by checking every system on the boat, reviewing weather and tides, and walking candidates through the route plan so everyone begins at the same baseline.

1

Tuesday: Daylight Ops

He runs slow, precise insert-and-extract reps in daylight, coaching candidates on fundamentals like communication, balance and clean positioning.

2

Wednesday: Night Ops

Training shifts to darkness as Nick oversees night-vision drills and faster runs that force candidates to make quicker, sharper decisions.

3

Thursday: Full Profile

An all-night scenario brings everything together, with Nick guiding teams through start-to-finish mission planning, navigation legs and timed movements under pressure.

4

Friday: Reset and Refit

Nick closes the week with debriefs, maintenance and gear resets, documenting lessons learned and restoring the boat to full mission readiness.

5

Considering a Future in Special Operations?

You’ll be part of an elite group, where teamwork, precision and preparation shape every mission.

Get the Full Breakdown

Why Service Made Sense for Nick

“I didn’t want to settle for being a meat cutter forever. SWCC is a constant challenge. Training might repeat weekly, but every day is different. Something always changes.”
 

Soft Skills for Life

Time management, leadership and pivoting under pressure are all skills Nick didn’t expect to develop but now values immensely and will have for the rest of his life.
 

Love for the (Water)Craft

Nick loves working on boats. Not many people can say they operate state-of-the-art watercraft and lead teams with this level of responsibility, but he can.
 

Off the Clock

Nick balances high-stakes missions with rewarding hobbies and adventurous activities.

Woodworking

Turns deployment patches and coins into display-worthy keepsakes.

a Navy plane with a paraglider

Skydiving

Originally jumped just for fun but now considers it a lifelong thrill.

Nick writing at his desk

Education

Pursuing a bachelor’s in organizational leadership via the Tuition Assistance Program.
 

Ready for the Road Ahead

“I wanted a job that would challenge me, and that’s exactly what I got.”

Future-Proofing

  • Working toward a promotion and leading the next mission
  • Expanding the woodworking side business and pursuing personal projects
  • Continuing skydiving adventures and pushing physical/technical limits
     

Life-Shaping

  • Mentoring the next generation of SWCC candidates
  • Building teamwork, leadership and decision-making skills that transfer anywhere
  • Creating tight-knit friendships and maintaining close bonds with his unit
     

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