Meet Master Chief Nelms

Q:What brought you to Salem high school?

A: Warrant officer McMiller brought me to Salem. I received a phone call when I was overseas in the Middle East, and he asked me if I was ready to retire. I said not really, but he said he had a job opening and since this is the only job I ever really wanted to do after my naval career, and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity, so  I decided to go ahead and retire to take this job.

Q:How long did you serve?

A: 30 years

Q:How do you feel about students enlisting out of school?

A:I don’t have a specific feeling about that. I feel as long as a student or cadet is able to do something positive, and make a difference as long as they are successful then it’s a win! I want them go into the military, attend college,  a tech school, or be an entrepreneur, whatever makes then happy! If I can give them the skills to show initiative, be confident, have honor and courage to do the right thing and be leaders in their community and organizations then I have served my purpose.

Q:What was your best memory from the Navy?

A: I think my best memory in summary would just be traveling across the world. I’ve travelled to 20 different countries. My daughter was born in Italy. We lived in Japan and El Salvador, the Middle East, Wales in the UK, and traveled all over. Being able to provide that experience for my children has definitely been worth it.

Q:How was your time in the Navy?

A:In general there were definitely hard days and it wasn’t always easy. Family separation and deployments are hard, but I will tell you from a fulfillment perspective with sailors and being able to change and impact lives, I would give it a ten out of ten. As hard as it was, I would definitely do it all over again

Q:Why did you join the Navy?

A:Because I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. I hated mornings and getting up early, and I hated PT, so I wanted a job that would make me do all those things I did not want to do. It made me get on a good schedule and stay in shape, and it honestly made me a better human.

Q:What was your job in the Navy?

A:I actually came in as a Seabee,  I was an electrician and I did construction. I was the second female allowed in the combat battalion, which was pretty cool. I did 23 years as a CB, then I went to the Command Senior Chief program. I was the first person in the navy to be allowed in the program as a rate and the first female to ever command as a prior CB rating.

Q:How long were you a Master Chief?

A:About six years

Q:What was it like being a woman in the navy along with being a female Command Master Chief?

A:It is still very male oriented, but is getting better and more diverse. The Seabees’ were definitely the most difficult as a female because being a female in the construction field 30 years ago was pretty rough. But it made me who I am today and I wouldn’t change that for anything.

Q:If you could go back in time would you join the navy again?

A:I absolutely would. I did miss the college experience, I always wanted to join a sorority and play college sports, but the life experiences and traveling around the world made up for that. I have gone to college while in the Navy and have a degree, it just wasn’t through the traditional route as most do.