By By Lisa Tindell
news editor
Michael Sherman always knew he wanted to serve his country in the military but never knew what he wanted to do. A chance encounter while working as a lifeguard at the Brewton Area YMCA gave Sherman the nudge he needed to make a life-changing decision.
Sherman’s mother is retired from the U.S. Army, his father is retired from the U.S. Navy and his step-father is retired from the U.S. Air Force.
Sherman began working as a life-guard at the Brewton Area YMCA in December 2008, having worked previously in Montgomery in a similar position.
Sherman said he has enjoyed his time in Brewton and is always happy to be in a small town.
While Sherman kept busy teaching lessons in several areas at the YMCA, a chance meeting with Keithon Lee of Flomaton brought ideas that helped him make his decision to join the U.S. Navy.
Sherman said after having the interaction with Lee, making the decision to join the U.S. Navy became an easy decision for him. That decision seemed to be the right one for many reasons, he said.
The training Sherman will receive to be an Air Rescuer won’t come until he has completed basic training for the Navy. “I’ll have to do basic training first,” Sherman said. “After that I’ll go through six months of Air Rescue School. That school is in Pensacola, Fla., so I’ll get to come back to the area for that training.”
Sherman said the training would put him in a position to be involved in rescue missions involving water.
Sherman said he hopes to make a career of the military performing rescues around the world.
Sherman said his dream job would put him at sea on a regular basis.
The support of family and friends has given Sherman the extra push he needed to make the decision to join the military and move forward with his life’s plan.
Sherman is expected to remain in his position at the YMCA until his first day of military life in November.