Senior Chief Electrician's Mate (Submarines) Kent Weekly of Coquille, Oregon retired from the U.S. Navy in May 1994 after completing 21 years of service to our country.  Weekly enlisted in the CACHE program in December 1972 from Coquille, Oregon and reported to Recruit Training Command, San Diego in June 1973 for his Basic Training.  Upon completion of Recruit Training he was transferred to Naval Training Center, San Diego to undergo a course of instruction at Basic Electricity and Electronics 'P' School (BEEP) and then Electrician's Mate 'A' school.  During this time he was screened and selected for submarine duty and upon completing both courses was advanced to E-3 and transferred to Naval Submarine Base, New London, CT for Basic Enlisted Submarine School (BESS).  Upon graduation in February 1974 he was ordered to USS Bonefish (SS-582) homeported in Pearl Harbor, HI.  He was stationed aboard Bonefish from March 1974 to June 1976 and during this time qualified in Submarines and was awarded his Enlisted Submarine Warfare Insignia (Dolphins) and advanced to Petty Officer Third Class.  He completed two deployments to the Western Pacific on Bonefish and participated in the largest Naval exercise of 1975, RIMPAC '75.

In June 1976 Weekly was transferred to USS Grayback (LPSS-574), home ported at Subic Bay Naval Base, Republic of the Philippines.  During his tenure on Grayback he was advanced to Petty Officer Second Class. He remained on Grayback until October 1977 at which time he was transferred to Naval Station Treasure Island for separation from the Navy.  Upon separation he returned home to Oregon.

In April 1978 Weekly returned to the Philippines and reenlisted at the U.S. Navy Recruiting, Class 'A' Station, Subic Bay Naval Station.  After reenlisting he was ordered to USS Grayback (SS-574).  He remained there until May 1981, advancing to Petty Officer First Class, when he was transferred to Naval Recruiting Orientation Unit, Orlando, FL for instruction in Recruiting Duty.  Upon successful completion he reported to Naval Recruiting District, Portland, Oregon working first out of the West Portland station and then in the later stages of his tour at  Naval Recruiting Station Longview.

In August 1984 Weekly returned to USS Bonefish (SS-582) homeported in Charleston, SC.  During this tour he participated in the 1986 International Naval Review in New York City held in conjunction with the Statue of Liberty's 100th anniversary over the 4th of July weekend.  In addition, he visited numerous countries in the Caribbean and Central American regions and was advanced to Chief Petty Officer.  He next reported to Deep Submergence Vehicle Turtle (DSV-3) in January 1988.  While stationed aboard Turtle he was involved in the recovery of over $6 million dollars worth of Naval assets from the ocean floor and numerous downed aircraft video surveys and scientific expeditions including one deep dive to 9,800 feet on the East Pacific Rise off the west coast of Mexico.  During this time he was a member of the crew that became entangled on the ocean floor in 1200 feet of water for 15 hours prior to being extricated.  He was advanced to Senior Chief Petty officer in 1989.

Weekly's last duty assignment took him to Submarine Training Facility, San Diego at the Submarine Base on Point Loma where he was the 1st Lieutenant Department Head and Facility Manager.  He retired from the Navy in May 1994 and immediately went to work in the private sector for the Union Pacific Railroad where he is currently employed as a Locomotive Manager.

Weekly is entitled to wear the Enlisted Submarine Warfare Insignia, Deep Submergence Insignia, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal with 2 Gold Stars, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Battle Efficiency 'E' ribbon with 2 'E's, Good Conduct Medal with 4 bronze stars, Navy Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with 2 bronze stars, Navy Overseas Service Ribbon, and Navy Recruiting Service Ribbon with the number 3.