Honoring our Veterans

To honor all serving in our military on Veteran's Day, we recently sat down with U.S. Navy Seaman Matt Saccoccie, son of our very own Vicky Saccoccie who is a Personal Lines CSR from our Kingston Branch (pictured here with Matt and her husband Joe.) We had a quick Q&A with Matt, which he graciously provided about his service to our country.

Q: What is your full name?
A: Matthew Sacccoccie

Q: How old are you?
A: I'm 22

Q: What branch of the military do you serve, adn what is your rank?
A: I'm with the U.S. Navy - Seaman E-2

Q: Why did you join the service?
A: I joined the service to get into a better financial state and make something of my life.

Q: Why did you choose the Navy?
A: I originally wanted to join the Air Force, then I went on a cruise and thought I liked being on the water, but it's much different than being on a cruise!

Q: What did your first day of service feel like?
A: I went into it thinking it would be a piece of cake, but that certainly changed as soon as I stepped off the bus. It was hectic, super loud, and super long.

Q: What were your experiences from boot camp?
A: I mostly had good experiences in bootcamp. My RDC's liked me, and I handled all the stress they threw at us pretty easily. I didn't really have any bad experiences.

Q: Where are you stationed?
A: Yokosuka, Japan

Q: What is it like there?
A: So much different than the states. It's very clean, transportation is kind of hard until you get used to it. Rush hour is crazy; there's people that have to push people in or the doors won't close on the trains, but for the most part it's like the south. The Japanese will go out of their way to help you. The Koreans don't really like Americans. You can go into an open bar or restaurant with no one in there and they will turn you away. The weather is super hot in the summer and super cold and windy in the winter.

Q: What is your job/assignment?
A: That's classified

Q: How often are you able to talk with family?
A: Weekly. Whenever I'm not working, and I'm not tired. Sleep is so precious.

Q: What is the food like there?
A: Food on the ship is the worst. Sometimes I don't even est, but food in ports is great.

Q: Have you made any close friendships?
A: I made most of my friends in bootcamp, they are my brothers for life, but yeah, the ship has been good to me. It was hard at first, but I've been networking and every other town I'm in, I'm running into someone I know.