Former White House chief of staff Reince Priebus has been chosen to be commissioned as a Navy Reserve officer after saying he was inspired by the family of a Navy SEAL member who was killed in action in Yemen.
Priebus met the family of Senior Chief William “Ryan” Owens during an Oval Office event with Trump. Owens was killed in Yemen during a special operations raid. In his letter to the Navy, Priebus said he felt a call to serve his country after meeting with Owens’ family.
“At that moment, the gravity of every action we take in the West Wing rushed down upon my shoulders,” Priebus wrote in his letter, according to the Washington Post. “Everything suddenly became extremely real and raw. As some time passed, a few other senior aides joined me in the Cabinet Room and we discussed the consequences, harsh realities and weight of what we do every day.”
The Navy review board issued a “professional recommendation” earlier this month for Priebus and four others to serve as human resource officers. Forty-two people had applied, but only five were approved. Priebus, 46, required a waiver to serve over the usual maximum age limit on joining of 42.
Priebus had help from Secretary of State Jim Mattis, who wrote that Priebus’ background makes him an “ideal fit” for the Navy Reserve. Some are already complaining that Priebus’ acceptance is a political favor. But the Post reported that the Navy review board decided against recommending Priebus as a reserve intelligence officer.
If commissioned, Priebus will be required to spend two weeks of training in Newport, R.I., and attend drill training once a month. Other political operatives who have joined the Navy as reserve officers include former White House press secretary Sean Spicer and Hillary Clinton’s former presidential campaign manager Robby Mook.
Priebus’ sister was a Navy doctor and his father taught at Naval Station Great Lakes in Illinois.
