York Alum James Bersani Promoted to Third Class Petty Officer

Submitted by Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205.

Elmhurst District 205 Night Supervisor Anthony Bersani’s son, James (who is a 2006 York alum), was just promoted to Third Class Petty Officer by the U.S. Coast Guard, having finished aviation technical training.

James attended what the Coast Guard calls “A” school in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, where he spent six months at the Aviation Technical Training Center.

This aviation coursework represents a very intensive program which specifically trains the men and women to become an Avionics Electrical Technician. In most “A” school training classes, a certain percentage drop out, due to the difficulty of either the academic or physical challenges. Officer Bersani’s class, for example, began with 20 trainees. Upon completion of this program, 16 coast guardsmen were promoted to rank of Third Class Petty Officer.

Photo 1: James Bersani, York High School Class of 2006, is congratulated by his dad, Anthony, upon his completion of aviation technical training and promotion to Third Class Petty Officer by the U.S. Coast Guard. He is stationed in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Anthony is the Night Supervisor for Elmhurst District 205.

Photo 2: The C130 plane is the largest cargo plane the Coast Guard uses for mission in the US and internationally. Deployment missions include search/rescue, transport and sending aid to disaster areas around the globe. Third Class Petty Officer James Bersani is assigned to the C130 as a Aviation Electrician Technician and will also participate in some deployments. The base in Elizabeth City, NC is the hub for C130s. This plane is on display at the entrance to the base.

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