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An up close and personal interview with U.S. Navy Veteran and Togetherweserved.com Member:
LT Wes Holland US Navy (Ret) (1985-2008)
WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE MILITARY?
At the time I was looking for direction. I was out of high school for a couple of years and felt that I needed to kick myself in the butt. After taking the ASVAB I qualified for every rate and I went for the EW rating in the Advanced Electronics  Field because I was handy with the computers (digital dinosaurs) of the day.
It was also a tumultuous time in the US in 1985. Remember this was Ronald Reagan's second term and just four years after the end of the Iran hostages and a year and a half after the bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut. It was also the final push of the Cold War. I was coming of age in an era after the low point of the post Vietnam, post counter cultural revolution and the rise of "conspicuous consumption". It was also a time of an increasing sense of pride in being an American. Four years after the miracle on ice and a year after the highly successful 1984 Olympics in LA (I worked as a volunteer for those games) it was a time of increasing trust and respect for American institutions and a resurgence in America's economics.
With these two seemingly diametrically opposed positions shaping the new American epoch, I honestly felt the military represented my best chance to take advantage of this wave and earn money for college. I had no idea that I would find a career that I would be so passionate about.
WHAT WAS YOUR SERVICE CAREER PATH?
 I think the service history section of my profile covers my service career path nicely. My career path philosophy was to always qualify in my rating first then in anything else I could.
One advantage I found in a military career over most civilian careers is the fact that you are guaranteed a new opportunity and or challenge every few years.
I spent a little over 12 years enlisted in the EW rating and was initiated (my "day of days" in the Goat Locker of USS Valley Forge (CG 50)) to Chief in 1998. I applied for and earned my commission under the Limited Duty Officer program and was promoted to Ensign at 0901 (0001Z) on the 1st of January 2000, in the wardroom of USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) at homeport in Yokosuka Japan. I always make the unofficial claim of being the first officer commissioned in the new millennium.
DID YOU PARTICIPATE IN COMBAT OPERATIONS? IF SO, COULD YOU DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH WERE SIGNIFICANT TO YOU?
I had the opportunity to serve as the CIC Officer and TAO on USS Valley Forge (CG-50) in support of combat operations during Operation Enduring Freedom and was the TAO during the GOPLAT take down during the opening phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
USS Valley Forge (CG-50) served as  the Command and Control platform for that operation that involved Coalition Special Forces (Polish GROM, British Commandos, and US Navy SEALs). For the first time in combat we used both of our SH-60s at the same time - manually sluing our SRQ-4 Link between the two to provide instruction and relay real time video back to CIC.
My strongest memory of this operation was the utter silence in CIC. In spite of all the different command elements and imbedded press, the CIC was completely quiet and professional throughout the operation. I was so proud of my Sailors - the training paid off.
2004 and 2005 I served as a TEC/TCS Officer with SEAL Team 3/NSWG-ONE/NSWTG-AP/NSWTU-CENT/NSWTU (SOTF) West. I participated in and supported numerous Direct Action and convoy missions and served as the establishing Officer in Charge(OIC) of Camp Thomas E. Retzer Habbaniya Iraq. My additional mission in support of NSWC allowed me to serve in operations throughout the Iraqi Theater with Army, AF, USMC and Coalition forces. This tour was the most difficult, most challenging, and most rewarding of my career.
WHICH, OF THE VESSELS OR DUTY STATIONS YOU WERE ASSIGNED TO, DO YOU HAVE THE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY?
 This is a difficult choice. My time with Naval Special Warfare will always be the highlight of my career. The opportunity to work in that community was a unique, highly motivating, and rewarding experience.
On balance though I have to say that USS Valley Forge (CG-50) holds the fondest memories if for no other reason than the length of time I served on that ship. Two tours, eight years, seven deployments serving on the deck plates, in the Chief's Mess, and wardroom. The Forge (a.k.a. Happy Valley a.k.a. Gray Thing 50) was my crucible. I earned my anchors on her. I earned my bars on her. She and the crews I served with on her will always hold fond memories for me.
FROM YOUR ENTIRE SERVICE CAREER WHAT PARTICULAR MEMORY STANDS OUT?
My memory of 9/11.
It was Tuesday morning on board USS Valley Forge (CG-50) and I was serving as Command Duty Officer having duty the day and night before. The ship was scheduled to get underway that morning to serve as ready deck for Deck Landing Qualifications (DLQ's) for the  Helicopter Squadron Light (HSL's) operating out of Naval Air Station North Island San Diego. The ship's duty section was up early and I was running the Underway Check-Off List in preparation for getting the ship underway. Most of the Department Heads as well as the Commanding and Executive Officer (CO/XO) were on board as crew liberty and shore leave for officers expired early that day. The Operations Officer was the first to report that a plane hit one of the World Trade Towers. This news was in the background as the ship continued it's routine.
More details began to filter in. "It was a small plane". "It was a passenger jet". Then the news came in that a second plane hit the second tower. Our CO immediately took charge from the bridge. I went to the ship's Combat Information Center (CIC). The CO put the ship into condition III (war steaming) and I assumed duty as the ship's Tactical Action Officer (TAO).
The ship was moving away from the pier with tugs when I received word from the Radio of an incoming op immediate (OBO) message BLUE DART (terrorism threat warning). Shortly after receiving this message, the ship received confirmation that the Pentagon was also hit.
The CO took Valley Forge out of San Diego harbor at speed and began to steam at flank speed north. Somehow he anticipated the ATC0 order (immediately land all commercial and private aircraft) about 20 minutes before the FAA made the call. He anticipated the need to provide Western Air Defense Sector (WADS) with additional radar and air defense coverage to the West of the Los Angeles airports.
My chair in CIC gave me a chilling ringside seat as the four Large Screen Displays quickly showed a radar coverage bubble and linked picture with no non military aircraft airborne throughout the Western seaboard.
Valley Forge was then ordered north to cover the air approaches to San Francisco and track the remaining commercial air traffic on the Trans-Pacific air east-bound routs.
After the last commercial flight was confirmed down, Valley Forge was again ordered north to cover the approaches to Seattle Tacoma and monitor the airspace in southwest Canada.
We spent the next seven weeks in the Pacific Northwest as the WADS alert air defense platform. The crew spent that time mastering the new core competency of Anti-Terrorism Force Protection (ATFP).
The images of that day still haunt me. I was focused on my job and on my Sailors but we did have a large TV positioned in CIC and eventually witnessed the videos of the attacks and aftermath in New York and Washington DC. (The story of flight 93 coming to light as well).
I have the flag that was flying that day on Valley Forge and took it with me to Iraq in 2004 and 2005 when I deployed with SEAL Team 3. It flew over our base at RPC Camp Victory in Baghdad and our base at Camp Thomas E. Retzer in Habbaniya Iraq.
I have it still.
OF THE MEDALS, AWARDS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES OR DEVICES YOU RECEIVED, WHAT IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
This is an absolutely no contest decision for me - my first ESWS pin! I earned that qualification the first time on USS Fort Fisher (LSD-40) in 1987. This was back when the qualification was still voluntary and at the time marked a significant achievement for a Third  Class Petty Officer as very few enlisted Sailors wore the pin.
I remember the oral board was quite an ordeal. Just me, the CO the, XO and the CMC (BTCM(SW) Bill Baranko - an old salt whose name still sends a chill of fear and respect down my spine - starting on the flying bridge and finishing in aft steering 3 hours later. The hardest part of the board was the questions on the weapons and radar systems of the frigates, destroyers, and cruisers moored on the piers around us. The CO and CMC really put me through the wringer - but I was prepared and in the end very proud of my achievement and thankful for all the help and support my shipmates (both treees and blues) provided along the way.
I felt a real sense of pride when I signed my name EW3(SW) for the first time.
WHICH INDIVIDUAL PERSON FROM YOUR SERVICE STANDS OUT AS THE ONE WHO HAD THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
 There are too many people that I owe so much to who helped me during my career. From over 23 years of service it would be impossible to single out an individual. I have to say that the people - all the people I served with from my boot camp company to my last tour at ATG Pac - impacted me. On the deck plates or in the dirt of Iraq, I learned something (good or bad) from everyone. I feel my friend and mentor in the Chief's Mess of USS Chancellorsville (CG-62), GSCS Wayne Smith (now CDMCM) put it best - "we are nothing without our people". Thank you all!
CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE THAT WAS FUNNY AT THE TIME AND STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
 So many. The one that popped into my head first was a running joke that occurred for about two weeks on the transit to the Gulf for OIF/OEF. I was on USS Valley Forge (CG-50) and she was a block one cruiser not equipped with the SQR-19 towed array (tail). Every night, in spite of numerous chats, e-mails, and OPSUMs, the CRUDESGRU watch on the carrier would radio over for our tail status. We would always answer "our tail is wet"!
A Coke can and confetti through the pneumatic messaging tubes was always good for a laugh too!
WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER THE SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT JOB?
 I am now a science educator and Docent at the Birch Aquarium at Scripts Oceanographic Institution. I also work as an ocean kayak guide and crew on private sail boats (over 70'). I also write tthough I haven't sold or been published - yet!
WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
I am a life member of the US Naval Institute, DAV, and VFW. All these organizations allow me to keep a finger on the pulse of issues that impact our naval services and veterans.
HOW HAS MILITARY SERVICE INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND CAREER?
 Oh boy this is easy - discipline and direction. The core values of honor, courage, and commitment take on a new and perhaps a more meaningful significance once you take off the uniform. These values serve me well and in all honesty, put me way ahead of the game when it comes to working with or competing with people in the civilian world. Attention to detail is a big plus too.
"Plan the dive, dive the plan, expect and adapt to contingencies, remember your training, execute professionally."
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR THOSE THAT ARE STILL SERVING?
As I said earlier, you are lucky that you are in a career that provides a new opportunity and challenge every few years. Ensure that you are fully qualified in your rating or assigned division/department. There is no substitute for being the recognized subject matter expert within your  command and area of responsibility. Take on any collateral duties that you can and that do not interfere with your primary duties. The more NEC's/AQD's you have - the more valuable your potential contribution to your command's mission and the broader your mentoring base is for yourself and your Sailors. It is key to set short range goals but have a long range plan. If you are enlisted, earn or complete your college degree(s) - it will make you more well rounded as a Sailor and pay dividends after you leave the service.
The mantra that was drilled into my head on the Teams (plan the dive, dive the plan...) is a good viewpoint that is applicable to most situations in and out of uniform. My best piece of advice to you that are still serving, is that no matter what your position in the chain of command - work with the people who work with you, look after the people above you, and protect the people below you.
"Remember you are nothing without your people."
(Document everything in your medical record - everything!)
IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU MAINTAIN A BOND WITH YOUR SERVICE AND THOSE YOU SERVED WITH?
 This community is so important. Not only for networking or looking up old friends, but as a storehouse of living memory of the naval services. I encourage all members to fill out their Reflections On Your Service and preserve your stories for yourselves and for others.
Fair Winds and Following Seas.
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Field because I was handy with the computers (digital dinosaurs) of the day.
the Command and Control platform for that operation that involved Coalition Special Forces (Polish GROM, British Commandos, and US Navy SEALs). For the first time in combat we used both of our SH-60s at the same time - manually sluing our SRQ-4 Link between the two to provide instruction and relay real time video back to CIC.
Helicopter Squadron Light (HSL's) operating out of Naval Air Station North Island San Diego. The ship's duty section was up early and I was running the Underway Check-Off List in preparation for getting the ship underway. Most of the Department Heads as well as the Commanding and Executive Officer (CO/XO) were on board as crew liberty and shore leave for officers expired early that day. The Operations Officer was the first to report that a plane hit one of the World Trade Towers. This news was in the background as the ship continued it's routine.
showed a radar coverage bubble and linked picture with no non military aircraft airborne throughout the Western seaboard. 
Class Petty Officer as very few enlisted Sailors wore the pin.
command and area of responsibility. Take on any collateral duties that you can and that do not interfere with your primary duties. The more NEC's/AQD's you have - the more valuable your potential contribution to your command's mission and the broader your mentoring base is for yourself and your Sailors. It is key to set short range goals but have a long range plan. If you are enlisted, earn or complete your college degree(s) - it will make you more well rounded as a Sailor and pay dividends after you leave the service.
