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An up close and personal interview with U.S. Navy Veteran and Togetherweserved.com Member:
AMS1 Kevin E Dalgleish (Ret) U.S. Navy (1977-1998)
WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE MILITARY?
 My father was a career Aircrewman in the Navy and I grew up hearing how great the service was and how it helped you to be more disciplined and made a man out of you. My dad was pure old school. He gave me a leather Navy Flight jacket for my 13th birthday. It had all of his patches and his wings including a set of Australian Flight Engineer wings. I was told about how you could serve 20 years and receive half your pay for the rest of your life and I was sold.
WHAT WAS YOUR SERVICE CAREER PATH?
I went to Aviation Structural Mechanic (Structures) "A" school. Once I graduated I served in a series of squadrons starting with AIRANTISUBRON 29 (VS-29). It was a carrier based Anti-Submarine Squadron. I was an S-3A Plane Captain for my entire time there and I got out of the Navy  as an E-4.
After seven months I became so bored that I reenlisted and was sent to PATRON 31 (VP-31). I worked in the Airframes shop and was a Structures, Hydraulic, Landing Gear, and Flight Controls Collateral Duty Inspector (CDI). As far as I was told, I was the first Third Class to have that duty as it was a requirement at the time that CDI's were to be E-5's. When I did make E-5, I begged the Quality Assurance Senior Chief to allow me to attend P-3 Ground Engine Operator School. To my shock he granted my request and I graduated 2nd in the class. After about another year and a half my PRD rolled around and it was back to sea.
I ended up back in an S-3A Squadron, this time VS-37. My duties were Troubleshooter Shop LPO and Airfames CDI. When we were around 3/4 of the way through our WESTPAC Deployment aboard the USS Constellation, I was transferred to the Quality Assurance Shop. I'd been promoted to AMS 1 by then. My duties there were Full Systems Quality Assurance Representative (QAR) and Flightdeck QAR.
By the time I was due to go back to shore duty, I'd had my fill of fixed wing aircraft and decided to take orders to HELSUPPRON 3 (HC-3). We had the dependable and ancient H-46D Seaknight's. My duties were Airframes Supervisor and CDI. I ended up in QA again and learned alot about figuring out Rotor Track and Balance on our new computer. Yes, computers were a new thing for us. The program was on a 5 inch floppy disk, if that tells you anything. Anyway it was time to head back to sea duty and I chose to go to HC-11, right next door.
I was assigned to DET 5 as the LPO when I checked in at HC-11. The DET's were great, 28 assigned, 2 Helicopters, and a real family like atmosphere. This helped out immensely because after a short time at home we deployed for Desert Shield aboard the USS Mount Hood (AE-29) in the Persian Gulf (This was before they started calling it the Arabian Gulf). Well, the Shield turned into the Storm and we got real busy. Everyone was great so we seemed to have minimal problems, lots of work, but minimal problems. We returned home and sat around doing the shore duty things and soon deployed for Southern Watch aboard the USS Shasta (AE-33). We had mostly the same crew with just a few changes. For one thing, this time we had women in the Det. They were good workers and knew there jobs and lightened the mood of our usual deployments.
When we returned I was sent to the squadron's homeguard QA as LPO. I was getting short and wouldn't be deploying with DET 5 again so it was a good move. Well planned also. I finished up my tour and transferred back to HC-3 on Brother/Sister duty.
 I completed Instructor School at NTC San Diego and reported to the squadron and was asked by the Maintenance Officer if I would work in QA for a year before reporting to the school side of the squadron, as the maintenance side was short handed of knowledgeable techs. He was my Maintenance Officer in HC-11, so I said sure and ended up staying in QA for my whole Tour. I didn't mind, it was like old home week with so many people I had served with in HC-11. Good Officers, Chiefs, and Personnel. I had a great time.
Until, I had 9 months until my Fleet Reserve date and I'd be done and gone and the Detailer sent me as Ship's Company, on deployment in the Arabian Gulf, aboard the USS Constellation. Wonderful. Well, I didn't plan on wasting my time, so I learned and became qualified in nearly every shop assigned to the Airframes branch. My actual job was Airframes LPO, but I felt that It wouldn't be right to be in charge of people without knowing their jobs, besides, it made the time go by faster. We returned home from the deployment and I had alot of things to get done before I transferred to the Fleet Reserve. I was able to get it all done and was finally, happily, retired.
FROM YOUR ENTIRE SERVICE CAREER WHAT PARTICULAR MEMORY STANDS OUT?
Well, I always tried to learn as much as I could where ever I was stationed. This stuck with me during my entire career. You can never know too much, and it is too easy to know too little.
OF THE MEDALS, AWARDS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES OR DEVICES YOU RECEIVED, WHAT IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
 Earning my Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist (EAWS) Wings was a meaningful event. I did it when I was busier than a one legged man, well you know how that goes. Also, my Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal was a nice surprise because I was never in for the Medals or the prestige, I just wanted to serve my Country. That Medal surprised me and I appreciate those that had anything to do with my receiving it.
WHICH INDIVIDUAL PERSON FROM YOUR SERVICE STANDS OUT AS THE ONE WHO HAD THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
AMCM Leonard Humes wins that one hands down. He looked out for me and helped me keep what sometimes was a very bad temper in check and he appreciated my work. He was a great leader and I don't believe I ever told him that.
CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE THAT WAS FUNNY AT THE TIME AND STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
When we returned from our Southern Watch deployment in HC-11, DET 5, I transferred myself out of the DET and into Homeguard QA. The job was between me and one other guy and no one was making the decision. I had had it up to here with being in a  DET and wanted a bit of a break before transferring. So after the cruise I took 30 days leave and when I returned I was sitting in my DET shack and my DET Maintenance Officer came in and asked me what I had planned for that day.
So, out of the blue I just said, "I guess I'm going to go and get my check out cards and start checking out of the DET and into Homeguard QA." He said, "Great," and congratulated me for getting the job, so I thought I'd see how far I could run with it. Well, no one questioned it all the way up the line and I was soon sitting in the Homeguard QA, LPO desk feeling very happy and relieved.
WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER THE SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT JOB?
Well, it turned out that a service connected disability had me rated at 70% disabled and unemployable, so I have been fully retired since leaving the service. I'm not bitter about the disability, I'm pleased that I was able to complete my 20 years and retire before it became too disabling.
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 Veterans of Foreign Wars, and and a Life Member of the Disabled American Veterans, and a member of the American Legion.
Well, all of the Associations provide me with the old camaraderie that the service provided. When you first join the service it's a culture shock until you develop a Military Mindset and after you get out it seems to be the same. It's hard to talk to civilians who have had no Military experience, so wham, culture shock, again.
HOW HAS MILITARY SERVICE INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND CAREER?
I feel like the military provides you with a double dose of common sense. You don't need to ask stupid questions most of the time, and you seem to have an over abundance of patience that wasn't there when you first signed up.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR THOSE THAT ARE STILL SERVING?
 If you are new to the service try and remember there is no forced draft, you enlisted. You made a conscious decision to join and there is no use complaining about how things are run or why this and why that. You signed a contract like a man or a woman and you should honor that contract as such.
Now, if you make it past your first enlistment and realize you liked what you were doing, then try and qualify in everything that is available to you. That is, as long as it doesn't get in the way of your regular duties. Work in some college courses, get a degree. These are the pathways to advancement. Enjoy the career.
IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU MAINTAIN A BOND WITH YOUR SERVICE AND THOSE YOU SERVED WITH?
 I have found so many old shipmates. Before TWS, I had no way of finding my old friends from the service. Especially, those from way back at the beginning of my career. This site has been a wonderful tool in staying connected with some of the best people I have ever known!
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TWS VOICES
TWS Voices are the personal stories of men and women who served in the US Military and convey how serving their Country has made a positive impact on their lives. If you would like to participate in a future edition of Voices, or know someone who might be interested, please contact TWS Voices HERE.
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