Well, the bottom line is this, I've always wanted to serve. My reasons are not as honorable as most people you'll talk to about it. My grandfather, uncle, several cousins, and both parents served in the military in one capacity or another, however, it was not really a matter of family legacy or tradition that any of the rest of us serve. At least, I wasn't able to see it, and believe me, a kid like I was, it would have been nice to have known something that someone in my family could have been proud of. Since I joined Cub Scouts and was told the importance of saluting the flag and what it meant for each of us that there were people who were willing to die for our right to live free, I knew that I would one day serve in the military because I wanted to also be counted among those who considered it an honor to be willing to give their life in defense of that freedom. During the first Gulf War back in 1991, I tried to join the Army National Guard. However, my eyesight was not good enough to even be a cook. I, therefore, went on to Plan B. I went to college, ended up dropping out, and spent a couple of years working odd jobs. I started my own Web Development company. Always knowing in the back of my mind that serving our country was what I really wanted to do. Over the 15 years that followed my original attempt, I tried to get into the military by way of civilian routes on two separate occasions, which neither panned out. Until one day, I'd put a business venture to rest after working on it for more than 5 years. I was looking through job listings online and saw that the Navy Reserves was looking for Chaplains - it was worth a call. And the rest, as they say, is history. I joined, not as a Chaplain, but rather, a Religious Program Specialist, which didn't work out in the end, so I started my Navy career as a Weather Observer (Aerographer's Mate-AG), before I was able to cross-rate to the job of Mass Communication Specialist-MC as I was preparing to leave for Iraq.

As I mentioned previously, I joined as a Religious Program Specialist (RP), which didn't work out, so in Boot Camp, I reclassified to Aerographer's Mate (AG), attended AG "A" school in Biloxi, Mississippi at Keesler, Air Force Base. Returned home to San Diego, California, and served with Naval Meteorological / Oceanographic Reserve Activity (NMORA) until I was mobilized to go to Iraq as an Individual Augmentee (IA) working in Detainee Operations. Before leaving for Iraq, I submitted cross-rating paperwork for the Mass Communication Specialist (MC) rating. I then departed for Fort Bliss Texas for three months of combat training with the Army, as it was the Army we would be working for once in Iraq. We were affectionately referred to as the "NARMY". In Iraq, I was originally part of the Navy Provisional Detainee Battalion-Ramadi 2, which eventually became NPDB-Ramadi 3, though we were not located anywhere near Ramadi - our FOB was at Camp Taji, the shiniest junkyard in the Middle East. After nine months there, I returned once again to San Diego. While in Iraq, I received my letter of acceptance into the MC community, so it was time to meet my new family. While in Iraq, I'd seen commercials on AFN for "combat photojournalists" which caught my attention. And I wondered whether there might be an opportunity for me to get into that part of the community at some point during my career. Originally, I was placed with Pacific Fleet, however, because there were no billets available for a Sailor in my pay grade, I was shuffled over to the combat camera unit Fleet Combat Camera Group Pacific. I guess there WAS an opportunity after all. I was asked what I wanted to do, to which I replied, "I'd like to go to school to learn how to use this equipment." So, after drilling with the active-duty Sailors for four months, I left for Fort George G. Mead, MD to attend the Defense Information School (DINFOS) to study Public Affairs and Mass Communications in a military setting. After graduation, I served with Fleet Combat Camera Group-Pacific for a year before deciding to switch to Active Duty status. During that time, I was able to deploy aboard USS Bonhomme Richard (LPD-6) during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010, and Talisman Sabre 2011. After I took my oath of enlistment to Active Duty, I returned to Recruit Training Command (RTC) Great Lakes for the Navy/Other Service Veteran (NAVET/OSVET) indoctrination command, where I received orders to ship out to Yokosuka, Japan aboard the U.S. Navy's only forward-deployed nuclear aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73) after returning to DINFOS for Video Documentary "C" school. While aboard the "GW", we deployed pretty much every six months for a six-month stint at-sea performing flight ops, and demonstrating a forward-leaning show of force in the Indo-Asian Pacific region. I was able to visit South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, Guam, and I could smell Manilla Bay when we anchored out for a single night before getting back underway due to some bad behavior of another branch's personnel. Before PCSing, I was able to take part in the Navy's first-ever three carrier port shift. USS Theodore Roosevelt changed ports from Norfolk, VA to San Diego, USS Ronald Reagan changed ports from San Diego to Yokosuka, and GW changed ports from Yokosuka to Norfolk to undergo a mid-life refresh. This is a little more than I was originally planning to write, so I'll cover other commands and assignments in future questions.

Working detainee operations at Camp Taji in Iraq was my first combat experience. I would have to say that it was significant because we were there to facilitate the care, custody, and control of detainees. Men who may or may not have had something to do with the death of my brothers and sisters in arms. And my job was to make a way for their family members to visit them. Some of these guys we'd had locked up for several years - the last time they'd seen their kids, they were infants, some of them not even born yet. For some of these kids, it was their first time seeing their father. Witnessing mothers and wives, families tearing each other apart for just a few fleeting moments with a man who might not even want to see them in some cases. It left me with a lot of mixed feelings that I'm not even sure I'm able to clearly explain at this point - so I move on to things I can understand and get a handle on. --------------- During our 2013 fall patrol aboard USS George Washington, our Carrier Strike Group was tasked to facilitate humanitarian aid to the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan hit the area in early November. The GW delivered food and fresh water to victims of the devastation on the ground in the Tacloban area for eight days during Operation Damayan before being relieved by USS Germantown. We shared the story of both the Navy and the efforts of the Sailors, but also, the people who were affected. www.facebook.com/USSGW was the place to find information about up-to-the-minute work happening on the flight deck, which helped the people on the ground. --------------- Most recently, I was part of the crew assigned to USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) during the catastrophic fire of 12JUL2020. As a result of the NCIS investigation and Navy fact-finding study, a young man was arrested and charged for the responsibility of the ship's fire and ultimate destruction. Ultimately, he was exonerated for reasons I'm not going to share here because I've got some opinions I'm not willing to share publicly. And the Navy concluded that the ship was not worth saving, therefore, the decision was made to remove all of the salvageable equipment and valuable parts, and decommission the ship. I was a part of the last crew to serve aboard the BHR.

It's safe to say I've had some of my best and worst days aboard USS Bonhomme Richard. It's not the ship's fault or leadership. In fact, leadership has to be my favorite part of the experience. When I first put in for the orders, the ship was stationed in Sasebo, and I had no idea there was a hull swap in the future. And before I even checked on board, the ship transited back to San Diego to go into the dry docks for its mid-life overhaul. I've never had any desire to be resigned to the docks while on Sea Duty, but I'm making the best of the time with my family. It was also during this tour that I was recognized by my chain of command and meritoriously promoted to First Class. The silver lining on this cloud is that I've had the opportunity to go TAD aboard USS Princeton (CG 59) for Fleet Week in San Francisco - as well as spending several months aboard USS San Diego (LPD 22) documenting exercises and preparing the ship for their new MC. And then, there's the fire. Can't really think of that as a fond memory per se, though I do remember many of my fellow crew members who worked tirelessly to fight the ship in the hopes we might be able to rescue her from decommissioning. To no avail.

My proudest memory so far is graduating from the Defense Information School. In the end, I was able to obtain and maintain a 90+% GPA throughout the course which was six months long. I'd never even HAD a 90% GPA at any point in my academic career, let alone held one. At graduation, I sat in the third chair next to two VERY talented and skilled young Sailors who I very much look forward to serving within the Fleet. For the final two months of the school, I served as the Class Leader as I held the highest pay grade. I was also proud to have finished the course with the same number of students as we began with having zero failures during the Navy-unique portion of the course.

I would say that the most meaningful at this point in my career is the Navy/Marine Commendation Medal. I earned it as an E-3 while in Iraq. Working for arguably the best Chief we had on board, who has since become an Ensign (well-deserved). He pushed everyone to be better than we were when we walked in the door, stepped off the plane, started the training. He encouraged us, sometimes even threatened us, and in the end, I think we can all say we left Iraq better Sailors than we went there as.

I've often referred to this Chief as the type of leader who could tear you a new one, and make you want to thank him for it when he was through. He was, and I'm sure, still is very eloquent and quick with a one-liner that'll put the whole room in stitches. But at the end of the day, he gets the job done. He made all of us in the command we were at, work harder, more efficiently, and with a certain amount of pride that, well, I was proud to be a part of. He truly exemplified the portion of the creed that says "I am committed to excellence, and the fair treatment of all". GMC Eric Holmes is front and center crouching in the photo that accompanies this section. He has been, as I mentioned earlier, promoted to the rank of Ensign in the year since we returned from Iraq.

I'm still considering what career path to take as a civilian, even though I am still an Active Reservist. My experience in Iraq earned me a Journeyman's Apprentice Certificate in Corrections, however, I'm not sure if that's the route I want to go or not. Check back with me in a year - if I'm not in Afghanistan at the time.

I am a member of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. They have prizes they give away from their website (www.IAVA.org), but they are also working on legislation that helps vets who've been wounded in GWOT, as well as helping to make sure VA and GI Bill benefits are not overlooked and allowed to fall by the way-side. I just joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars the other day. The reason being that I've been told that they are a good resource to go to for networking opportunities as well as a good source of support for my family should anything happen to me. And that's important to me, that my family is taken care of regardless of what should happen.

I am a lot more serious about how I approach everything now. I used to be casual in all of my dealings, from business to personal endeavors. Don't get me wrong, being in business for myself meant that I had to go out and get what I wanted - but the Navy has helped me to explore my limitations in a way I hadn't before I joined. I hope that by joining the Navy, I'll be able to be a better example to my son, better support to my wife, and a dad my daughter will be proud of as they grow up.

Be sure to make time for those who support you in your service. If it's your mom and dad - make sure to set aside some time to visit with them when you're not deployed. If it's your husband/wife and/or kids - don't miss a chance to go for a walk or just a glass of your favorite beverage sitting on the back porch or in front of a fire. Sometimes it doesn't seem like it's enough, but it's a much happier memory than all of the missed opportunities because you were chasing after your own desires, and filling up your time with endeavors that had nothing to do with the reasons why you joined in the first place. And that's what they honor, that's what they support. That's the person they want to have around for many years to come - and you never know when your next deployment may be your last. Don't let them spend the rest of their lives thinking about how they wished they'd have been able to see you just one last time...

It's been nice to see where my shipmates have been and where they're planning to go. To see some of the photos and operations they've been a part of. It's amazing to me how far we've all come in just four years - I really look forward to where we'll go over the next four! TWS has simply been an extension of the pride I have in being a Sailor, I'm able to display my achievements, and keep in contact with the people I've served with. I just wish the service was free somehow. Somehow, I know that EVERYONE would sign up rather than avoid it because they've heard that it costs money. The cost is worth it to me in my opinion - the ability to keep up with everyone, it's priceless. KC 1.19.24