Blevins, Kenneth, CDR

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE NAVY.
Imminent threat of being drafted with loss of 2-S deferment. The waiting list for the Air Guard (Wichita, KS) was too long. My dad was an FMF HM2 (PhM2) in WWII and recommended the Navy for training and a reputation for better food and quality of life. He was always proud of his service. So I enlisted to avoid the draft and I picked Navy because of my father's advice.

WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHERE DID YOU GO TO BOOT CAMP AND WHAT UNITS, BASES, SHIPS OR SQUADRONS WERE YOU ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
Eight years enlisted (HM) with tours in Kodiak, AK, USS RANGER CVA61 and with the Seabees at NNPU Ft Belvoir, VA. Ten years surface line (NESEP) serving in CG27, DD963 and COMDESRON TEN. Twelve years EDO in the FBM Program with tours in Wash DC, Bangor, WA and Omaha, NE. Also, the Navy provided full rides for BSNE at NC State and MSNE at the Air Force Inst of Technology.

It wasn't a path so much as an adventure, jumping from one opportunity to the next until I realized the ride was over and that it was time to do something else.

IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY?
None. I volunteered for FMF for Vietnam and was ordered to Kodiak, AK. Orders to USS Sanctuary were cancelled while I was in transit at Treasure Island, and replaced with orders to USS Ranger and direction to meet ship in Alameda as it was going to shipyard. Getting those two sets of orders were the closest I came to combat service.

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
I made some serious friends with the Sea Bees at NNPU Ft Belvoir and it was there that I began to think of the Navy as a family and it was there I was strongly encouraged to apply for the Officer Program.

While I was MPA on Joey D, BTC Jones helped me truly understand responsibility and the importance of dedicated leadership.

While I was Dept Head on SPRUANCE, the CO (Vern Clark) showed me the value and importance of the business management aspect of leadership which I made use of for the following time in uniform and in my career in industry.

My tour as Weapons Officer at SWFPAC was the most exciting and rewarding tour of my career, for detailed reasons that are inappropriate to list here. I really hated to leave.

Next would be my following assignment at USSTRATCOM where I was assigned to establish the Navy/SSP Liaison office. It was uncredited joint duty.

Finally and nearly a tie with assignments at SWFPAC and STRATCOM, was my time as SP24, Navigation Branch Hd at SSP HQ - great people, great contractors, successful program.

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
Positive memories include reenlistment aboard USS Ranger by CAPT Glindamen which competes with having LCDR Gary Roughead and CDR Vern Clark pin on my LCDR oak leaves aboard USS SPRUANCE.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
Participating in the development and implementation of the START Treaty for the Navy. Awarded JCM from Joint Staff J-5 and MSM from DIRSSP for this effort. Establishing the SSP Navy Detachment at USSTRATCOM and developing the Industrial Base Issues discussion for CINCSTRAT for the initial STRATCOM CEO Day. Awarded DMSM from CINCSTRAT and MSM from DIRSSP for these efforts.

OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR OTHER MEMORABILIA, WHICH ONE IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
First MSM at end of tour at SSP Wash DC. MSM's were rarely presented to LCDR EDOs and it was awarded for my part in developing and supporting the Navy's initial implementation of the START treaty.

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
CM1 Gus Green inadvertently encouraged me to apply for the NESEP Program and inspired me to be a good officer. Without his pushing and inspiring I likely would have left the service at the end of my enlistment.

LIST THE NAMES OF OLD FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH, AT WHICH LOCATIONS, AND RECOUNT WHAT YOU REMEMBER MOST ABOUT THEM. INDICATE THOSE YOU ARE ALREADY IN TOUCH WITH AND THOSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH.
HMC Lou Barrier, John (Jack) Leidinger and Julian Gonzalez at HM A School. Tom White, Jim Bonham, Joe Motko, Jose Cruz and HMCS John Shield at NAVSTA Kodiak. HMC Harry Lowe and HM1 Ron Champer on USS RANGER. CM1 Gus Green, UT1 Jim Russell and SW1 Pat Macy at NNPU Fort Belvoir. Jeff Kulpa, Charlie Johnson, Tricia Beckman, Carl Williams, Adrian McElwee at NESEP NC State. Mike Sasser, Paul Stoney, Bob Lutz, Jack Stewart, Vic Campbell on JOSEPHUS DANIELS. Harry Watkins, John Morse, Bill Hardy on SPRUANCE. In touch with Mike Sasser and Adrian McElwee only. Would like to be in contact with others.

CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
When I was an SA, a BM3 told me that I didn't belong in the navy and that I wouldn't last a year without getting a court martial and/or serve brig time.

When I was in HM A School, counting down days of obligated service, the company commander, HMC Barrier, told me I had the most potential of anyone in the company to be a "lifer" and I disagreed. At the time I was certain that I was going to do my obligation day for day and go home.

WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY?
Technical program management in Defense/Aerospace industry working on the TRIDENT Missile/FBM Program. Retired Jan 2010, serving as house-husband and father. Volunteer 3-5 days/week at boys elementary school.

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
Fleet Reserve Association (life member), MOAA (life member), Naval Institute, American Legion, Disabled Vets, Cruiser Sailors.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER? WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT YOUR TIME IN THE SERVICE?
Developed an appreciation for personal priorities, commitments and maintaining perspective in times of trouble. Decided that even a poor plan is better than no plan, that a plan is like an anchor when things fall apart. Learned that people truly are the most valuable resource and factor in success. Finally and most important, realized that family should be at the top of my personal priority list.

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE NAVY?
Establish, maintain and update both long range and short range personal goals and priorities. Without a plan, the future becomes luck of the draw and opportunities may not be appreciated or realized. Wherever you go, find a mentor, and make yourself available to mentor others.Take advantage of opportunities.

Get a camera and take pictures, lots of pictures, of your friends. As you get older, you'll realize that the people you work with, good or bad, not the places you've been provide the influence on your life. Realize that anything that is too easy to achieve is probably not worth the effort, and that worthwhile results usually require a lot of effort. Time flies and a lack of an investment (economic and professional) will likely result in a sorry future, when the future becomes the present.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.

TWS and the US Navy

I have reestablished contact with former shipmates.

DS 3/15/17