Jones, Michael, CMDCM

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE NAVY.
My Uncle and Mother were Navy Veterans, and I needed some health insurance to take care of my wife. I knew the Army and Marines were not for me. I talked to the Navy and the Air Force, and the Air Force actually told me to join the Navy. I became an FC because shooting missiles sounded cooler than shooting torpedoes.

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?
I went to Boot Camp and FC 'A' and 'C' schools in Great Lakes Illinois.
I served 5 years on USS Benfold DDG-65.
I served 3 years at White Sands Missile Range, NM.
I served another 4 years on USS Benfold DDG-65, thanks to the CNSP Sea Swap.
I served 1 year at CSCS Det San Diego.
I am serving 4 years on USS Preble DDG-88.
I am awaiting Command Selection as a Command Master Chief.

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
I have served the most years of any crew member for USS Benfold DDG-65, thanks to Sea Swap. She is a great ship, and she continues to serve well.

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
Working with LT Mark Gallagher, my mentor when he was FC1 , onboard USS Benfold.

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?
The NCM I received from WSMR, I worked with some extremely talented civilians and military there. Particularly challenging was getting Research Rockets up to speed to pass an ESI, and launch a Rocket, in 6 weeks.

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
Mark Gallagher, "Making friends and Influencing People", he doesn't let the hard or unpopular way stand in his way. He takes the tough jobs and makes things better just by working in them. He taught me to be uncompromising in accomplishing excellence, and to make a new job if you aren't offered one, or make the one you have better.

Joel McCoy is an incredible influence as well, he does the right thing no matter what, and isn't afraid to stand toe to toe to make sure others do the same thing.

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?
Watching deployment videos when you aren't on deployment anymore. When you are there, things seem normal, after the fact you realize how rdiciulous you actually were.

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?
I am currently in between serving as a Combat Systems Maintenance Manager and a Command Master Chief.

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
American Legion. I serve as a member of Burial Honor Guard when I am able.

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?
Structure, and respect.

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE NAVY?
Strive to achieve yours goals and dreams. Don't let someone keep you from things you know are right.

Work hard and take care of your people, and they will take care of you.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
It has helped to maintain a contact network that is not completely crapped out with non-relevant garbage!