Operations Specialist |
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Service Photo |
Service Details |
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Current Service Status
USN Veteran
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Current/Last Rank
Petty Officer Second Class
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Current/Last Primary NEC
OS-0340-Global Command & Control Systems Maritime 4.x Operator
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Current/Last Rating/NEC Group
Operations Specialist
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Primary Unit
1988-1993, OS-0000, USS Shreveport (LPD-12)
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Previously Held NEC
OS-0000-Operations Specialist
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Service Years
1988 - 1996
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Official/Unofficial US Navy Certificates
Operation Desert Storm
Cold War
Plank Owner
Suez Canal
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What are you doing now:
After 25 years combined active duty and contractor support, I had enough of 'gubmut work'. It was time for something new and in the commercial sector. No regrets over the work I did while in Defense. It was good stuff, for the right people. But, contractor companies didn't hold that view and being a contractor had become far too similar to being a government employee in that regard.
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Reflections on PO2 Brent's
US Navy Service
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PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE NAVY.
The chance to serve, and wear the uniform. To me it was also a higher hurdle than anything in civilian life. I had been reading of military and naval history all of my life since childhood.
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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?
Joined the Navy on Delayed Entry in June 1988. After Boot Camp at Great Lakes, attended OS-A School in Dam Neck, Virginia Beach, VA, graduating in December 88 and reporting aboard USS Shreveport LPD 12 just before Christmas. I spent 4 years and some change aboard Shreveport, before reporting to BUPERS in May 1993, for temporary duty because of my original shore duty orders being canceled at the very last minute. After 8 months there, I reported to Naval Space Command in Dahlgren, VA in December 1993. I served there until July 1996, when I left the Navy at my EAOS and returned to civilian life, becoming a Defense Contractor.
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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?
Aboard Shreveport, we only ever went to Battle Stations for real, one time. Was in the Persian Gulf during Desert Storm. All the Gator ships were anchored in the vicinity of Kuwait, when a report was made that the Iraqi Air Force had sent an air strike against us. About 5 minutes before GQ was sounded, I remember myself and several others being in our racks in the berthing, (we were the off duty CIC Watch Team). One or two people and myself just suddenly got a feeling we needed to get up and get dressed ASAP. We had heard a lot of running feet on the deck above, as well as some talking in the berthing area which seemed slightly frantic. I guess we just kind of sensed something was up. After getting dressed and talking for a minute or so, the klaxon sounded and the BMOW went through the GQ script, then ended it with, "This is not a drill", then repeated the process several more times. We all stood there looking at one another for the first couple of seconds, but bolted out of the berthing before the first cycle of the klaxon was even finished. My Battle Station was STBD Lookout. When I arrived, the BMSN I was relieving had a genuine look of fear, but he was still on his game. Gave me the lowdown on why they sounded GQ along with the usual turnover information. As this was happening, the embarked Marines were also positioning themselves about the ship in two man Stinger AAM teams. All 20+ Gators weighed anchor and got under way immediately, but no Iraqi aircraft ever showed up. It got out later, that someone had hit the panic button over nothing. Who, I have no idea.
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OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
Of the two, LPD 12 was the best. Better people overall in the crew, better leadership from very top, and simply more interesting at a sea command. While Naval Space Command helped launch my post-Navy career, it was overwhelmingly Government Civilian oriented. The active duty Sailors there, were little more than red headed step children. Even the word of officers had little weight with the command.
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FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
Walking out to morning quarters on the flight deck in 1989 in the Med, and seeing a Soviet Mod Kashin close enough to our stern to spit on. Quite a few Russian sailors were on deck over there. All our CPOs and Officer were telling us to act as normal proceed to quarters, which we did. A few minutes later, the Mod Kashin kicked in the engines and departed, putting up quite a rooster tail. Was also a very calm day that morning and the water looked like glass.
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WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
Having served in Operations Desert Shield/Storm.
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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 3 medals awarded by the USA, Saudi Arabia & Kuwait for Desert Storm are the most meaningful, because there was an obvious, direct result from our participation. The result that Kuwait was not allowed to be absorbed into Iraq against Kuwait's will. And, that had we not gotten involved, Saddam most likely would have invaded Saudi Arabia in time.
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WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
Captain Montgomery, CO, USS Shreveport. He was a relatively quiet man, but maintained very high standards of performance while in command, which the CO before him, nor either of the two I served under afterward, ever matched. For those of us Operations Specialists who worked on the Bridge, or in CIC, if he saw you were very good at your job or particular part of your job, he would try to challenge you, try to prove you wrong. Not to get you in trouble or anything, but almost like a game of dare, competition. It challenged us to constantly keep improving our skill, and I think that is that standard stuck with many of us after leaving Shreveport. It is stuck with me to this day.
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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.
From Boot Camp on, there were many memorable 'characters' to say the least. Men who would not fit in today's 'kinder/gentler' Navy. Most of the friends I did serve with were from LPD 12, in Operations Department, a few of the saltier deck apes, and others from among the crew. I'm in touch with nearly all of them, either here on TWS or other social media. What I remember most about them and what still shows in them today, is they never took themselves too seriously, never made it all about 'themselves' and to this day, do not expect a pat on the back for having served in the U.S. Navy. Whether they did just one enlistment, or a full career, they're all grateful to have been allowed to serve something 'bigger' than just themselves. It may be a generational thing, I don't know. But with rare exceptions, I don't see the same kind of thinking among the current generation of Sailors today.
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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?
There are many, but the one that was the funniest, was entering home port on a Friday afternoon, and being told by Norfolk port control, that we would have to anchor overnight and maybe come pier side Saturday morning. Captain Montgomery ordered us to slow to 3 knots in the channel, which of course caused everything behind us, commercial and Navy ships alike, to slow down and bunch up. Port control asked us to speed up, and Capt Montgomery replied that 3 knots was the best we could do. After about 25 minutes, Port Control came back and said tug boats were standing by to maneuver us into our berth at the pier.
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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 went into systems engineering after the Navy. Beginning with orbital satellites. Later on getting into Battle Force simulation and training. I moved up to program planning and policy on a much broader scale, encompassing surface warfare, air warfare and amphibious warfare. As well as participating in planning with counterpart | |
programs in the other service branches. The only hard part was getting used not being the hands on technician anymore. I still got to learn about all the Navy's toys, but not play with them anymore. After a combined 24 years serving in, then working with and for the Navy, I departed defense work for good in 2012 I went as high as I could go (did well for not having been to college) and still deliver something to and for the Navy. So I have no regrets or, 'wish I could'ves' from those years. Anything I set out to do, or was asked to do, I took the shot. Sometimes you hit the bulls eye, other times you missed and then set about learning why you missed. But, being able or asked to do it is a place not many in life can say they achieved.
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WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
The only one is Navy TWS. It's been a great way to reconnect with shipmates.
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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?
Military service itself set a much higher work performance standard than I ever would have learned in college. But, the experiences of meeting people from all over the USA and the world, shattered a lot of myths I was raised with about how hard too many Americans think they have it. It also left me with the belief that there is nothing Americans can't do, when they are motivated to get it done.
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BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE NAVY?
Make all you can of your career in the Navy, whether you stay in until retirement or not. Both on a professional level, and in the education of 'life' that you will not find anywhere else, but in the US Navy. Whenever you do return to the civilian world, and begin a civilian career, never ever think or believe that you are 'entitled' to anything in a civilian career just because you served in the military. Too many people are coming out of the military these days with that mindset, and it is just wrong.
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IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
| TWS and the US Navy |
TWS.com has re-connected me with people I though I would never hear from or see again. It has also helped me get updated on what happened to some of the people I knew. Sometimes it bad news, but would rather find out here even when it is bad news.
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