Cope, Robert, HM1

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE NAVY.
I have always been a proud American but my main influance to join the Navy was my Father Captain Raymond W. Cope SC USN a 26 year Veteran and my brother Ronald M Cope LCDR MSC USN a 30 year Navy Veteran.. I grew up in the Navy. I lived and breathed Navy.

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?
My mother, sister and Brother were all in medicine. That is the path I chose. I was a dumb ass kid and wanted to stay a E4. One day the PNC came by and said Doc are you taking the E5exam tomorrow? I said naw. The PNC said Yes You Are!. from then on I advanced rapidly to E6 but could not advance beyond E6 mainly because of the evaluations from a HMCS who I did not get along with and he took it out on my evaluation. As a HM pretty much after E5 you pushed paper and I was Clinical and very good at what I did. That is my motivation to convert to NC. I would still be in the Navy now. I left because of high year tenure as an E6 I could do no more than 20 years

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?
More by the luck of the draw. I managed more than 20 years in the Navy and saw no combat. I would have gladly gone if sent and I actively sought combat duty.. Military operations? Well that was another matter. Once we missed REFTRA in GITMO because we had to go shadow 2 Russian Kresta class cruisers. on more than one occasion we crossed the green line in the Gulf of Sidra to piss off Kadhafe. Spooking Russian submarines in National waters they did not belong in. While stationed in WESTPAC my ship was held back from the Gulf War to support potential action against North Korea. We held war games with South Korea and performed many Humanitarian missions in the Indian Ocean for cyclones and the Philipines for the Mt Pinatubo eruptions.I witnessed the end of Subic Bay

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
My favorite duty station was Submarine Base Bangor Wa. So much happened there. Mostly in support of the Marine Barracks and EOD operations. It wasw a total Gas! one bonedoggle after another. I don't have a least favorite duty station. I loved my time at sea but the time deployed took a major toll on my first two marriages

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
My time in support of Marine Units and EOD in the field. Combat, Simulated or actual EOD field work kept me in the field where I preffered to be The most exciting was the demo of a 16" projectile. My navy career spanned 5 continents. I did things I could have never done in Civilian life.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
I received a flag letter for my Ship being the only Cockroach free ship on the east coast. I received a lot of letters ,Medals and Comendations but that was the most important

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?
My Surface Warfare. I earned it on a Large Amphib. with aviation. I also earned my Surface warfare when it was new, optional and far more difficult then now. It meant a lot to me to earn the ESWS. Very few sailors had one then

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
Two NC1's made a big impression on me and my career as well as led me to become a NC The CO's and XO's of my last three commands I worked directly for were great and a pleasure to work for

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.
I am terrible I don't remember many name and I have not kept up with many. HMC Stockberger my MDR on my first ship was a real influence and I did look him up once.Rik and Earl my two best friends from my first ship we managed to set up a reunion but I did not have the money at the time and missed it. I felt so bad.

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?
Crossing the Line?

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 continued in Medicine. I am totally retired now

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
I belong to a few but don't participate too much. Too political.

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?
I am a good American and I support and Defend the Constitution. I think I am a better person for my military service

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE NAVY?
Stick it out. Listen. Do! That crap about "don't volunteer" I had more good times volunteering for supposed crap jobs.