Well I guess my story is long so bear with me. I first enlisted in the Navy because I always had a very strong connection with what the military represented. It represented a sense of duty, honor, and character that I found lacking in my younger years. Military members were always held in high regard and respected for their sacrifices.
My background was far from these values, I grew up in a troubled household filled with Alcohol and Drug abuse and I saw the military as an avenue to unleash any potential I had. I made a promise to myself when I was younger that I wouldn't allow myself to fall into the path in which I was brought up in. When I was finally 17 I had the opportunity to enlist (with my fathers consent) and I scored well enough on the ASVAB to receive a NUKE billet in the Navy. The recruiter told me that I had potential to pass the hardest technical school the Navy had to offer, so I decided on the NUKE program. I wanted to prove to myself that I could do anything I set my mind to, to prove everyone that I would amount to something in my life. So off to boot camp I went. After arriving at "A" school I quickly found out that I had the ability to concentrate my mind and overcome the challenges that the Navy presented me. The unique academic rigor of NUKE school showed me that I had the aptitude to excel in Academics and luckily I was able to hold a few leadership positions while in "A" and Power School. I had always been an outgoing individual from playing various sports and participating in leadership opportunities in HS so I guess taking charge came somewhat naturally to me in the Navy.
During our INDOC for Power School they gave a brief about the career opportunities in the Navy for NUKE's, especially those desiring to take on more responsibility and difficult jobs. Those briefs included how the NUKE pipeline allows for individuals to apply for a commissioning program to become an officer. Up to that point I had never really considered it but the challenge of leading sailors was something I was interested in. So I applied for STA-21 and USNA and was lucky enough to get accepted to USNA in 2009. It was during my time at "Canoe U" that I really found what it meant to be an Officer. Up to that point I wasnt really sure what community that I wanted to become a part of. I just knew that I didnt want to become a Sub Officer or Surface NUKE officer. Two main points that made that decision for me was that my best friend from NUKE school shot himself while at the school house, as well as 3 others who attempted suicide (NUKE school has a bad track record for that) while I was there. Also that my personality was polar opposite to most of the NUKEs that I served with (ie physical fitness, outgoing personality). So I began to explore other options at the Academy. It wasnt until the end of my Plebe year that I truly knew where I wanted to be, and I would be willing to sacrifice everything I had to get there.
During the Spring semester of my Plebe year I had a revelation so brute it might as well been a kick to the stomach. One of my best friends from boot camp was a Corpsman who I actually flew out from my DEP station with. As I went off to NUKE school he went FMF with the Marines and deployed to Iraq. It was when I was at Bethesda Medical Center getting an MRI for a torn ACL (played Rugby and Boxed at USNA) that I ran back into him. Though he wasn't an attending Corpsman, he was in the Wounded Warrior Ward recovering from an RKG3 Grenade IED that struck his HUMVEE on a patrol. It was at this point that I knew where I belonged. I knew that I had the physical and mental capacity to become an EOD Tech. I watched him suffer and recover from his wounds, an after countless surgeries and hardships later, he finally had his leg amputated below the knew. I watched him come to grips with the fact that he wouldn't return to AD service, that he wouldn't become a SEAL Corpsman, that he would have to change his plans for his life. I thought to myself, if I have the mental and physical capacity to prevent great sailors like him from having to give up their dreams and aspirations then I am going to do it. I made a promise to him that I would sacrifice everything to become an EOD Tech.
From then on not a day has passed that I haven't thought about that promise, not a day goes by that I don't think about being a Tech. Now I don't want to sound like I know 100% certain that I would pass Dive School, Tech School, and all the follow on training that is required to be Navy EOD. I can just tell you that I am willing to sacrifice everything I have to be a Tech. I did my research at USNA, I completed the screening process, I spent time with the EOD units, and I put myself through the most difficult academic and physical training I could find to prepare.
Being a Naval Officer is a humbling experience, I've learned a lot about who I am and what I am capable of. As a SWO I find it very rewarding to be leading Sailors and Marines at such a young age. However, at the same time I want to contribute and give back more to the service that has given me so much. I want to be broken down and rebuilt so I can face the challenges that other are not able to. If giving up my commission allows me to truly contribute to the troops downrange then I find that to be worth the risk. I love being a Naval Officer but at the end of the day, a career spent as an enlisted EOD Tech, in my eyes, is ten fold over 5 years as a SWO.
Sorry that this was so long, I guess I can get long winded when I talk about my passions. Thank you for reading and I appreciate all the help!
Please let me know if you would like to know anything else!
V/R
SWO3245
