Here is my official "Boot Camp" picture.
July 1991
Towards the end of "Boot Camp" we had Company Liberty and our Company went to
Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida.
Here is a picture of me along with some of my co-recruits
(I am the second one from the left).
September 1991
After "Boot Camp" I was shipped off to Radioman "A" School at Naval Training Center,
San Diego, California in October 1991. I graduated Radioman "A" School that December,
3rd in my class. OohRah!
Here is a picture of me on graduation day along with two of my friends
RMSR Wright, RMSA Anderson, RMSR Papa
(I am the one in the middle).
December 1991
That January I was shipped off to my first duty station at Headquarters Allied Forces
Southern Europe, Allied Signal Group, PROTO, Naples, Italy. I spent two and one-half
fun-filled years at this duty station.
During the time I was stationed in Naples, I
resided at the Pozzuoli Barracks. It was here that I made some of the best friends I have ever
had. Shortly after my arrival to Naples, I became a member of an elite group known as the
Pozzuoli Pukes. To learn more about the Pozzuoli Pukes and see some pictures of their adventures
click here.
In addition to hanging out with the Pukes during my tour of duty in Italy, I had the opportunity to see many beautiful and historic places.
I took vacations in Venice, Florence, and Sigonella, Sicily. I also had many opportunities to
travel to various Italian cities during my usual 96 hours off. For a list of the Italian cities
I traveled to go to my Travel Page. However, the thing I miss the most
about Italy is its fabulous cuisine! Mama Mia! Molto bono!
Here is a picture of me when I was frocked to Petty Officer Third Class.
January 1994
Here is a picture of me when I received a Letter of Appreciation signed by Admiral
Jeremy Michael Boorda, CINUSNAVEUR & CINCSOUTH.
March 1994
After I left Naples, I went to Naval Station Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to out process from
the Navy. I was pretty excited to go to Philadelphia because I always wanted to see the
"Rocky Stairs," and that I did. After I was discharged from the U.S. Navy, I stayed in the
individual ready reserve (inactive) for quite some time. It was in 1998, that I decided to
join the United States Naval Reserve (and boy am I glad I did!). It has truly been nothing less
than an adventure since then!
My first reserve unit was Tactical Support Center (TSC) Detatchment 294 out of Naval Air Station
North Island, Coronado, CA. About six months later I transferred to a new unit, Naval Computer
and Telecommunications Area Master Station (NCTAMS) Detachment 319 (also out of Naval Air Station North
Island). I stayed with this Unit for three years. This is the unit that introduced me to the
tropical paradise we know as Oahu, Hawaii. Mahalo NCTAMS!
Here is a picture of me when I re-enlisted for six more years in the Naval Reserve (I was having
too much fun to quit now!). The ceremony was held on the flight deck of the USS Constellation
(home ported at Naval Air Station North Island).
February 1999
All that hard work and dedication to duty finally paid off and I advanced another rank.
Here is a picture of me when I was frocked to Petty Officer Second Class
January 2000
As much as I loved NCTAMS, it was time to try something new. Additionally, the tragic
events of September 11, 2001 rejuvinated my patriotism which in turn made me decide to go back in
the Navy full time. Therefore, in October 2001, I transferred into
Mobile Inshore Undersea Warfare (MIUW) Unit 106 out of Naval Marine Corps Reserve Center,
San Diego. This unit enabled me to work full-time for the Navy on back-to-back active duty
orders for about six months. This unit really lives up to the Navy's saying "It's not just a job, it's
an adventure." Almost immediately after joining the unit, I participated in a 30-day deployment
to Dukaylah, Egypt for Operation Bright Star 01/02. This deployment was quite a camping trip.
We lived in Egyptian tents for 28 out of 30 days. The first night my tent flooded out.
Welcome to Egypt! That's okay, those Navy survival skills came in handy--wait a minute, the
Navy never taught me any survival skills. Oops! Don't worry, I somehow managed to survive anyway.
We worked a lot while we were over there (7 hours on 11 hours off with NO days off). We didn't have any liberty
due to the threat conditions in the Middle East.
However, my command graciously let each watch section take an organized trip to see the Pyramids
and the Sphinx at Giza and to the Cairo Museum. All I can say is AWESOME!!!! You go King Tut!
Needless to say, other than our one trip to Cairo, there wasn't a lot to do on our off time.
I spent most of my off time either reading or sleeping. Thanks Harry Potter for keeping me
entertained. At times this trip became very trying; it was truly unlike anything I had ever
experienced. I wasn't accustomed to the swarms of flies, flocks of mosquitos (and boy did
they love to bite my ankles; they even bit my eyelid!), the dirt that never seemed to wash off,
the lack of hot water, the lack of good food (I subsisted on MREs and Kool-Aid®), sleeping
on a ragged cot, and I must not forget the rats the size of cats (no exaggeration)! I can definitely say this trip has
made me a more patient and open-minded person. Our unit finished its mission early so we were
rewarded with a two nights stay at the Cairo Marriott. This was Heaven! We made it to the Marriott
just in time for Thanksgiving dinner. Boy did that hot meal, hot shower, and soft bed feel better
than words could ever describe! Again, while in Cairo, we did not have liberty due to the threat
conditions; however, we were allowed to partake in the Marriott's dinner cruise down the Nile River
on our last night in Egypt. Again, all I can say is AWESOME!!!! They put on an spectacular show full
of singing and dancing. This was a great way to end our trip.
Here is a picture of me hard at work during Operation Bright Star 01/02
(I'm all the way in the back of the communications van).
November 2001
Here is a picture of me with my entire watch section at Camp Agami, Dukaylah, Egypt
(I am the third one from the right).
November 2001
Here is a picture of the tents I called home for 28-days.
Camp Agami, Dukaylah, Egypt
November 2001
I really enjoyed being back on active duty, but I realized the MIUW wouldn't be able to fund
my paycheck as a full-time reservist forever. So, I took matters into my own hands. I really
enjoyed being in the Naval Reserve. I have traveled to some wonderful places as a reservist
(Italy, Hawaii, Egypt, etc.). I have made some of my best friends as a reservist. I frequently
enjoy the benefits of a reservist (Navy Exchange, commissary, cheap gasoline, education, life
insurance, etc.). It is this love for the Naval Reserve that made me decide to commit 100% to
returning to active duty and become a Naval Reserve Recruiter. I am now stationed at Naval
Reserve Recruiting Command Pacific at a Naval Reserve Recruiting Station in San Diego County.
I attended the five week Recruiter Training Orientation (RTO)(Recruiting School) in New Orleans,
Louisiana and earned the Navy Enlisted Classification of 9585. I must say New Orleans is definitely
a party town. Bourbon Street and the French Quarter were a blast. Gotta love Pat O'Brien's and
those Hurricanes. Whew! They sure will get you buzzing! Of course, I couldn't resist walking
through the mall with a frozen Dacquiri either. What a town. You can pretty much drink
everywhere. You can even drive through and take frozen Dacquiris to go. This is my kind of town.
I do say this town can also be a little scarey. There is a lot of crime. People (especially
females) get injected with date rape drugs at the bars (yes, injected, as with a needle).
This is truly unlike any other town I have ever been to. I even had the haunting experience of
seeing the sidewalk getting washed clean from blood leftover from a recent murder. It was
Here is my picture from RTO Class 02006
See More Pictures of my New Orleans Trip
So, now I begin the second phase of my Naval career. The best part of my Navy career
has been all of the friends I have made along the way. Additionally, I look forward
to all of the friends I will make in the future.
To learn more about the Naval Reserve visit the
Naval Reserve Website or e-mail your local
Naval Reserve Recruiter (San Diego County Only).
