#deckplate

My manufacturing skills are not the best but we are experimenting a bit. #deckplate (at Conger, Minnesota) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtWluT0hauE/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=11c6z1yw34514

Work life (which in the military IS life), has gotten extremely stressful. Our nation is again on the brink of war. My ship is in the middle of the do-we-keep-it-or-sink-it inspection (and under the current economic status we can't afford to decommission anything) which will determine our mission, our readiness, and our preparation for the next year. Free time is sparse. Working hours are making lawyers look like fry cooks. Every day holds new surprises and more setbacks. And yet today, inspiration came from an unexpected source. What began as an ass-chewing turned into a tear-jerking (for me) and pride-filling pep talk. I gave up freedom for this life-truth. I chose to volunteer-truth. I am a sailor. Sailors sail. We joined to see the world, and 70+% is water. Every time I go underway, I am potentially in harm's way. When China sends out submarines, when North Korea thinks about launching a missile-I take the watch. It's not for everybody, this life. A mentor of mine once said that if I felt crazy, I was in the right place because it takes a special sort of person to serve in the Navy. He was right. We're all mad here. And I couldn't be prouder of the madness I work with every day.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHIEFS! #usnavy #navychief #cpo #deckplate #navy #anchorup