{"id":1507,"date":"2020-02-18T06:35:00","date_gmt":"2020-02-18T11:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/?p=1507"},"modified":"2021-10-18T13:14:21","modified_gmt":"2021-10-18T17:14:21","slug":"17-from-sailor-to-civilian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/17-from-sailor-to-civilian\/","title":{"rendered":"#17 – From Sailor to Civilian"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Trivia Questions (Answers @ end)<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. In what movie (and who said), \u201cSell craziness somewhere else. We’re all stocked up here.\u201d<\/em>? <\/li>
  2. Who said, \u201cStay away from negative people. They have a problem for every solution.\u201d<\/em>?<\/li>
  3. From what \u201870s song do we hear the following lyrics?
    Will you have whiskey with your water, Or sugar with your tea<\/em>
    What are these crazy questions, That they’re asking of me<\/em>
    This is the craziest party, That there ever could be<\/em>
    Oh, don’t turn on the light, ‘Cause I don’t want to see<\/em><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n
    <\/div>
    Blog #17 (Audio)<\/div><\/div>
    <\/div>

    Listen to the audio of this blog, read by Andy Adkins. Click the \u201cAudio<\/strong><\/em>\u201d button below.<\/p>\n<\/div>

    Published: <\/span>October 18, 2021<\/span><\/div>
    <\/div>Audio by Andy Adkins<\/a><\/div><\/form><\/span>0<\/span> Downloads<\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>
    <\/div>\n\n\n
    \n\n\n\n

    Let me take you back in time a few years. We all remember\u2026 it was just a few <\/em>short years ago when you left the Navy and became a civilian again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Remember when you joined the Navy (Army, USMC, USAF, or USCG)? Boot Camp, \u201cA\u201d School, your first duty station? Your other duty stations, cruises, shipyards? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Yeah, you remember most<\/em> all of those milestone events, don\u2019t you? I wrote an earlier post<\/a> about my<\/em> journey from \u201cCivilian to the Navy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How many of you can recall your first day (or first week) after<\/em> you were discharged? Where were you (your last duty station) and how long did it take you to get home?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/a>
    USS Kitty Hawk, CV-63
    (Click to enlarge)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Many of my fellow shipmates were married and I know their wives & families were anxiously waiting for them as they walked down the gangplank and into the arms of their loved ones. Like you, I witnessed many those celebrations almost every time we returned back to our San Diego home port. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It was especially emotional when we returned from our six-month Westpac \u201975 cruise.<\/strong> I know many of you remember those special reunions. It\u2019s something one never forgets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The DD-214<\/strong>–Freedom!<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Me? I was on USS Kitty Hawk<\/em><\/strong> and was honorably discharged from the Navy on July 8, 1977 after four years of military service. Actually, it was Three Years, Eleven Months, & 29 Days\u2014But, Who\u2019s Counting<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It took a while to process out. Personnel used typewriters for all the forms with carbon paper. They didn’t use computers back then. But I had all my paperwork, including my most important DD-214<\/strong> discharge papers (\u201cpress hard, the third copy is yours<\/em>!\u201d). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I had emptied my coffin locker and my coat locker–and, my “secret” stash locker in Crash–and packed up my sea bag for the last time. I was wearing civilian clothes\u2014blue jeans and a pull over shirt. I made that trip one more time from the V-1 Division berthing compartment on the 03 level, down the stairs, across the hangar deck, and the lowered #3 elevator to the after brow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    As usual, I saluted the petty officer of the watch and asked\none more time, \u201cPermission to go ashore, sir.\u201d He bid me farewell and good\nluck. I saluted the flag one more time, even in civilian clothes\u2014an old, continuous<\/em> habit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Leaving one home for another<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    I had a plethora of mixed emotions. Unlike when I left NAS Agana, Guam<\/strong>, I wasn\u2019t leaving a paradise\u2014I was leaving a home<\/em>. I wasn\u2019t transferring to another duty station\u2014I was leaving for<\/em> home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/a>
    USS Kitty Hawk, CV-63
    (Click to enlarge)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Kitty Hawk<\/em> had been a great ship to me (and my “home” for 2\u00bd years) and most of the crew that I worked with I considered family. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    There was no fanfare, no band, and no one on the pier waiting for me. There were no tears or sorrowful looks. At the time, I was ready to leave Kitty Hawk<\/em> and the Navy and put both far behind me. It was time to move forward with my life, though I had no friggin’ clue what that would be. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    With that simple gesture, I was no longer a member of Uncle Sam\u2019s Sailing Club<\/em>. I was once\nagain, a civilian. Of course, at that time it didn\u2019t really feel any different\nand it would take some time before I realized I was truly out of the Navy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    My sister, Anne, had flown out to San Diego from Florida. We were going to drive back to Florida together and see the country. We took our time and it was a great trip. While I had seen her from time to time when I was home on leave, we had both changed\u2014I like to think matured<\/em>. We enjoyed getting to know each other again. Nothing like having an older sister to visit and catch up with during a long drive home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Coming Home<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    When I got back to my mom & dad\u2019s in Florida, it was another great homecoming. I knew I didn\u2019t have to leave anytime again, so I was home\u2014really home<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Or\u2026 so I thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    My mom was a great cook. My dad, well<\/em>\u2026 he had his \u201cspecialties.\u201d I\u2019ll spare you the details, but it was great to have home cooked meals again. Some<\/em> things just didn\u2019t change. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    My plan was to go back and finish college. Before joining the Navy, I\u2019d spent a year at Florida State University. They\u2019d asked me to leave after my first year\u2014something about my 0.7 GPA. So, I decided I wasn\u2019t going back to FSU. Instead, I was going to go to the local community college and first, get an Associate\u2019s Degree. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When Kitty Hawk<\/em> was in the Bremerton Shipyards<\/strong> in 1976, I had taken an electronics course at Olympia Community College. I really enjoyed the course and did well (nothing like those C’s & D’s @ FSU). From that simple one-semester experience, I decided I was going to be an electronics engineer\u2014that was my <\/em>goal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    So, I knew I\u2019d need a lot of college. But that wasn\u2019t a problem. I had plenty of time now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/a>
    Gainesville Fire Department
    (Click to enlarge)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    City Firefighter? Why not.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    I also needed a job, but I wasn\u2019t sure what to do. However, another opportunity (“journey?”) presented itself. I joined the Gainesville Fire Department <\/strong>and worked full-time\u20141 day on, 2 days off. Since I\u2019d been an ABH <\/strong>(Aviation Boatswain\u2019s Mate-Handler) and spent the majority of my four years in Crash, that seemed like a great transition. I figured I could work full-time and attend college full-time. Easy, peasy.<\/em> Yeah, right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    That worked\u2026 but only for a little while. After 2 years, I graduated from Santa Fe Community College with an AS degree and started full-time at the University of Florida<\/strong>. My GPA took a nose dive from 3.6 to a 2.9\u2014ouch! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I figured I needed to concentrate on college, so I resigned from the fire department and long, story short\u2014I graduated with a BSEE in 1982. And, most important, I met the love of life (in a Karate class of all places) and married in 1981. We’re coming up on 39 years together!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Being an electronics engineer was my third<\/em> career (“journey”). But, I was on my way to bigger & better things. More about that later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I wanted to mention a couple of other things that happened along the way. Perhaps you may have also experienced similar \u201cevents\u201d when you arrived home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Not the Same Home I\nLeft <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    I left home (the first time) when I was 17 years old. I\nspent a year at FSU, then I joined the Navy. After four years, I returned home.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The last time I \u201clived\u201d at home was five years earlier when I was 17, fresh out of high school. My mom & dad were somewhat strict parents (I loved them dearly, but you know what I mean). So, when I returned home after<\/em> the Navy, I think they thought the \u201crules\u201d were still the same. You know\u2026 like when I was still in high school and 17. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Well, my<\/em> rules\nweren\u2019t the same as their<\/em> rules\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Stay with me here, you know where I\u2019m going with this. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In the Navy\u2026 when in port\u2026 I often stayed out until the early morning hours–no surprise. I’m sure many of you did the same, especially when out on a cruise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Now, back at home, sometimes, I came home in the middle of the night. Sometimes, I stayed over at a friend\u2019s house. I<\/em> didn\u2019t have a problem with that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But my mother\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Something’s Gotta Give<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Well, let\u2019s put it this way. One morning, I casually <\/em>strolled in while my mom & my dad were having coffee at the kitchen table. I said, \u201cGood morning,\u201d with a bright smile. But instead of responding, my mom got up from the table, got dressed, and headed out the door to work, without even a \u201cHello.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I asked my dad what was going on\u2014he had fought in WWII and \u201cknew\u201d I was enjoying life after the military. I think he <\/em>was okay with me staying out partying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    He wasn\u2019t taking sides, but kindly<\/em> suggested that if I was going to stay out all night, to \u201cat least have the courtesy to call and let them know that I wouldn’t be coming home that night.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Well, I think it was either the second or third phone call at one o\u2019clock in the morning<\/em> that he put an end to that crap. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    We\u2026 came to an agreement of sorts<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Since I had just started working at the fire department, it\nwas time to move into my own place. That wasn\u2019t a problem\u2014I was making $9,600 a\nyear as a city firefighter (big money back in 1977) and I rented a brand-new\nstudio apartment on the other side of\ntown<\/em> for $350 a month. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    After that, we all got along great. My folks didn\u2019t have to worry about me anymore. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Strange how that works, isn\u2019t it? Of course, when our <\/em>own children were growing up, they probably thought our<\/em> \u201crules\u201d were strict. But, that\u2019s another story for another day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    One more\u2026<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Did you see the movie, \u201cThe Hurt Locker<\/em><\/strong>,\u201d starring Jeremy Renner as a member of an Army bomb squad unit? Yeah, that <\/em>one. It won six Oscars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    There\u2019s a scene in that movie when SSGT William James (Renner) is first discharged and happy to be home with his wife. They go grocery shopping. She\u2019s got a full grocery cart and asks him to pick up some cereal\u2014\u201cmeet you at the cashier<\/em>.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The camera shot is perfect\u2026 a long distance away, we see him standing in the aisle, all alone, with shelves and shelves of cereal boxes\u2014too many decisions. This is a man who\u2019d been making life & death decisions every day for the past year. Too many friggin’ choices in his new civilian life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I wasn\u2019t EOD (though I did test for it in San Diego), and I\u2019m certainly <\/em>not Jeremy Renner. But, for a sailor who\u2019d been in a certain routine for years on end, I kind of felt that way when I first got home–I felt out of place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Different Routines<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    How am I supposed to act & react to situations that I personally had no control over? I didn\u2019t have that big a problem adjusting back to civilian life, but you know what I mean. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I\u2019d been getting up at the crack of dawn to the lovely tune of Reveille <\/em>for several years. I\u2019d stood watch at two in the morning watching several of my drunk sailor friends stagger up the gangplank, swaying side to side, with a big ol’ grin on their face from ear to ear. My showers were three-minutes long, including<\/em> shampooing my gorgeous crew cut. My head was always on a swivel on the flight deck, watching for any danger and all movement from every angle you could imagine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I simply didn\u2019t have to do that crap anymore. Some of those routines were hard to drop; others, not so bad. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But, to this day, I still keep my head on a swivel, especially when riding my bike. My wife & I taught our kids to always (ALWAYS) be aware of their surroundings and look confident wherever they are. When there\u2019s a car wreck or a fire, I still run towards <\/em>it to see if I can help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Three minute showers? Not so much these days. Unless of course, we have a hurricane that knocks the power out for a week. Then, that old Navy routine is handy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But, I digress\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Navy Never <\/em>Left Me<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    While I\u2019ve been out of the Navy for almost 43 years, there are still some routines and traditions I continue to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I still fold my skivvies the same way. I still tuck my bed sheets in with that 45 degree fold, though I haven\u2019t tried to bounce a quarter off of it to test how tight they are. I still check my “gig line” when I wear a button-down shirt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    And yes, I still use a lot of the same Navy language<\/a> I picked up in my \u201ccareer.\u201d Of course, I try [<wink, wink>] to be cognizant when I use it and in most cases, it\u2019s appropriate. At least, I think so. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I get teary-eyed at some TV commercials, especially those involving our veterans returning home. I sometimes find myself having to take deep breaths when I see or hear or smell something that takes me back to the flight deck. Most of the time, they are awesome memories and I am grateful for that. I rarely have negative thoughts about the Navy. After all, isn’t that how we continue to move forward?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I\u2019m grateful to be a veteran and I respect all<\/em> veterans of all military branches: those who served before us, those who served with us, and those who serve now (our future veterans). I hope you do, too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Some of us had an easier time \u201ccoming home.\u201d I am one of those. I hope and pray that you feel welcomed, wherever you are in this world and wherever you are in your lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    And you know what else? I wouldn\u2019t trade my time in the Navy for anything. I am glad to be where I am now\u2014a civilian<\/em>. But I can never forget that I’m a veteran–a proud Navy veteran<\/em><\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Until we meet again,<\/em>
    Andy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"NEVER<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Andy Adkins is a US Navy veteran (\u201973-77) and the author of several books. His newest novel, NEVER FORGET, is the story of A Vietnam Veteran\u2019s Journey for Redemption & Forgiveness. NEVER FORGET is FREE (eBook, PDF) for all veterans. Download your FREE<\/strong> copy HERE<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Previous blogs mentioned in this post:<\/p>\n\n\n\n