My Navy Years

Way back in the summer of 1985, when I was still a junior in high school, I made probably one of the most major decisions in my life.  I joined the Navy.  This is a chronicle of my eight years of service to my country.

My naval career began when I signed up in the Navy's Delayed Entry Program at my local recruiting station when I was only 17 and a junior in high school. I choose this path because I felt that I wasn't quite ready to go straight into college.  The idea of spending another four years listening to teachers and doing homework just didn't sound appealing to me. Little did I know that a Naval career included very much of the same things that I was trying to avoid, if not more!

A year later, in July 1986, just 12 days after I turned 18, my Navy adventure began.  After being poked and prodded for a few hours at the Denver MEPS processing station and taking the "oath" that I would defend my country and the Constitution at all cost, I headed off to the now defunct Stapleton International Airport were I caught a United Airlines flight to Chicago's O'Hare International.  From there, I was transported via bus to the Naval Training Facility, better known as Navy boot camp, in Great Lakes, Illinois, which is no longer active.

After graduating from boot camp, I received orders to report to the Naval Aviation Technical Training Command located at Naval Air Station Memphis, Millington, Tennessee.  Here, I was trained to become an "Aviation Electronics Technician" (AT).  After successfully graduating "Class A-school", I received orders to my first duty station on the West Coast of the United States.  I reported to Patrol Squadron Thirty One (VP-31), the "Black Lightning" squadron based out of Naval Air Station Moffett Field, California.  VP-31 was the primary P-3 Orion anti-submarine aircraft training squadron, (known to naval aviators as a "RAG" outfit), for the Western Pacific Fleet.  I spent another four months training on several P-3 avionics and weapons systems before finally joining my first active duty squadron, Patrol Squadron Forty (VP-40), the "Fighting Marlins".  My primary role was to provide support for P-3 Computer Navigation, Internal & External Communications (FMS, ICS, UHF, VHF, HF), Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN), and weapons guidance systems.  VP-40 air crews had the privilege of flying in the newest and most modern equipment in the Navy ASW inventory, the P-3C "Charlie" Update III.

While with the "Fighting Marlins", I did two WESTPAC overseas tours of duty in Misawa, Japan and Kadena, Okinawa.  I then transferred from active duty in August of 1990 and joined the Naval Reserves until August of 1994.  While in the reserves, I transferred to several different squadrons including the "Mobilization Augementation Unit" (VP-MAU) and Mobile Maintenance Facility "Charlie" (MMF-C), and did a couple more overseas tours, including a NATO tour to Bermuda with Patrol Squadron Ninety Three (VP-93) the "Executioners".

Official US Navy Reserve Photo

Lockheed P-3B Orion from VP- MAU over the Golden Gate Bridge

The aircraft pictured above is a Lockheed P-3B Orion anti-submarine warfare/maritime patrol aircraft flying westbound over the Golden Gate Bridge towards the Pacific Ocean.  It is one of several that I used to fly in and repair while serving in the United States Navy and Naval Reserves.  The P-3 is a versatile four-engine turboprop aircraft, able to carry various types of ordinance and deliver it with surprising speed and deadly accuracy against enemy submarine threats.   With it's sophisticated electronic sensor equipment, it could also be used as a maritime patrol platform, assisting the US Coast Guard with search and rescue duties.  This particular aircraft, PS-00 or P(apa) S(ierra) Zero Zero, (affectionately known as "Double Nuts"), belonged to the US Naval Reserves "Mobilization Augmentation Unit" (VP-MAU) based out of the now defunct Naval Air Station Moffett Field, California.  The aircraft served both as the squadron's aircrew tactical navigation trainer and as a charter for picking up Naval Reservists attached to the squadron.  Due to government downsizing, the squadron was decommissioned in the summer of 1992.

P-3C III galley station.

On my way to Okinawa in a P-3.

This picture is of me seated in the galley station on board one of our P-3C Update III aircraft with Patrol Squadron Forty, (VP-40).  On this particular flight, I was headed overseas to meet the rest of my squadron in Kadena, Okinawa, with stops at NAS Barber's Point, Hawaii and Guam.  Notice the yellow ear plugs I'm wearing?  The aircraft's auxiliary power unit, or APU, was so loud that ear plugs had to be worn for hearing protection during APU ground operations.  Because the P-3 is a turbo-prop, it was also very noisy in flight.

While serving in the Navy, I managed to obtain my pilot's license at the Moffett Field Navy Flying Club in May of 1989.  Since then, I have flown several different types of aircraft, including Cessna 152's & 172's, Piper Warriors & Archer's, an Army modified Beechcraft Baron 58 twin, the Beech T-34 Mentor which is a Navy primary trainer, a Lockheed T-33 jet trainer, and a Stearman biplane.  For more information, please click on this link to my flying web page.

Naval Career Summary

Bootcamp & Technical Training Schools

• Recruit Training Command - Great Lakes, Illinois (July - September 1986)
• Naval Aviation Technical Training Command - NAS Memphis - Millington, Tennessee (September 1986 - June 1987)
• Advanced P-3 Aircraft Avionics Systems - NAS Moffett Field, California (July - October 1987)

Active Duty and Reserve Assignments

• VP-31 "Black Lightning" - NAS Moffett Field, California (July - October 1987)
• VP-40 "Fighting Marlins" - NAS Moffett Field, California (October 1987 - August 1990)
• VP-MAU "Mobilization Augmentation Unit" - NAS Moffett Field, California (August 1990 - June 1992)
• VP-93 "Executioners" - NAS Detroit, Southridge ANGB, Michigan (July 1992 - June 1993)
• MMF-C "Mobile Maintenance Facility - Charlie" - NAS Alameda, California (June 1993 - August 1994)

Overseas Tours of Duty

• WestPac '88 (VP-40) - Misawa AFB - Misawa, Japan (February - August 1988)
• WestPac '89 (VP-40) - Kadena AFB - Kadena, Okinawa (August 1989 - February 1990)
• NATO '92 (VP-93) - NAS Bermuda - Hamilton, Bermuda (British Territory) (July 1992)

Ports of Call

• Misawa AFB - Misawa, Japan
• NAS Yokuska - Yokuska, Japan
• NAS Subic Bay - Philippine Islands
• Osan AFB - Osan, S. Korea
• Pusan AFB - Pusan, S.Korea
• Elmendorf AFB - Elmendorf, Alaska
• NAS Barbers Point - Oahu, Hawaii
• Hickam AFB - Oahu, Hawaii
• NAS Adak - Adak, Alaska
• Kadena AFB - Kadena, Okinawa
• NAS Agana - Guam (US Territory)
• Hong Kong International - Hong Kong, China (Former British Territory)
• NAS Detroit - Southridge ANB, Michigan
• NAS Bermuda - Bermuda Isles (British Territory)