The Navy years.

My stepfather, Bill, was a retired Navy cook. He had a hand in steering me toward the Navy. In June 1970, I arrived at Great Lakes for recruit training.

The next twenty years took me through nuclear-power training, submarine service, instructor duty, and eventually Hawaii. Here are a few bearings before we get to the stories.

A few bearings

1. 1970–1972 · Learning the workRecruit training and school at Great Lakes, followed by nuclear-power training at Bainbridge and Ballston Spa, and submarine school at Groton.
2. 1972–1979 · The boats and the peopleUSS George Washington Carver, Gold crew, followed by USS Puget Sound and USS Flying Fish. Alongside the work, my assignment history records recreation-committee duties and community activities.
3. 1979–1982 · Teaching in NorfolkInstructor and class counselor at Fleet Training Center Norfolk. Teaching would become a thread that continued long after I left the Navy.
4. 1982–1987 · Back to submarine serviceUSS Alexander Hamilton, Gold crew, and then USS Bremerton. During the Hamilton years, I advanced to Chief Petty Officer. There was also time for ship’s photography and helping with youth football.
5. 1988–1990 · Pearl HarborMy final assignment was at the Naval Submarine Training Center Pacific. Damage-control training, computer installation, and teaching were all part of that chapter. I retired from the Navy on Friday, July 13, 1990.

Meanwhile, ashore…

My Navy years included another transformation: the shy fellow sitting alone at the Witchduck Inn became AJ the DJ. That story involves a Halloween costume, a dance I hadn’t planned on, and a friend who took a very convenient bathroom break.

How AJ became the DJ →

One career opened the door to another

While I was still on active duty, I taught myself computer basics and software. By the time I retired, there was another kind of teaching waiting for me in Hawaii.

From Navy retirement to computer consulting →

Another course, ashore

This certificate records my completion of the Principles of Real Estate course through Moseley-Flint Schools of Real Estate, Inc.