The Recruit

It's been decades and my memories are beginning to dull. Yet there are some things that continue to stick with me in my march through time. For example, it was a warm spring day when I arrived at the MEPS station in Des Moines. This is the final processing before enlistment, and the next step would be boarding a plane for boot camp in Orlando, Florida. I don't recall with a great deal of detail exactly what that processing looked like, except it was part medical and a lot weird. At the end of the day I was put on a commercial flight and told when I landed in Orlando to find the USO office and they would get me where I needed to go. When the jet landed, it was late and there weren't many people in the airport. Ultimately I found a seat on a bus (don't remember anything about the USO part-I think it may have already been closed for the night) with a bunch of strangers who were just as nervous as I was, although we certainly didn't show it!

I had never been to Florida before, so was really trying to take in the sites. But it was dark and a bit disorienting, so there was a bit of frustration that I couldn't pick out any landmarks. After awhile we pulled up to a military base: NTC Orlando, that is Naval Training Center Orlando. The first landmark I saw was a water tower emblazoned with the title, 'Navy World', to which I thought at the time was rather clever. It wasn't too long after the bus pulled to a stop when this guy jumps on board and starts yelling at us. I don't remember exactly what he told us, except that it was in very colorful language, and that we were not in fact at Disney World. 

After a few more hours of processing and the infamous 'Moment of Truth', where we were threatened with jail if we didn't answer their inquiries with honesty, we were split up and ushered into a dark room where a guy with a flashlight pointed to an empty cot and told to 'sleep here'. I don't recall what time it was, except that it was very late and I was relieved to finally get some sleep. I'm certain my memory isn't quite this dramatic, but when it seemed like only 5 minutes passed, the lights came on and someone was bashing in a trash can screaming at us to get up and get on the line. I jumped up and realized I was in the middle of a barracks surrounded by about 100 other young men that I had never seen before.

Up and down the middle of the barracks he strode, bashing that trash can with a stick. "I'm Master Chief Kampmier", he yelled. The rest of what he told us during that introduction.... Well I presume kids are going to be reading this-so use your imagination. 

Boot camp is designed to strip away the individual and rebuild you as part of a team. It's an immersion in and environment where accountability isn't optional and the mission comes before personal comfort. When I transitioned out of that world, I realized upon reflection that the core values instilled in me during my time in the Navy wasn't restricted to barracks or battle stations. It has continued to echo in places one might least expect, like the hallways our our schools. While our teachers may not carry a rucksack or face a Master Chief with a trash can lid at 0300, that work is rooted in some of the same foundational ethos. 

Just like walking off that bus at NTC Orlando, teachers and administrators walk into classrooms and school districts each year facing variables they cannot entirely predic. They manage anxiety, chaos, and high stakes. In the Navy, your safety depends entirely on the person standing next to you. 'A mistake like that can get someone killed out in the fleet', I was once admonished. While the stakes aren't nearly that high here, the mission is the growth, safety, and well-being of the next generation. Indeed, both require showing up when it's exhausting, thankless, and overwhelming.

Master Chief Kampmier taught us early on about discipline, but great military leaders, and great educators know that structure is merely a vehicle for care. Underneath those rules, the goal is to build resilience, capability, and community. 

Today is Veterans Day and it reminds us of the sacrifices made by those who put on the uniform, leave their families, and pledge to protect a way of life. As we honor that immense dedication, let's also recognize the quiet, everyday service happening in our schools and neighborhoods. 

Whether it's a veteran transitioning to civilian life or an educator guiding a classroom of rambunctious students through the challenges of Monday, the underlying commitment is the same: an unwavering belief that a strong society is built by people willing to carry the weight for others.

Happy Veterans Day to all who have served, and a special shout-out to all my former shipmates from the USS LY SPEAR and Fleet Hospital 500!