Liking My New Navy Hat

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If I have never mentioned it before, although I am sure I have, I served in the United States Navy from 1992-1996. It is a time in my life that I am grateful to have experienced, and as I always say, "I am more honored to have served than to be honored to have served." I was supposed to have been a quartermaster, which is navigations in the navy, or at least it was at the time. But it's a long story how I wound up as a Ship's Serviceman instead. SH was our "rate." Ship's Serviceman at the time were in charge of ship's stores, vending operations, ship's laundry and ship's barbers. I did vending, ship's stores, and laundry, but was never a barber. One of my greatest achievements was getting my ESWS qualification as a third class petty officer. Only one of three third class petty officer's on my ship. That stands for Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist, if you were curious. Third class is an E-4. In some military circles that is a "non-commissioned officer" status. My official title, besides being called Petty Officer Bauer, was SH3 (SW). I got a new hat and I am very proud to wear it. It calls me out as a veteran, which I am of course. It also has my rate, Ship's Serviceman. It proudly displays my ESWS pin, worn on the uniform above my service ribbons and medals. And of course it displays my rank. Third class. It is a cool hat and well worth what I spent for it, which was not much. Custom made to my specs. I proudly served on the USS Enterprise (CVN-65), an aircraft carrier. My only regret during my tenure was that we were mostly in the yards at the time undergoing what we call SOAR. Ship's overhaul and rehabilitation. So, I did not get to see the world. But it was still a great experience I would not exchange for anything. We brought the ship back to sea worthiness and I had many roles while on board outside of my designation. We were drydocked at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company alongside the USS George Washington in the final building stage, and the keel was being laid for the USS John C. Stennis. Ultimately, we did sea trials and flight deck recertification operations, and by the time I left were transferred to our new home port. Pier 11 South at Norfolk Naval Air Station. The George Washington ultimately joined us at Pier 12 and we did many training operations with their crew. Like I said, it was great time, and I was happy to be a part of the crew that allowed the Enterprise many more years of service until she was taken out of service in 2013.