Hopefully this thread has not lost steam and there are still a few folks out there willing to provide feedback on my motivational statement. This is for the Jan 17 IWC board, I'm going for DCO into Intel with IP as second choice and IW as third. I'm non-prior and old, so really need to hit this on my first shot. Specifically I'm hoping to hear if this comes of cocky or bragging, and also any ideas on how I can give it more of an intel focus. My earlier draft had a lot more about my 20 years of IT management, but it started sounding too much like my resume... thanks in advance for the feedback.
As far back as I can remember, I have always wanted to be a military officer. In my youth, I counted down the days until I was old enough to join Sea Cadets. Since the nearest unit was two towns away I had to beg my mother to drive me there each week. Putting on the uniform and drilling with my fellow cadets in those formative years cemented my passion for military service, pride, and patriotism. As I got into junior high school I joined the United States Air Force Auxiliary, Civil Air Patrol, and threw myself headlong into that program. I was a natural leader early on and quickly rose through the ranks, from Flight Commander, to Executive Officer, and eventually Cadet Commander of the entire squadron. I received the Billy Mitchell Award in 1991. I loved training at military bases, serving on color guard teams, flying in military aircraft, and honing my leadership skills. While other kids were playing video games and riding skateboards, I was spit shining my Corcoran jump boots and putting hospital corners on my bed. This may have seemed strange to my classmates, but I believe it set me up for success later in life.
As I began my college career I had planned to join ROTC, but the college I attended cancelled the ROTC program that very year. This was in 1992, right after the fall of the Soviet Union and the end of the first Gulf War. With the military drawdown in full swing I reluctantly began to reconsider a career in the military and looked at other options for my future. I decided to continue as a civilian student and focus all my attention on academics and a civilian career in information systems. It was an agonizing decision to make, since it put my military aspirations on hold.
In college, I excelled in all my coursework, graduating in the top two percent of my class with a 3.83 grade point average and earning many academic awards. I accepted an offer from the global consulting firm Accenture after graduation and my leadership ability and determination to excel was recognized immediately. From the beginning of my career I was given mission critical projects with team leadership responsibility, which is very rare for a new graduate. Over the next twenty years in the industry I continued to excel, learn, and grow as a leader. At each of my jobs I have been entrusted with highly complex projects and given responsibility for managing, mentoring, and motivating large teams of talented individuals.
As my career progressed, I still felt the need to serve my country, so over the years I have volunteered my time to save lives. For six years, I was a Public Safety Diver, Underwater Crime Scene Specialist, and search and rescue team member for the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office. I have been involved in dozens of rescues, body recoveries, submerged vehicle recoveries, and crime scene investigations. I had the opportunity to assist my community and neighboring communities during major incidents such as a fire evacuation, flood rescue, and air craft accidents. More recently I have been a member of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. I serve as a Flotilla Staff Officer in Communication Services. Our flotilla patrols Lake Tahoe and surrounding lakes, assisting boaters in distress. Our flotilla also works special events such as paddleboard races, safety perimeters for fireworks barges, and verifying PATONS/ATONS. I am also currently serving as one of the Northern Nevada Admissions Partners for the United States Coast Guard Academy.
While my volunteer activities have been rewarding and of service to the community, none have satisfied my original desire to lead men and women as a Naval Officer. I have benefited greatly in my life from those who have served and sacrificed before me, and I feel now is the time I can give back to my country though service and leadership. I have come to realize that serving in the Navy is something that I have always wanted to do and I believe the Navy will benefit from my experience over the past twenty years. It is this lifelong desire to serve with honor, courage, and commitment which has motivated me to seek a commission in the Navy Reserve.