Roger's Navy Reserve Career

I spent 30 years in the Navy Reserve. I joined in 1969, was commissioned personally by then President of the United States Richard M. Nixon and retired in 2000 when Bill Clinton was president. I find it ironic that Nixon resigned rather than face impeachment, and Clinton was impeached. Some bookends for a career! Continuing the irony, my first active duty reporting site was Newport, RI. After 29 years of not seeing Newport again, my last active duty reporting site was, you guessed it, Newport RI.

The "Salad Bowl"

Reading the "salad bowl" is the way that members of the military services "check" each other out. The ribbons and badges worn represent various milestones in one's career. Here is my "salad bowl." Click on any of the pictures and they will take you to the detail about each item.

Surface Warfare Officer Pin

  Defense Meritorious Service Medal  
Meritorious Service Medal Navy Commendation Medal Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation
Navy Unit Commendation Navy (battle) "E" National Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal Expert Rifle Expert Pistol

Command Ashore Pin

Joint Chiefs of Staff Badge 

Awards

Defense Meritorious Service Medal Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal
Navy Commendation Medal Navy Commendation Medal (2nd Award)
Navy Commendation Medal Navy Commendation Medal

Unit Awards

Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation
Navy Unit Commendation Navy Unit Commendation
Navy (battle) "E" Battle "E" - This award is given to a unit for winning a battle efficiency competition. This particular award was given to USS Saipan (LHA-2).

Badges

Surface Warfare Officer Surface Warfare Officer - This badge is "affectionately" know as "water wings." Similar to aviators wings, and submariners "dolphins", this badge is earned by demonstrating proficiency on board all of the departments of a surface combatant. I did my training aboard the USS Boulder (LST-1190). An LST is a Landing Ship, Tank, also know as a "large slow target." The Boulder is currently at the Philadelphia Naval Yard in the inactive ship basin.
Command Ashore Pin Command Ashore - This badge is worn by commanding officers of shore units.
Joint Chiefs of Staff Badge Joint Chiefs of Staff - This badge is worn by U.S. Military (Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines) that serve or have served on the staff of the Joint Chiefs. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs is the highest ranking member of the United States military. The Joint Chiefs represent each of the services. Since the total size of the Joint Staff is limited by law the competition for positions is intense. In addition, very few of the positions are filled with Reserve Officers. Being assigned to the Joint Staff was one of the high points of my Navy Reserve career.

Service Awards

National Defense Service Medal National Defense Service Medal - This award was given to anyone who was in the U.S. Military during certain time periods. I was awarded this service medal first for service during the Vietnam Era and a second time for service during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.
Armed Forces Reserve Medal Armed Forces Reserve Service Medal - This award is given after ten years of service in the Navy Reserves.

Ribbons

Expert Pistol Expert Pistol - This award is given for marksmanship on the pistol range. There are three levels: marksman, sharpshooter, and expert. The "E" on the ribbon designates me as an expert.
Expert Rifle Expert Rifle - This award is given for marksmanship on the rifle range. There are three levels: marksman, sharpshooter, and expert. The "E" on the ribbon designates me as an expert.

Reserve Duty (reverse chronology)

Commanding Officer, Navy Reserve Unit, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, N91, Test & Evaluation & Technical Requirements (seconded to N096 Oceanographer of the Navy)

Action Officer Joint Chiefs of Staff, J6, C4 Systems (Primary duties included COMSEC monitoring, information assurance, defensive information warfare)

Navy Department Duty Captain (acting), Navy Command Center, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, N3/N5 Deputy Chief of Naval Operations Plans, Policy & Operations

Special Projects Officer, Logistics Planning and Execution Center Watch Officer, Weapons Logistics Officer, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, N4 Deputy Chief of Naval Operations Fleet Readiness & Logistics

Commanding Officer - Navy Reserve Topeka KS

Operations Officer, Military Sealift Command New York

Management Information Systems Officer, Navy Reserve Readiness Command Region 4

Selected Reserve Coordinator - USS Boulder (LST-1190)

Executive Officer (XO) - Navy Reserve Unit USS Saipan (LHA-2)

Executive Officer (XO) - Navy Reserve Unit Weapons Station Earle NJ

Active Duty (reverse chronology)

Management Information Systems Project Officer, Headquarters, Naval Security Group Command, Washington, DC

Naval Communication Training Center, Pensacola, FL

Naval Officer Candidate School, Newport, RI

Significant Reserve Active Duty - "Summer Camp" (reverse chronology)

Special Project for the President Naval War College - critique of/recommendations for furthering "Network Centric Warfare"

Strategic Planning Review - Information Technology - Commander, Navy Reserve Force

CMAS Model Review - Space Systems, C3I, Electronic Warfare and Undersea Surveillance - Commander Space Warfare Systems Command

for assistance contact mailto:roger@rogermisty.com