Christopher Spencer:  

Military To start, I'm not sure how many people would even remember me. The military changed me in ways I would once have thought completely unbelievable. Back in high school, I was the loner type. I didn't dislike it, that's just who I was. I was quiet and introverted, and was part of a small, select group of friends. For those people who do remember though, I think you'd be amazed at what I've become. For starters, I'm not even sure why I joined the military. I suppose my main reason was I didn't really know what I was going to do with my life. I was approached by a recruiter and the structure that military life would provide appealed to me. I signed on and a few months later I reported to Great Lakes, IL for Boot Camp. I've been in the Navy for 4 years now, and there have been things both great and terrible, however, Boot Camp is one experience that I would never want to lose. It taught me a sense of discipline and responsibility that I had never before known. Even all these years later, I still feel Boot Camp to be the one thing I'll always owe the Navy for. After boot camp, I spent the next 2 years in training to become a Nuclear Electronic's Technician. Quite a bit of training goes into it; while I have my own anti-Navy sentiments about certain things, one thing I will say for them is they know nuclear power. The Navy essentially built the nuclear industry into what it is today. My nuclear training consisted of 1½ years in Charleston, SC followed by ½ year in Ballston Spa, NY, after which I was transferred to my first sea command: CVN 72, USS Abraham Lincoln. On the Lincoln, I had my first taste of doing the job I'd joined to do; after all, the previous 2 years were spent...Expand for more