Music & Motivation

I've started singing in the choir at church. It's been over 10 years since music was a constant part of life, and I didn't realize it, but I missed it. I sing in the car and to put the kids to sleep, but to be reading music, playing the piano, practicing chord progression... it's been a while. I'm rusty, but it's coming back pretty quickly. One of the aspects I've always appreciated about music is that you're always a student. It requires repetition. It's a forcing function that requires attention, skill and motivation.

Having forcing functions like that is a good thing.

Today I went on a run; what I call my Career Motivational Loop. I start off from the ship, run the length of the waterfront, loop back along the Admiral's houses, round off by the marina and finish along the water back to the ship. It ends up being about 5 miles and it's a great run. It's observing 45 years of life work from rising to Command of a ship to selection to Flag to retirement on a sailboat in 45 minutes during lunch.

Having forcing functions that cause us to be introspective, to consciously rededicate our efforts is a good thing.

Here's to more runs and more music.

- Matt

Anchors Aweigh!!

Luckily, the Navy vs. Air Force football game is still happening today. It's on CBS and gives me something to do while I'm on duty today onboard the GEORGE H. W. BUSH. With the government shutdown ongoing, it was one of those pawns being used to show the repercussions of Congressional indecision...

One of my favorite parts of any aired Navy game is seeing the opening segment of the Midshipmen pre-game march-on. We're all over the place. It's really cool to see the juxtaposition during the Army vs. Navy game. They take it much more seriously than we do. But, at the heart of it, I like seeing the Midshipmen's faces. After doing a tour as a Company Officer, I know that each one of those faces has an incredibly compelling story.

11 years ago, I was one of those stories as a Senior at USNA. At the time, I didn't know if I'd be allowed to graduate and earn a Commission due to breaking my back and the resulting ongoing condition because of it called degenerative disk disease. I was able to seen and treated by some great doctors at Bethesda that made it possible to graduate and move forward.

This week I was honored to be a part of a former shipmate's Commissioning ceremony onboard NICHOLAS. He asked me to send him a biography for the program, so I had to crank one out for the first time in a while:

"A native of Christiansburg, VA, LCDR Phillips graduated with merit from the United States Naval Academy in 2003 with a degree in Computer Science. After being selected to the Immediate Graduate Education Program (IGEP), he graduated with honors from the Naval Postgraduate School in 2004 with a Master’s in Computer Science.

His first assignment was as Communications Officer in CLEVELAND (LPD 7). While serving onboard he completed a deployment in support of IRAQI FREEDOM. Subsequently, he successfully completed the Navy’s nuclear training pipeline and served as Reactor Mechanical Division Officer in DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69) and completed a deployment in support of ENDURING FREEDOM.

Following his initial sea tours, he returned to serve as a Company Officer at the United States Naval Academy and taught Leadership and Seamanship & Navigation. After being selected as a distinguished graduate from Department Head School, LCDR Phillips served as Operations Officer in NICHOLAS (FFG 47), completing a Central American counter-narcotic deployment and interdicted over half a billion dollars of cocaine traffic.

Currently, LCDR Phillips is serving as the Chemistry and Radiological Assistant in GEORGE H. W. BUSH (CVN 77). His personal awards include the Navy Commendation Medal (two) and the Navy Achievement Medal (two). He and his wife Amy have two children, Jack (4) and Emma (3) and are expecting their third child later this year."

After writing it, I couldn't believe it's me. 11 years ago, that Senior at USNA couldn't have guessed that's where he'd be today. 

I'm excited for that newly Commissioned Ensign to see where he'll be in 11 years; where we'll both be in another 11 years.

- Matt

Hold them close.

Today we had a ceremony onboard the ship to remember the life of a Sailor in my department that tragically took their own life. During the ceremony, a slide show was playing pictures of his life. Pictures like the one above. In his pictures, all I could see is Jack and Emma.

The first time I switched roles, so to speak, was at Brendan Looney's funeral. Jack was almost a year and a half old and Emma had just been born. At the time, I was a Company Officer at USNA and attended his funeral with several friends. Sitting in an aisle seat, I watched as his Father, Kevin, made a long, heart-wrenching walk down the nave of the National Cathedral. I felt the pain of a lost Shipmate. Harder though, I felt the pain of a grieving Father who had lost his Son.

That same pain resonated within the steel of the ship on the foc'sle today. I saw the hope of a Mother and Father cut painfully short. I saw the devastation and guilt felt by his parents and those he loved. I saw Jack. I saw Emma. I saw our unborn child.

I want Jack's last check he ever writes to bounce. I want Emma to leave this earth skydiving on her 100th birthday. I want our unborn child to know the anticipation of having their own unborn child. Grandchild. Great-grandchild.

I want the parents of my Sailors to know that in their children, I see their Jack. I see their Emma. I know their children represent their hope for good in the world. I know their children represent their life's work.

And to Jack, Emma and our newest one on the way (Hank, Cora, Hadley...) your Mother and I love you unconditionally. Our love for you will never stop, no matter what path life takes you down. I will walk a road through hell by your side, holding your hand the entire way. 

-Matt

These are a few of my favorite things...

Yorgo's for breakfast after a day on the ship...

Kids playing soccer...

Backyard chickens that lay eggs...

Because of my career, unfortunately I miss a lot. But I was here. Today. And it was great.

-Matt

Thankful

Happiness vs. Satisfaction.

Seeing the picture below that Amy sent me yesterday gives me mixed emotions. Obviously, I'd love to be there with Jack, Emma and Amy and have an undoubtedly fun week at the beach. However, more than that, I'm THANKFUL that we're in a position where they can do these trips, have these life experiences, and enjoy their summer. I miss them, but I'm thankful for the good time they're having.

Wherever you are, BE there.

- Matt

Leaning forward

One of the principles that has stuck with me for a long time is one from a cross-country coach I had. The ability to succeed in cross-country in Southwestern Virginia relied greatly on how well you planned for and dealt with the hills. Races are won and lost on the hills. He taught us to lean forward and aggressively attack the uphill and don't coast and relax on the downhill, take long strides.

This next week is the last push up the hill. 

Lean forward and don't forget to take long strides on the downhill.

-Matt

AP Chemistry

So, I never took AP Chemistry in High School and, quiet honestly, it was the course at USNA that I really struggled with. So, it's definitely odd that here I am 14 years after Plebe Chemistry, as the Chemistry-Radiological Assistant (CRA). One of the aspects of the job that I didn't REALLY appreciate until I had to do it, was the check chemistry program. Basically, we watch and critique others on how they perform their analysis. Well, the Reactor Officer has to watch the CRA perform ALL the analysis. So, the past week has felt like an AP Chemistry final practical without taking the class. After most of our analysis sessions I feel like Emma here:

This position has definitely pushed me outside my comfort zone. And that's okay. 

I'm not the technical expert of the division, nor do I need or want to be. I know enough to ask the right questions and to recognize when something doesn't look right. 

I do know what great divisions and departments look like and a pretty good idea of how to get there.

Here's to more getting dirty...