I'd say I'm a pretty quiet, laid-back, easy-going mellow person. I consider myself to be a nice guy, especially compared to a lot of creeps, jerks and chauvanists I've met in my life (some of my friends and co-workers being excellent examples). I definitely consider myself a gentleman and I take the phrase "Nice guys finish last" to heart.
I also consider myself a moral person and I have a strong work ethic. I try to do my best at anything I have to do and I don't cheat or take the easy route to get things done. I'd rather stay late and get something finished the right way than to take a gamble and do something half-assed just because it's quicker.
People sometimes think I'm in a bad mood because I don't talk that much and I don't get excited about little things. But just the opposite is true because I don't get upset and angry easily. I'm much more likely to be mad at myself for something I did than something someone else did or said to me.
What's up with the whole "Chad'z" thing?
That's a moniker I made up in high school for no real reason. It's just a contraction of my first and last names. i know it sounds like what my name would be if I was a hip-hop star but it didn't seem that way when I came up with the idea. When I was persuring a career in illustration and graphic design I used to sign my works as just "Chad'z" like a real elite artist. And when I first starting getting into the Internet that was always my screen name or handle in some way or another. I've lightened up on the usage of Chad'z the last couple years. I think I just use is it as a web page heading now.
How do you like being in the Navy?
So far it's been pretty good to me. The schools I've had to go through have been pretty tough but I've always been able to pass at a slightly-above-average level. The actual work itself hasn't been too bad. I'd say it's more annoying than it is hard. I really hate having to stand watches and the whole 24-hour duty day thing every eight days but at least it's not back-breaking labor. I do end up doing some pretty hard work sometimes but considering that that's not my real job I'm very grateful.
I've been pretty lucky to have gotten into the fire controlman rating because it has already helped me advance much more quickly than people in other rates with the same time of service. I'm hoping to make second class on the March exam but if not then I should definitely get it in September 2004.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I really have no idea. I'm not sure if I'm going to make a career out of the Navy or just do my six years and get out. It will depend mostly on what's available when re-enlistment time comes. I work in a high-tech electronics field right now but I don't really enjoy it or understand it that much. Maybe once I start to "get" it I will enjoy it more and look for a job in the civilian world working on electronics. Or maybe I'll just stay in and try to advance as high as I can in the FC field.
Right now I'm also thinking about doing this "perform to serve" program where people like me who are in overmanned jobs can re-enlist and change to an undermanned job for a pretty good bonus. I'm thinking about going IT (information systems technician), which would probably be easier and more fun than what I'm doing now. Plus it's a job that's almost exactly like its civilian counterpart. Getting a job as a computer networking geek after the navy would be pretty easy I think. There isn't a big demand for missile technicians in the real world.
Why is there all this free space on the right side of the page?
I dunno, that's Yahoo's thing. I think there's supposed to be ads that take up all that space but all I've seen so far is a little ad in the top right corner. Sorry if it throws off your eyes.
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