{"id":1489,"date":"2014-06-10T15:25:10","date_gmt":"2014-06-10T22:25:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogschapman.wpenginepowered.com\/business\/2014\/06\/10\/from-the-flight-deck-to-the-sands-of-afghanistan-a-chapman-mba-students-journey-from-military-life-to-student-life-part-i\/"},"modified":"2014-06-10T15:25:10","modified_gmt":"2014-06-10T22:25:10","slug":"from-the-flight-deck-to-the-sands-of-afghanistan-a-chapman-mba-students-journey-from-military-life-to-student-life-part-i","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/business\/2014\/06\/10\/from-the-flight-deck-to-the-sands-of-afghanistan-a-chapman-mba-students-journey-from-military-life-to-student-life-part-i\/","title":{"rendered":"From the Flight deck to the sands of Afghanistan: A Chapman MBA student's journey from military life to student life. Part I"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cPull up your pants you clown, who do you think you are wearing your pants at your ankles.\u201d Those were the first words spoken to me as I exited the bus and lined up for basic training at Great Lakes, Illinois.\u00a0 As a young man who spent his high school surfing and skating, I found myself reporting to basic training. I remember pondering: \u201cWhat the hell did I get myself into?\u201d\u00a0 Now as I reflect on that period, I realize what an amazing journey it has been for me, from serving in the military to getting my MBA at Chapman.<\/p>\n

It all began with meticulous cleaning, following orders, passing uniform inspections, and standing watch.\u00a0 It felt like waking up from a quick sleep – the whole thing was over before I knew it.\u00a0 I went from a young boy who only cared about himself, to a young man with a greater purpose.\u00a0 I must admit that my intentions at the time of joining the United States Navy were to explore and gain an education.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t until much later that I realized the purpose for joining the service is more than my own selfish reasons, but for the higher calling of serving your country.<\/p>\n

I remember my parents coming to visit me as I completed my basic training.\u00a0 When I changed into a different attire, I folded my uniform meticulously and placed it on the toilet seat cover.\u00a0 My father saw the uniform lying there perfectly folded the same way he had done many years ago when he went through boot camp.\u00a0 Both my parents then realized that I was no longer a boy, but a man who had grown up not before their eyes in the past few months.<\/p>\n

After completing basic training I went to Fort Meade, Maryland to receive my training in becoming a Photographer\u2019s mate.\u00a0 During basic training, a very devastating event took place on September 11th, 2001.\u00a0 I remember acknowledging that with graduation near, things were going to change very drastically.\u00a0 When I graduated I was assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2 to begin my training to become a U.S. Navy diver. \u00a0My father a retired Navy diver, and I grew up in the ocean, so even though I was thinking about being a Marine Sniper, becoming a Navy diver was something that interested me.\u00a0 I ran 10 to 12 miles a day, more push-ups than I can count, sit-ups, 8 count\u2019s, and other strenuous exercises.\u00a0 I grew up surfing and playing a lot of sports, but I had never exercised to the extent that the Navy had me doing.\u00a0 I enjoyed the challenge and truly loved every moment being what they called us, \u201cMud Puppies.\u201d<\/p>\n

After almost a year went by, I still had no official orders to go to dive school in Florida. The Navy sent me to the fleet to work in my rate which was a photographer\u2019s mate.\u00a0 Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2 was a command that prepared new diver candidates before they arrived to the actual dive school. I was very disappointed at the time but sometimes the Navy has bigger plans for you than what you want to do.\u00a0 When I was young I was so mad that the Navy betrayed me, but later I would understand why.<\/p>\n

I was sent to VFA-102 a F\/A 18 fighter squadron in Lemoore, Calif.\u00a0 Lemoore was not a great city – it is hot and did not offer a single thing to do. As a result I enrolled in school to obtain my Bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from City University of Seattle.\u00a0 Trying to balance deployments with online school was very difficult for me.\u00a0 I think that people believe online education is easier than an actual classroom environment, for me it was more difficult.\u00a0 Communicating only through electronic means is a daunting task because essentially I was reading a teacher\u2019s response, which was almost identical with what the book had said.\u00a0 After few trial and errors I realized that I could only take 2 classes per semester because I would have to study extra since I was struggling with online coursework.<\/p>\n

Every person who chooses to serve his country sacrifices the freedom he fights for others while giving up a portion of his own.\u00a0 Not everyone comes home, and I want to personally note that May was the anniversary of my close friend Trevor Anthony Wine<\/a>, who lost his life serving in Iraq. Miss you buddy.<\/p>\n

Continue Part II of Jonathan’s story \u00bb<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

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