Over 13 years ago I joined the Navy...
It was a rough decision made during a time in my life when I wasn't making good decisions. It ended up being the best decision I have ever made in my life. I slowly went from E3 to E4 (then back down to E3 then right back up to E4 -long story) then on to E5 in 2007. Eight years later, I walked in to the base Galley here at NAS Oceana and sat down for my second to last attempt to take the Advancement Exam and pick up E6. I would have one more short the following spring but this one this past September would be my best shot, as when taking into account the US Navy's mathematical sorcery regarding scoring of evaluations, awards, time in rank, pass/not advanced points and education points, etc. would change for the worse in Spring 2016.
I worked my way through the test, quickly answering the ones I didn't know, spending 3 seconds on the ones that I kind of had an idea about, and then spending 4 seconds examining the clock on the wall in front of me while I tried my best guess for those I had no fucking clue as to what the correct answer was. While we took the test in September, we wouldn't find out our results until November.
In fact, the 24th of November - Today.
You see, not making it off of that test would put me in a position to have to start transitioning out of the Navy; writing resume's, applying for jobs, trying to find a place for my wife, son and animals to live. You can only stay in for 14 years at the rank of E5 and I am already at 13 and a half years.
We were called up to the Air Combat Maneuvers Training room for an All Hands meeting at noon. We piled in, I smoked 4 Camel Menthols before walking up there and sitting in the very back. I fidgeted on my phone, ignored texts asking me if I knew anything and waiting. Eventually Skipper walked in and he began to read the names of those advanced off of the September Exam. He worked his way down alphabetically. Quickly he reached Bufford (a now AO2 who was on his last shot), then Crawford (one of the best Electricians I've ever seen). My fingers were gripping the chair and skipper looks in the opposite direction of where I was sitting and says the following:
"Let me see if I pronounce this right. AT1...Cummins?" he said with a grin that stretched all the way to the back of his head.
I slowly started to stand and then my vision got cloudy and I managed to grab the chair in front of me before I fully passed out. Two people ran out to get me water, three people checked to make sure I was alright and said my face went from bright red to ghost white.
I shook every hand and hugged a whole heap of people, including my Command Master Chief and my Assistant Maintenance Officer.
Today, I found out I made AT1 and get to stay in the Navy for a full 20 years and get my retirement.
I am now eating Chipotle.
