I learned something very important last night. I learned that there’s a reason for each of us to share our own story.
Four years ago I had written a piece about my story. It was about how three men had impacted the trajectory of my life. Two of those men I only knew via what I saw or what I read. The third was LCDR Rudolph Glivings USN. LCDR Glivings had been my command leader in the Navy BOOST Program (Broadened Opportunities for Officer Selection and Training). When I entered the Navy I did so more out of desperation than aspiration. I figured it would help me finance my remaining education once I left. The idea of becoming a naval Officer had never entered my head. At that point in my life I had no appreciation for the distinction associated with wearing the black and gold. I didn’t understand that at that time barely 3% of the Officer ranks were held by non white men. I was green and had a lot to learn.
I was nominated for the program and ultimately selected. At the time I was over seas and embedded in a place I wanted out of in the worst way. My orders came through and I was on a transport headed back to the USA. I spent 30 days at home before I had to report to NTC San Diego to begin my BOOST training.
On day one we were mustered and LCDR Glivings gave us his welcome aboard speech. It wasn’t long after this that it became painfully clear that I wasn’t taking this opportunity as seriously as it was taking me. That’s the point where LCDR Glivings took me in hand. He put the fear of God in me or rather the fear of LCDR Rudolph Glivings. He shaped the man I would become. He taught me to demand excellence from myself not for someone else but for me. It was a lesson I would treasure for the rest of my life.
After I completed the BOOST program my Naval path never crossed his again. I never got the chance to personally thank him for what he had done for me. I’ve been accused of being a very serious man. I embrace that. I am a serious man with a very deliberate manner. I owe that to LCDR Rudolph Glivings and the other mean whose dedication and sacrifice made it possible to turn dreams into accomplishments.
Life has a way of confirming things. Last night almost 50 years after my time in the BOOST Program I got a comment regarding my post from four years ago. It was from LCDR Rudolph Glivings son. He thanked me for the comments I made about his father and promised that he would be sharing them with his mother and sister. I may not have gotten to tell him directly of the impact he had on me but his family would now know of the tremendous impact he had on a young sailor. Our stories really do have value. What’s your story?
Think!!
Eyes Wide 👀 👁 Open!!!