Steven Rogers posted on October 01, 2010 00:05
October 2010 Navy
by LCDR Steven L. Rogers, USN
If you are like me, I have missed the Navy since my retirement in 2007. At times, I sit in my office or yard and reflect on all the good times I had as a Naval officer. But unlike many retired officers who continue to reflect on the sunset days of their career and wonder what’s left for them to do, I did something about turning that “sunset” into a “sunrise.”
I am sure that many of you reading this article have a burning desire deep within your soul to, somehow, someway, get back to a time and place when you were serving your country as a Naval officer.
You might think that you no longer have the knowledge you need to “reactivate” yourself and make a substantial contribution to the Navy; or you may think that your age prohibits you from bringing muchneeded support to the men and women of our Navy. These thoughts you have are legitimate but not accurate.
Now, more than ever, the United States Navy needs YOU, the retired officer who sailed the seas, flew the jets, ran the units, and completed every mission you were tasked with. It is vitally important that you not lay anchor, but instead, set sail to a new port in your life – that new port being the place where you can share with younger Sailors your talent and skills from your experience and knowledge.
Obviously, in order to set sail for a new port, you would have to join a crew on a ship. Hence, beginning this month, I have established the AUSN Sunrise, a virtual ship with a crew consisting of retired Navy officers who are willing to come out of retirement and be willing to provide support to the men and women of the 21st Century Navy through the AUSN.
Your orders will be as follows: (1) Upon request, create and provide training seminars and workshops at our national conventions; (2) Assist our congressional liaison by researching and writing position papers on critical issues related to the U.S. Navy; (3) Visit your local Congressional office as a representative of the AUSN and encourage your Congressman or Congresswoman to support the needs of the fleet; and if needed, (4) provide supplemental training to our Sailors at drill sites.
The “deck” you can stand on when planning and executing your mission can be your home office, your den, or wherever you wish. My plan is get the entire “crew” together at a future national convention during which time we can “show the flag” of our ship to top Navy brass attending our conference. You are not in your sunset years. You are, however, in a position to provide your country, via your work with the AUSN, much-needed wisdom and experience.
Please e-mail me at steven.rogers@ ausn.org and become a crew member of the AUSN Sunrise.