# Serving Two Masters ### Background - 2020.11.18 - I was taking a short nap earlier. As I was waking up, a thought came to me and I felt I should write it in my journal --- ### Notes - For most of my [[Navy|Naval]] career, I was required to [[Serve]] more than one command as the same time. Some of the times, the entities were in the same chain of command and other times they were at odds with each other. I’ll lay out the details below. - The first example is not exactly in line with the idea that came to me in bed, but it is similar. In both VA-196 and VA-145, all the aviation officers had to balance flying with the “ground-job”. - This next example was really the beginning of the two bosses, but it was minor. It occurred when I was in VA-196 and serving in the Nuclear Safety Officer (NSO) billet. Although the squadron reported to the wing administratively, the squadron also reported to the Air Wing Commander CAG. As the NSO, I ultimately reported to the squadron Commanding Officer (CO). However, I had to appease the guys at the wing. Otherwise, they would fail us on our inspection and the CO would not be happy. - The next example was one of the most extreme. After graduating from Test Pilot School (TPS), I got orders to the Systems Directorate. There are three examples. - Since I was a distinguished graduate, I was eligible to go back to TPS as an instructor. Without my knowledge or apparently the Systems Commander, TPS arranged to have me transferred to TPS to be in instructor. However, the commander at Systems became quite belligerent about it and insisted I stay at Systems. As a result, he did not treat me well. - Similar to the fleet squadrons, my “ground-job” was to manage a [[Test]] program. I also had flying duties where I crewed A-6’s and EA-6B’s. - The other two examples notwithstanding, the first significant example of serving two bosses was the competing requirements of the Systems Directorate and the S-3 Program Office. Again, the Systems boss was a jerk and made my life hell trying to appease both crowds. - The next example was similar to the NSO one above. During [[Desert_Storm|Desert Storm]], I worked for the Battle Group Admiral as well as flying and the Admin Officer (AO) for VA-145. In the flying and AO job, I reported to the Squadron CO. In the Battle Group job, I reported to the Admiral. Thankfully, the Admiral was not a jerk and the conflicts were minimal. - While working at the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) after the war, I had three bosses. - The guy who wrote my performance appraisal (FITREP) worked at headquarters. He wanted me to work on a joint effort with the Air Force and Army. Thankfully, it aligned with my AX ASPO job (discussed next) so the only “conflict” was meeting with him on a regular basis to brief him on what I was doing. In one respect, the joint organization was a fourth boss, since I had to work with them on their goals. - On a day-to-day basis, I reported to the AX Class Desk as the AX Avionics System Program Officer (ASPO). This is where the vast majority of my time was spent. - And then there was the Program Office (PMA). They really weren’t a boss, but I needed to play nice with them since we “were all on the same team”. Often the day-to-day requirements from the PMA competed with the Class Desk directions. I was left holding the bag to negotiate the differences. - Finally, my last duty station, JEWC/JC2WC/JIOC, was a real mess!! - My direct reporting boss and I often didn’t see eye-to-eye on things. To make matters worse, he and his boss didn’t agree on most things. - In addition to my day-to-day job, I had “Navy” stuff to deal with as well. - Towards the end of my time in the Navy, I got the chance to work on something that was ultimately the second best job I ever had. In that project, I worked directly for someone completely outside my chain of command. (This was NOT done under the table. I was “ordered” to work on this project.) Sadly, the people in my chain of command ultimately pulled the rug out from under all of us. - The last example of a paying job I want to discuss is not much like the others. I was hired as a contractor working for a company that provided services to the Air Force (AF). Effectively, I worked for the Air Force on a day-to-day basis. However, my paychecks came from the company, so I had to deal with their bureaucracy while producing a product for the AF. - Throughout most of my adult life, I have done “[[Ministry]]”, with / through some sort of organization. Most of the time, it was through a [[Church]], but there were a couple of organizations along the way. So, even though I was serving “God,” I was also “serving” the organization. - For the last few years, despite regular tugs from other to join their "organization", we have been exclusively serving God and trying to do what He says. We are trying to follow the [[Shama_(Hebrew_Word)|"Shama]]" first introduced in [[Deuteronomy_06|Deuteronomy 6.4-5]]; [[Listen]] and [[Obey]]; [[Love]] [[God]] and love others! - I don’t know why all this came to mind as I was waking up from my nap. I know there is stuff in the Bible about trying to serve two masters, but I don't know if it applies to the events in my life. I wanted to get this recorded for now and maybe someday, I will understand for what God was “preparing” me for through all those situations that were out of my control. - [[777]] - Lord, please splain! ---