The sense of working for a larger purpose than just the current task at hand. That no matter how inane the current situation is or how crazed your command seems to be, you are doing something that matters far more to the nation than making money for a bunch of invisible shareholders.

It definitely opened my eyes to a wider world. While I will always feel privileged for having been raised on board China Lake NAWS (NOTS & NWC back in those days), that is an isolated existence for sure.

Additionally, meeting a few officers and chiefs that really understood genuine leadership was a highlight. Once you meet one of those types, you know what it is, and anything else is a poor substitute.

So, I will eternally value how those years taught me about the big world, and big people.