Good, yes I really liked putting together the Gregory Peck one. And it was informed by observing the good (and not so good) skippers I’d seen in my nine years in the Navy.
I passed through Yokosuka a few times in the mid-70’s. Then I was shore duty in Sasebo 1980-83, which was just wonderful. Found my wife there, so I’m still connected to Japan through her and NHK TV.
For me, the Navy was personally enriching. But it really didn’t prepare me well for the business world since the Navy aboard ship was about “operating” something as opposed to the producing, selling, and marketing you need do in the business world.
Still, I’m not sure you can easily trade the experience of seeing the world and learning new cultures. Living in Japan talk me a great deal about America’s pros and cons — still does.
My Navy experience completely prepared me for getting ahead in the civilian world. I found that I was willing to do nearly any job my boss asked of me. I didn’t have any “That’s not my job” left in me. If I was asked to clean toilets, I did that.
Also, I grew up in a military family and spent formative years in the military, so I was very much into chain of command and hierarchy.
I called every male I didn’t know personally “Sir” and every woman I didn’t know “Ma’am”. I innately understood why going outside the chain of command is generally bad, and when you should and shouldn’t do it.
I am grateful to my country for letting me serve. And I was glad I didn’t have to do it in a shooting war, either, but being on a flight deck or on a ship, things could get hot and deadly at any time, bullets or not.