Path to Recruiter

Working for Harvey

The last Friday in January 2009 my boss Steve at Baker Concrete decided to let me know that due to company cutbacks 30 of us working on the tower would be laid off. At the time I was an assistant field engineer laying out the columns for the 4th floor of a new 17 floor condominium tower inside 610 loop of Houston TX. "Hey Levi, this one's not up to me, if it was up to me I'd keep you around. But Kevin (his boss)  is forcing us to cut people and you've only been here for 6 months." Yep, once again I'm looking for a job and just plain frustrated with life. Less than 2 months ago my life was turned upside down with a call from Glen Brannon about his daughter Jana. That's her story to tell, but suffice to say that her story of determination and strength in times of incomprehensible evil is worth a read. It might also help understand alot of the decisions I made in the past 18 months. But before we get into the why of joining lets back up 5 months before December.
July 2008 my dad, my brother Luke, and myself were all laid off from Harvey Builders. At that time I had spent hours staring at the Navy website, talking to friends in my life about the pros and cons of service, and praying for some sort of direction in my life. October 2008, after I had already started working for Baker with some old friends, I attended SETTD #5 a three day men's retreat where on a prayer card I wrote, "New boss, better working conditions at the job, NAVY." The prayer cha there came up to me after reading the card and asked if I was in the service or thinking of joining, I answered no but just wanted him to pray about it.
No one in my immediate family for 2 generations had ever served, no other homeschooled student I grew up with joined. It just wasn't the thing to do, or so I had thought. So why did I worry about it? How come every time I was down on my luck did Navy come to mind? Why Navy? Why not Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps? Well those questions still remain unanswered but in the hearts of some boys there is a festering desire to serve his country that will either be squashed through peer pressure or explored. This homeschooled boy who worked hard every day since he was 16 who was frustrated with his church, town, friends, and just life in general decided to explore a long hidden desire of wearing his country's uniform.

NRS Tomball office, FC2 Smith's desk is the far one on the right.

February 2009....After looking for work only to be denied and continually trying to "follow the rules" in a relationship with a girl he was hurting for; a very over opinionated, cocky, hurt, and ungrateful boy (and I emphasize boy) walks into a Navy recruiting office. "Can I help you," asked the 2nd class Petty Officer Smith. "Yes, I would like to enlist..."

 *Note* This blog is a personal endeavor for Levi to help him understand what the Lord is doing in his life. He writes sometimes in third person and then switches to first person, that's just my style. I'm endeavoring to be honest in this record just for personal reasons. If I'm ever to be accused of being an honest man or a politically sensitive, I'd rather stand guilty of being too honest. I could write pages of pages of back history on each of these paragraphs, however this blog is specifically the last 18 months so I'll strive to keep the story there. If she ever reads this, I love you Jana...