Member: NavyChief
Division: Battlefield 3 (BF)
Battalion: North America
Position: Commanding Officer
Thinking back, what drew you to TAW?
Camaraderie. Being retired Navy, I really missed the close knit environment that a military unit possesses. At QuakeCon 2011 I saw a group of people talking and having fun. They all wore shirts with the TAW logo and name. Above their computer area there was a banner with the TAW website address. I was curious and looked up the website and spent the next few days reading through the site to see what it offered. The expansive collection of units and organized gameplay peaked my interest. The TAW Code of Ethics was the deciding factor. Finally a place where someone could have fun in a peaceful environment and be a part of something worthwhile. The teamwork and devotion experienced is beyond comparison.
Do you have any special hobbies or activities outside of online gaming/TAW?
My hobby would be building and modding computers. I have built 5 computers so far and each is getting larger and more complex. I now prefer water-cooling configurations due to the Texas heat. My latest build, QuakeCon 800D, won 1st place at QuakeCon 2012 and is being featured in the August 2013 issue of CPU magazine.
Did you admire a famous person? What made them admirable?
U.S. Navy Admiral Jeremy M. Boorda. He was the first sailor to have advanced through the enlisted ranks to become the Chief of Naval Operations (the highest position in the Navy). He was not afraid to buck the status quo and actually cared about the enlisted members. His devotion to duty and leadership was felt throughout the Navy.
What are some favorites?
My favorite author is Tom Clancy
My favorite color is Navy Blue (of course!)
My favorite sport is Football
What are the goals you are still working toward?
I have reached most of my life goals (education, family, home). My current goal is to get the kids through to graduation and then spend some time with my wife and travel more.
Tell me how you first got involved in with TAW . . .
I was one of the first members of Battlefield 3 (BF) in Vanguard and volunteered as a Drill Instructor (DI). As the unit was developing, I was asked to be the Training Specialist (TS) and readily accepted. A few months later I was asked if I wanted to help with the TAW YouTube channel and joined Operations Support - External Media. After several months of this project, I transferred back to BF and was offered a Staff Officer position. This in turn led to my current position as Commanding Officer. Love the challenges and opportunities are always present, you just have to ask.
What was your first impression of TAW?
My first impression was that TAW was HUGE! I was shocked the first time I logged into the TAW TS server and saw all those channels. Despite this, I found all the people I talked with friendly and approachable, no matter what rank or position they held.
What has surprised you most about working with TAW?
The willingness of people to volunteer and step up to offer assistance. In my previous experiences with gaming clans, no one seemed to want to do anything. Nothing was done to encourage participation and no one thought outside of the 'box'. TAW has plenty of people willing to step up and volunteer their time and energy into making TAW a better place.
When you last volunteered, made a donation, etc., how did that make you feel?
Every time I volunteer my time, it makes me feel like I am contributing to something worthwhile - my time is not being wasted. I know that my donations are also being used to help TAW grow and benefit the members.
Tell me about some of the people you've met while working on TAW?
The first person I talked with (my DI) was GundamMKII. He was friendly and answered all of my questions in a straight-forward manner. He made me feel welcome and supported me during my recruit period. Bravehardt was the second person I met and was equally impressed with his relaxed demeanor and honest approach to everything. As the TAW Army Commander with a membership of roughly 2400 members, he is able to remain calm and make important decisions fairly and swiftly. He is always there when anyone needs him.
What would you say are some of your strongest beliefs about TAW?
My strongest belief is one about respect. Respect others and treat them as you would want to be treated. Don't judge anyone based on their religion, heritage, language, sexual bias, race, sex, etc. We are a community of gamers and are here to have fun in a non-judgmental environment. I also firmly believe in the language policy. Members should be able to communicate and play without the need for abusive or derogatory language.
When your friends/family find out that you volunteer, donate, etc., what do they say or ask?
Many are surprised that a 48-year old is still playing video games. My philosophy is that you are only as old as you feel. I feel young and playing games keeps a common connection with my 15-year-old son. We can discuss games that we play and challenge each other. Games bring us closer and keeps a strong bond between us.
The interest in TAW seems to be growing/waning. Why do you think that is?
People are always on the lookout for a community where they feel accepted and can play in a non-abusive environment. TAW provides this and strives hard to keep it that way. We stress the TAW Code of Ethics to all potential recruits and any infractions are swiftly dealt with. As more people join, word-of-mouth spreads our story to all corners of the globe.
What would you tell someone who is thinking about donating, volunteering, etc.?
Put your time and energy into something you believe in. If you have a skill that will benefit others or the time to help organize things, then jump in and help. If you have an idea that will make a process easier or faster, then feel free to bring it to the attention of others. Don't just stand on the sidelines waiting for change or griping to others about things that should be happening. If you want change, help bring it about.
What do you think will change about TAW over the next five years?
The membership and amount of Corps / Divisions will increase in direct correlation to the gaming market. The PC gaming community is growing and TAW will have to grow to keep up and remain functional. The proliferation of Free-To-Play (FTP) games keeps drawing in more gamers to the PC community. A rapidly expanding and changing game market will equate into more divisions and an ever increasing Vanguard Command.
As a client, volunteer, donor, what sorts of trends do you see?
I foresee that the Vanguard Command will be expanding at an alarming rate. Currently, Vanguard Command is composed of 659 members spread across 10 units. That is nearly double the size of any of the current Army Corps. As more games are developed and brought online, Vanguard Command will have to be in a position to handle the influx of recruits and the development of future Army Divisions. I would think that the Vanguard Command staff will need to be increased to handle these demands in an efficient manner. Experienced leaders will always be in demand.
How would someone describe you?
have been categorized as an easy-going, laid back person. Stress does not affect me and I tend to take a step back and examine things thoroughly before acting. I am very good at researching items and putting ideas into words. Friendly, open-minded and always there to talk with.
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