Robert L. Tade

Interior Communications Electrician 2nd Class Tade served aboard the USS HORNET (CVS-12 during the Vienam War Era.

"In what ways has serving in the military influenced the way you have approached your subsequent life and career?”

The training and discipline in the Navy (1966-1970) were the guidelines to my family life and career.  I attended PLAT and FLOLS C’ Schools and maintained those two systems during my 4 years on the Hornet.  During those 4 years the ship made two WestPac Cruises and picked up Apollo 11 and 12.  Needless to say, I was at sea for 36 of the 48 months I was in the Navy.  When the USS Hornet was decommissioned, I separated from active duty as an IC2 with two young sons. I returned to North Island as an electronics technician.  The training that I received allowed me to advance to WG12 and in 1975, which in turn allowed me to accept a GS9 calibration technician position at Laboratory at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan.  In Iwakuni, I worked with Navy and Marine technicians to improve my skills in electronics and my fitness.  I learned to sail a small boat and played softball with the Marines.  In 1976, I coached/managed a Little League team of 6 American and 6 Japanese players. Being able to bring my young family to Japan and visit some of the same bases that I visited while assigned to the Hornet reminded me of my service and allowed me to share those experiences with my family.  In 1976 my wife’s parents visited us in Iwakuni.  Both her parents were Marines in WWII.  Her dad stayed in the Marines and was at the initial landing in the Korean War and took part in the Battle at the Chosin Reservoir.   

The skills that I gained working with the military and Japanese National technicians encouraged and allowed me to move up to GS11, as a Senior Technician at the Navy Calibration Laboratory at MCAS Futenma, Japan. My wife was a schoolteacher before we moved to Japan and continued to teach at the DOD schools.  The DOD schools provided a terrific foundation for our kid’s education.  We added a second daughter to our family, who was born at the Navy Hospital at MCAS Camp Kuai.   I continued to draw on the skills I learned on the Hornet and after two years in Futenma took a position as the Head of the Electronics Division at the Navy Calibration Laboratory at Atsugi, Japan. The tour of duty overseas was 5 years.  I returned to NAS North Island as a GS12 Electronics Engineer in charge of the Calibration Scheduling Branch at the Naval Air Logistics Center.  I was also in charge of the Computer Center ant tracked the West Coast equipment and monitored the proficiency of Calibration Labs from Christchurch, New Zealand to Adak, Alaska and everywhere in between.  In total there were Military Type IV Labs at every military base in the Pacific area as well as Navy Type I, II and III Labs.

I continued to draw on the skills I learned in the Navy and traveled all over the world training and working with military technicians.  My family probably thought I was still in the Navy as I traveled from Kuwait to New Zealand visiting all the Laboratories in the U.S. as well as many other counties like Japan, Philippines, Spain, Italy.  I continued to Manage Little League teams and moved on to umpiring until my knees wouldn’t let me crouch behind the plate.

I retired as a GS13 in charged of the computer center that tracked and managed all the Navy/Marine Corps Calibratable assets.  Since my supervisor was in Washington, D.C., I retired as the Officer-in-Charge of the facility including being responsible for security, the budget and over 40 personnel. 

I retired in 2004 with over a year of sick leave with added to my years of service for retirement. My service was not over as I joined the El Cajon Police Department as a Volunteer.  I also volunteered at the El Cajon Animal Control Center every week. I worked/volunteered at both places until Covid-19 shut us down.  After being out for nine months I decided to turn in my badge after nearly 20 years.  I have continued to volunteer as a Marshal at the Torrey Pines Open every year since 2005 as well as the last two U.S. Opens held at Torrey Pines.  I worked in the last two U.S. Centennial Census’ as well as working/volunteering at a local polling place for the last two presidential elections.

While my days were busy at ECPD and ECAC my nights and weekends were kept busy with the American Legion.  Around 2000 I received a note with my annual renewal that the EL Cajon Post 303 was going to have to turn in its charter if they couldn’t garner some younger members to help manage the Post.  I attended one of their meetings with I believe 5 other members and learned that the post was being managed by officers in their 80s.  I began my tour as the Post Adjutant but soon learned I was to become the Post Commander for many years.  When I began, we normally had six members attend our monthly meeting out of a total of about 180 active members.  (Active only in the sense they paid their annual membership fee).   In 2009 I had increased the Post membership to over 450 with around 60 members participating in our monthly meetings and Saturday morning breakfasts.  The 22^nd District recognized my efforts by nominating me for the Department of California Legionnaire of the Year out of 150,000 Legionnaires.  I was surprised at the 2010 Department Meeting by receiving that Award. As the Post Commander I was in charge of selecting Delegates to attend the annual American Legion Boys State Program. When I began we were sending 3 delegates in increased that to 8 delegates and also volunteered as a City Counselor at Boys State for 8 years.  My awards continued when Congressman Hunter recognized my volunteer efforts by reading my accomplishments into the Congressional Records.

I believe my service was the basis for everything in both my family life, work experiences and volunteer services. I was working at the Naval Air Rework Facility at North Island when I received my draft notice in 1966.  Many of my coworkers used the employment deferment but I honestly believe my decision to join the Navy lead to my accomplishment at work and to continue by volunteer efforts with the ECPD, the American Legion as well as being a Marshall I several golf tournaments.