Chief Petty Officer Mark Dally, US Air Force (1978-1982); US Navy (1991-2013)
1978-2013
During his senior year in high school, Mark Dally thought about enlisting in the US Air Force. Shortly after graduation, he enlisted in the Air Force on Dec. 7, 1978. Dally attended military boot camp in San Antonio, Texas for eight weeks. Following his time in Texas, Dally attended technical school for 10 weeks at the Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois where he learned how to maintain jet engines. He was later based at the Charleston Air Force Base in South Carolina, where he worked on C141 cargo aircraft from April 1979 until he was honorably discharged from the Air Force in Dec. 1982.
Nine years later in Aug. 1991, Dally received a letter from the Navy Reserve. Dally decided to return to the service under the Naval branch later that month. He returned to the military because “it’s a unique lifestyle,” and the “comradery of those serving and the fact that those in the service have each other’s back” drew him to his decision. After returning, Dally learned the trade of being a Boatswain’s Mate for the US Navy. With this responsibility, Dally operated the boat that transported the captain ashore. He also worked on a rotating security shift that patrolled the ship day and night along with numerous other duties that focused on maintaining the ship.
Dally volunteered as a security officer at the Naval submarine base in Groton, Connecticut where he protected the base from any water-based attacks. Following the attacks at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, Navy Reservists were mobilized to add additional security at the Groton Submarine Base. For the next two years while the Navy Reserve was mobilized, Dally patrolled all passing boats near the submarine base.
In June 2007, Dally was mobilized to Kuwait to help fight the war on terrorism. In Kuwait, he manned a patrol boat that guarded supply ships that delivered necessities to nearby stationed men and women. After the attack on the U.S.S. Cole in 2000, it was mandatory to have the military patrol the water side of the Persian Gulf to keep terrorists from coming in contact with these supply ships. Dally stayed at the Kuwait Naval Base for nine months. He was later deployed two more times to Kuwait in 2009 to 2010 and to the United Arab Emirates from 2011 to 2012.
Mark Dally retired from the US Navy as a Chief Petty Officer in Dec. 2013. Every year in the fall, Dally helps with the initiation of the newly selected Reserve Chiefs held in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.
In June 2007, Dally was mobilized to Kuwait to help fight the war on terrorism. In Kuwait, he manned a patrol boat that guarded supply ships that delivered necessities to nearby stationed men and women. After the attack on the U.S.S. Cole in 2000, it was mandatory to have the military patrol the water side of the Persian Gulf to keep terrorists from coming in contact with these supply ships. Dally stayed at the Kuwait Naval Base for nine months. He was later deployed two more times to Kuwait in 2009 to 2010 and to the United Arab Emirates from 2011 to 2012.
Mark Dally retired from the US Navy as a Chief Petty Officer in December 2013. Every year in the fall, Dally helps with the initiation of the newly selected Reserve Chiefs held in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.
