With little spare time, Dr. Bartow still looks forward to his weekend military drills. He says many of the people he deals with are young, smart and motivated. In some respects, he says it’s like working with his own children, which is a wonderful experience.
Some of his colleagues, friends and family members believe his joining the Navy so late in life was symptomatic of a mid-life crisis. With a nod to that opinion, Dr. Bartow says, “Some men my age would have a bought a Miata.” However, he continues, “my father and father-in-law were both WWII veterans. I felt I hadn’t done my part. I felt an obligation to do service.”
For the foreseeable future, he’ll continue requesting the military to waive its age requirements, enabling him to continue working with many of the people he considers his extended family.
Dr. Bartow discusses the benefits of serving in the military reserves.
Carol Patton is a freelance writer based in Las Vegas.
