STATE QUARTERMASTER
stateqm@vfwma.org
Ernest Carruthers enlisted in the United States Navy in the spring of 2003 and shipped off to the Navy’s only bootcamp at Recruit Training Center, Great Lakes, IL. Upon successful completion of basic training, Ernest went to Lackland AFB in San Antonio, TX for his initial A school where he learned the basics of law enforcement and anti-terrorism and force protection.
Upon successful completion of Master-at-Arms A School Ernest was assigned to his first duty station at Mobile Security Squadron Six, Detachment 26 which fell under Naval Coastal Warfare Group 2.
During his time at Det 26 Ernest served primarily on the boat teams, however in September 2005 Ernest and the rest of Det 26 reported to Port Hueneme, California where they met up with about 425 other sailors from across the fleet and stood up the first Navy Provisional Detainee Battalion. After a few days of processing they were all shipped to Fort Bliss in El Paso, TX where they would begin training in conducting detainee operations, land navigation, building searches, convoy training, etc.
After several months of training and a short visit home around Christmas Ernest arrived in Kuwait in early January 2006 for a few days of additional training and orientation. By the third week of January Ernest would arrive at Ft. Suse in the Kurdish region of Iraq, by way of FOB Warrior in Kirkuk. Ernest served on the QRF team at Suse. It was here that he earned his VFW eligibility.
Ernest returned to Norfolk, Virginia on September 27, 2006, 3 days after his second wedding anniversary, the second one he missed due to this deployment.
Ernest had a few other missions while assigned to Det 26. In March of 2007 his unit was tasked with providing pier side and waterside security for the commissioning of the USS New Orleans, an amphibious transport dock ship, in New Orleans.
His unit was also deployed aboard the USNS Comfort, a floating hospital and surgical center, to provide shipboard and water side security as the Comfort embarked on a several months long humanitarian mission to central and South America. It was aboard the Comfort on August 4, 2007 at 0 degrees latitude and 84 degrees west that Ernest and the rest of the pollywogs were initiated in a time honored tradition and became trusty Shellbacks.
Following his time at Det 26 Ernest transferred to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, ME where he served at the shipyard police department in a variety of roles as a section leading petty officer, installation traffic officer, training department leading petty officer, and the department supply officer. During his time at the shipyard, the shipyard successfully de-fueled the USS Hyman Rickover and refueled another Los Angeles class submarine. It was while stationed in Maine that Ernest and his wife Christine had their 2 children, Scott and Annabelle.
After his tour at the shipyard Ernest transferred to Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy where he finished his time up and separated from the Navy as a Petty Officer 2nd class to begin school at Suffolk University.
In the spring of 2015 Ernest graduated from Sawyer Business School at Suffolk University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. In the spring of 2016 he followed that up with a master’s degree in tax. In November of 2017 he became licensed by the Commonwealth as a Certified Public Accountant.
In 2014 Ernest joined the Franklin VFW and has served as the Post Quartermaster since the elections in 2015 earning All State and All American honors several times. Ernest has gone on to serve as a district junior and senior vice commander before 2 years as the district commander where he earned All American District Commander honors for 2020-2021 his final year as commander. He now serves the district as a trustee. He has received appointments at the state and national levels. Ernest is also a member of the Franklin Elks, the American Legion, an at large member of AmVets, a member of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, serves on the board of the O’Connell Valor Fund, and is an active member of the Franklin Veteran Council.
Ernest, his wife Christine, and their 2 kids have made Franklin their home since 2012.