Workin’ On the Railroad – Some Saturday Fun
This post is prompted by simple curiosity. Judging by handles and, maybe prompted by a comment or two, many of us seem to have held interesting post-service jobs. One of the elements that defines a stint in the military is what happens next. TAH has invested mightily in the PTSD phonies, and that lot. But what about the “actual” rest of us?
I’ve got a hunch that many, if not most, TAH readers have led a post-service life that may be of interest to the rest of us. I wanna provide an open platform for us to share. I suspect that we can look forward to “Oh Shit, YOU did that too?” moments that will be fun. I am genuinely curious myself, and I suspect we’ll find more common ground outside of having worn a uniform.
So… I’ve worked at a LOT of different jobs – I’m old, BUT I’ll open the door here with just a few.
Been a tech/lineman/outside plant supervisor in tv cable, AND climbed poles on hooks.
Been a tech for NASA for the first 7 or 8 Shuttle missions.
Been a broadcast engineer.
Been a Recording Engineer – still am, but semi-retired.
Made a living writing computer code.
Have fun… Exaggerations may well be laughed at.
Two jobs I kinda hope we don’t see here are undertaker and full-time clown. Both scare me almost as much as Dentists.
Category: Geezer Alert!
Construction Laborer – all phases, wood, brick, block, stone, concrete, plenty of experience with a shovel.
Short order cook
Convenience store clerk.
Auto Mechanic – 15 years (5 of those with my own shop.)
But my all time favorite job, the one I will hold forever: Grandpa 🙂
Forgot to mention farm laborer. Mucking out stalls, loading the spreader, then “fertilizing” the fields.
Guess that makes me a certified bullshit spreader. 🙂
You sound like officer material to me, son.
Or politician.
God Forbid…
HVAC Tech IV and Dumpster Enclosure Builder.
Auto Parts Chaser/Delivery Guy (in 2WD S-10 pickups in Colorado and Wyoming in the winter.)
Wholesale/Retail Auto Parts Warehouseman/Counter Sales/Shipper & Receiver.
Shelf Stocker at the IGA/Wal-Mart/RV Trailer stores.
Purchase Order Processor at a Farm&Ranch Supply Distribution Center.
World Class Coffee Drinker, Grandpa,Great Grandpa and all around good guy to canine pets and small neighborhood children.
Pretty boring occupations, but they paid the bills. Proud to say I have never filed for unemployment nor ever been fired from a job.
Left the Corps as a non-combat disabled vet after 9 years. Was still able to be an LEO in Maryland for 14 years ’til the original injury finally brought me down. Moved to Florida where the VA put me through college. Got my biology degree and now work as a fisheries biologist (marine side).
Flipped burgers part-time as a kid.
Afterwards? Well, without going into the details . . . at least I won’t ever have to tell my grandkids, “Son, I shoveled sh!t in Lousiana.” (smile)
Mail Clerk for Dept of the Army 3 years.
Licensed Practical Nurse for 25+ years as a back up job.
Designed and built custom wheelchairs, power and manual for Stein Medical in Madison WI then on my own as a business for another 5 years.
Drove truck for 3 years…
Thank God that is over.
Medically retired now and cashier at Walmart, and enjoy it !!!
alas this thread is really just for the old heads. some of us are still young and in you know! 🙂
Local radio announcer/program director/news director – almost 40 years now
Local television news anchorman – 10 years
Middle/High School History Teacher – 28 years
Actor/director in local theater/television productions – off and on for 30+ years (only listed because I get paid for it)
Producer/director/writer of locally-produced children’s TV show – 5 years
Writer of two science fiction novels
(I do or did most of these things during the same time frame – I hate sitting around with nothing to do.)
And I have to concur with Ozzie 11B – the best job I’ve got nowadays is “Grandpa.”
The 3 top jobs and hardest at times that I hold are Father, Grandfather and Great-Grandfather. Joe
HAZMAT Technician, OTR Trucker, Salesmouth, Shipyard Outfitter, and Manufacturing.
SpecFX photographer for A-V company (post-Navy)
Prepress graphics production, freelance – (typesetting, keyline/pasteup, mechanicals)
Financial institutions insurance broker – primary, excess, and surplus lines, umbrella liability, K-R/Extortion cvg, etc.
Accts receivable for corporate law firm
Now retired: working for self 😛 😛 😛 writing short stories and novels, compiling online album, blogging about writing (so that you heathens will have something to look at besides your feet)
THANK YOU MA’AM, WE LOVE YOU!!!
Did the burger flipping thing before joining the Navy
Leaned about DIY home improvement (plumbing, flooring, hanging sheetrock/drywall, painting, etc) from a local contractor
Worked over in Saudi Arabia as a contractor for the US Army
School custodian while in college working on my MBA (Healthcare Management emphasis) – finished that this past October
Never really left the Navy. Took an early out, found work as a contractor testing upgrades to the P-3C Orion’s acoustic sensor suit. Did a little foreign military sales work with South Korea. Went on the road as an instructor for advanced ASW search systems, now I’m a govvie with the P-8A Poseidon, testing it’s acoustic sensor suit.
Never really left the Army.
Did a post-retirement stint as a DA Civilian working for a contracting agency
Then competed for my old (now civilianized) job and go it back.
BEST, as said above: Grandpa!
Beltway Bandit for Air Staff and OSD. Waiter and dishwasher in wife’s restaurant. Inn keeper.
Police Officer
Program director for a non Profit
Teacher (Elementary school, often wishing I were back on the street with a badge and a gun)
A&P (aircraft mechanic)
While I was never an undertaker, I did work my way through school (before the Army) working nights and weekends in a mortuary doing most everything related to that job……
-Correctional Officer for a State prison in Texas.
-Lab/ Safety Tech for two separate chemical weapon demilitarization projects (Johnston Island & Pine Bluff AR).
-Safety Professional at a large research institute in Slammintonio.
-Grouchy almost old bastard.
Farm work as a kid.
More farm work when I got out….
Started as a janitor in a print shop manufacturing facility..made it to general manager and the president hired a “Two doctorate” engineer and I got downsized out with a one year severance and got to keep my stock options…went to work for former competitors and opened my own plant based on the word of a local international business owner..that fell through…started work with a friend where I was running a machine and minding my own business and became the plant manager…money talks and I heard it….started having issues and went to the VA and now I’m retired. BEST JOB EVER is Grandpa, hanging out with five granddaughters and my dog.
I’m still trying to figure out what I want to do when I grow up.
I just retired within the last year. I have already got a job at range control. I’m just waiting for the slot to open up soon. Until then I’m working a menial job just to keep busy.
Twist, if the job at Range Control falls through, here’s a tip.
They opened a Dollar General store in Medaryville last year and word on the street is they’re looking for a new manager already.
Folks back there call it the Tatertown Wal-Mart.
Write your memoirs. If you don’t, your grandkids won’t know what you did in the war.
Oh yes….Volunteer at a non profit since 1989.
Flea Market Entrepreneur
Juvenile Court Prosecutor
Joined the Guard after a 13 year hiatus
Grandpa!
Engineering Technician and VFW volunteer
Ok got to blow my own horn a little- also incoming Post Commander
I was Guard when I got out, so there wasn’t a great deal of change. I was in college, studying religion, and working security for the university. Graduated with a Bachelor’s in religion/philosophy and that was about it.
I worked for a community college, organizing their driver’s ed program, but was fired literally the day after the State Inspection. They hired a civilian to take over since they didn’t have to pay her as much.
After that, I worked as a janitor. It was the only job I could find that I wasn’t over-qualified for. Unfortunately, that is pretty much every single job.
Now, since I was fired due to a cross between jury duty and Bernathian harassment, I’m working at starting a small business. Too bad the VA doesn’t give loans/grants for small businesses like mine.
Otherwise, I have my hobbies, which are central to my life. Most people see me just dressing in costumes, but that’s just on the surface. Visiting sick kids in hospitals, earning money for charity, and brightening up birthday parties are also what it’s about.
Retired from the Army in 2008 after 22 years as a medic/Medical Plt Sgt.
Worked the next 6 years in African and Afghanistan as a medical instructor training Rwandan Defense Force medics and Afghan National Army medics.
Currently home contemplating a change in my career path.
When I was 10 years old, my Irish father informed me, “You need a job!”
So, off the to the salt mines as a paper boy.
After that, I worked in a grocery store as a stock clerk, deli guy, delivery boy. Come to think of it every shit job except cashier. Hmmm. Probably didn’t trust me with the money! Being made to work all those jobs may have had something to do with my father. The first week I was working there, he went to see the manager and told him to “not cut him any slack.” What the hell?! I realized later on that was my dad’s way of showing his love for me. Sheesh! The store manager thought it was pretty funny.
In college, during the summers I worked on Nelson Rockefeller’s estate Kykuit in my hometown of Tarrytown, NY. Golf course greenskeeper, and gardener in his Japanese garden and at his $6M Japanese house. Met him a couple of times. Nice man. Gorgeous place. If you’re ever in that area, visit it. They give tours of the estate now.
Hospital orderly for about two years. Had to leave. I worked on a ward with a lot of cancer patients. Lost some very good friends who spent their last months there.
After the USN, I was a beat cop in Honolulu. Loved being a cop and I’d probably still be there if I hadn’t gotten cancer. When someone get a disease like that, they think about their life and how it’s going. I realized I fucking hated Hawaii!
So…I moved to the DC area where I worked in various intel jobs: Senior Watch Officer at TSA HQS, a slimy contractor working for the sub force at the Pentagon, and now at FAA Hqs.
It’s been nothing if not eclectic!
I moved to Ireland and became a highwayman, I specialized in robbing Army officers. I’ll tell you about one such caper, that ended my career: I was going over the Cork and Kerrey mountains when I saw Captain Farrell who was counting his money. Well, I first produced my pistols and then produced my rapier and then to be dramatic I said “Stand and deliver, or the Devil he may take you”. Well, I took all of his money (and it was a pretty penny) and I took it home to Mollly. She swore that she loved me and never would she leave me. But the devil take that woman, for you know she tricked me easy. Being drunk and weary I went to Molly’s chamber (taking Molly with me), but I never knew the danger. For about six (or maybe seven) in walked Captain Farrell. I jumped up for my pistols and I shot him with both barrels. Now, some of you may like fishing and some may like the fowling (some may even like to hear the cannon ball roaring). Me, I like sleeping, especially in Molly’s chambers, but here I am in prison and I wear the ball and chain, yeah.
Sure and begorrah, laddie, that is a fierce sad tale!
Aye, ’tis a sad tale and hard; but, here’s to better days when ye shall always have whisky in your jar.
MC & D(nC): aren’t ye two a’ wee bit auld t’be a believin’ in Leprechauns, lads? Or buyin’ th’ Blarney when it’s been laid on that thick? (smile)
Gotta love appropriately place Metallica lyrics
Old Irish folk ballad, actually. Been covered by literally dozens of acts, including Thin Lizzy and Metallica.
For the record, those do appear to be Metallica’s lyrical mods above.
I kinda prefer the Thin Lizzy version.
As the greatest band of all time, any other versions of any song they cover cease to exist making Metallica’s version original.
Disclaimer: The aboveentitled rule does not apply to Turn the Page, they butchered that one
weird auto correct, above mentioned rule
Whack-fol the daddy-o, there’s whisky in the jar!
The civil take all women, boyo, for they lie so very easy. But I hope you find your brother, the one that’s in the Army. Where is he stationed, is it Cork or Killarny?
I did the Guard thing for 5 years while going to college. After that I did retail jewelry sales and managed a few stores like Helzberg Diamonds and Bailey Banks and Biddle.
I was a management trainee for Penske Truck Leasing.
On my off time I was a scuba instructor.
I’ve been a police officer since I quit Penske. I’m a special victims investigator, as well as high tech forensics technician. Best job I ever had, and I’ve been working since I was 13 slaving on a paper route and cutting grass!
From the late winter of 2000 to early spring of 2001, I was working like a flea bitten dog in the City of Detroit. 😀 Did everything from delivering handbills (that basically involved walking about 20 miles a day) to furniture moving & storage to roofing & home improvement to truck driving. But there was one job that stood out, one job I will never forget. Ever. Me and 4 or 5 other hammerheads got recruited from the homeless shelter at 3430 3rd Street to rehab a duplex on the West Side that was partially destroyed by fire. And you know something, I fuckin’ loved that job! It was the hardest, meanest, nastiest, dirtiest job I’ve ever done, but I LOVED IT!! That house had been slated for demolition. Three weeks later, the same house was on the market for 15K!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbEstJ98TcM
was a corrections officer for a couple years, but I didn’t get picked on enough in highschool to stick with that and refrain from blowing my brains out. Went to work for a buddy of mine on his crane, and love doing that still. What kid didn’t grow up playing with Tonka toys in the sand box? Now I get to play with the giant versions
Worst job I ever had was very temporary, working in a canning factory. But, it got me a few extra bucks to use in college while it left no doubt that it was the sort of job I never wanted to do again.
As a kid I picked berries,sacked potatoes, had a paper route. Sommer job while going to college worked for Forest Service. Also worked one summer at the local cannery.
While going to college and before the Army, I worked weekends on logging sites, stacking brush for slash burning. I’d be so damn hungover all I wanted to do was sleep. We were on our own, no boss, so that’s what would do, sleep. The rest the crew called me “Break” since I was always on one.
After the army and graduating from college, I worked for a finance company as a collector. Now that was a interesting job! Beginning in 1975 I was a real estate agent for about 20 years. Then moved on to building houses as a contractor.
Now I’m retired, enjoying the good life!
Did the paper route thing until I broke my ankle at 13
Sold men’s clothes
Worked as a grinder on missile silos and piping in 64
Didn’t enjoy college so joined the Navy: recruiter lied to me!
Became )hospital Corpsman. Worked on psyche wRd. They told me it would help me later in my career when working with Marines!!
Spent a year in Nam with Marines. I did actually use previous training to talk a kid out of suicide with a .45 under his chin.
Worked a lot of hospital ER’s and ICU’s after Nam
I was Little League Coach, Scoutmaster and adult chaperone for a lot of school trips
Went to work at a power plant as bottom helper and worked up to superintendent after a bunch of years.
Learned that I like to vacation to the beach in Mexico.
I am on that beach today.
Doc, OUT
Forgot to add: we volunteer at a ministry that gives food and prayer to about 250 local folks every Monday night.
Six years Army/Army NG as a field medic (91B in those days), went over to the civilian side and did the same job, with far more incoming fire and dangerous situations, as an big city EMT-Paramedic. Ten years in that field, laterally transferred over to the Fire side of things for another ten years, ending up teaching the new guys how to do it. (Best job in the world, you drive to work in a million-dollar custom made vehicle which has pretty lights and loud stuff that, by law, people when they see and hear it must move out of your way in traffic, all while wearing several thousands of dollars worth of custom suits and accessories. Then, when you get to work, you get to smash things with axes and sledgehammers, spray water all over the place, and best of all, the people thank you for doing all that, and PAY YOU TO DO IT!!)
Finally went to college under that great old Vietnam Era VA program during my Fire days, was on the seven-year plan there, came out with degrees in history and philosophy, when I finally left the emergency services I taught high school history & government for 15 more years. Got a seminary degree while teaching, then left the classroom for the pulpit. Killed a couple of churches before deciding that wasn’t really my direct calling (they were on their way out anyhow, I just hastened the process a bit), then started a new type of ministry addressing a specific, highly underserved group, and thought that would be it for life. Nope, got lured back into education and DoD life a couple of years ago, which now pays the bills for the unpaid ministry, which itself is booming. A busy life, I love it!
Yep. We all turned into blood-thirsty killers, didn’t we?
Working as a relay technician for a few utilities and other folks.
Basically, I’m a glorified electrician that keeps the lights on when they’re supposed to be on, and turns them off when they aren’t.
-College for two years.
-Five years USAF.
-Worked on a farm & castle on the Isle of Skye, owned by Lord Godfrey James Macdonald of Macdonald, Lord Macdonald and High Chief of Clan Donald.
-US Army for 15 years; retired.
-DAF civilian for 5 years.
–During which time I took my master of public administration degree.
-Recruited by another government agency and have been here for 15 years during which time I have worked with some very intelligent people on two projects with “TLAs” (Three-Lettered Agencies). Even got to go TDY to Huachuca.
-40 years total federal service (military & civilian) as of now.
Well where do I start
My first job a box boy and then stocker at a grocery store
Then framing houses, then land surveying during the summers went to collage then dropped out my 3rd year went to work land surveying again, apprenticeship under a Civil engineer, went to school again, then worked on power line inspection Crew, all over the western US and Canada. then as a local truck driver for a Big Moving company, then I contracted with them. I owned the truck and equipment but did not drive anymore got a job as a investigator for a really Big Ass company went to school again. Got faded one night met a recruiter. The next day, I signed on the dotted line, about 8 weeks give or take later was in basic training at Fort Sill Ok. Then a few Mos schools for the army then a trip over to the Blast furnace and goatland. few years later went over to the Nasty Girls NG. Got job back working for the big ass company as a liaison to law enforcement deployed again and the rest is history. I don’t want to bore any with my Bo-Bo overseas who cares anyways. I’m a Big Loser now let my buddy’s down and myself
I guess you could say Boring ! ! ! ! service,,,,,,. No High speed Ghost ops Shit. No Seal shit. and for God sake No ranger shit. or Delta crap Super secret Squirrel stuff ether. Just a average Joe all be it a Crazy one. 🙂
Department of Defense Police
Firefighter
Emergency Medical Technician
Utah State Prison Correctional Supervisor
Prison Rescue Team
Private Security Guard
Saint Anthony, Idaho Community Theatre Actor
Cowboy Poets of Idaho performer
Singer/Songwriter
Currently recruiting volunteers for plot to carry out violent overthrow of United States government.
Seeking legal representation to secure rights to book and movie.
Bahahahahahahahaha”………… I PISSED MYSELF LMFAO ! ! ! As I was…..
https://youtu.be/CbY6oIOECY0
That was recorded on Sunday 30 September 2012 in my room at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, Mississippi.
So far, three (03) guys say they’d vote for me.
During my senior year in high school and one misbegotten semester at a community college, I bussed tables and washed dishes in a Detroit-area deli (got to yell “hot drawers” when walking through the place carrying trays of hot chow), umpired baseball and softball games, and worked full-time at a local loan office. Figured I needed to do something worthwhile when I “hit for the cycle” on my grades (an A, B, C, D, and E, all in one semester).
Signed up for four years (my recruiter’s name – TINS – was SSgt Jack Armstrong.
Served 21 years on active duty (airwing all the way), earned a bachelor’s just before retiring, and became a professional airport bum. Worked as an airport safety director (airport fire, law enforcement, and airfield operations), airport manager/director X 2, airfield ops specialist, now an airfield training manager.
I volunteer at the Yankee Air Museum, working their airshows. Anything to be around things with wings!
My da told me how he started working at 13 years old, so not to be outdone at 13 I got a job for a florist shop in Chicago bringing the white linen carpet to churches for weddings. Learned a lot about the south side of Chicago riding buses from one church to another.
At 16 I lied about my age and became a security guard for the Field Museum of Natural History and worked there through high school and college. My last year in college saw me sworn in as a police officer . Worked many midnight watches, went to school full-time and slept on the floor of the cafeteria when I could.
Spent four years as an infantry officer – overseas with the 2nd infantry at Camp Casey; and three years with the 101st Airborne at Campbell. My only regret in my entire work history in that I didn’t work as hard as I should have worked to be the officer I could have been.
Should have been.
At 27 I went back to the police job and by 28 was a detective and by 33 years old, I was a lieutenant, watch commander. i wasn’t going to repeat my mistake!
At 36, I was given the chance to run the academy, and I’ve been there ever since. Nearly 30 years. I trained an entire generation of coppers from nearly 325 local, county and state police departments. thats something of which I can be truly proud
Found and ran two different Scottish bagpipe bands over the years. The heart is highland, always will be.
6 kids, 6 grandkids and all the love in the world for them. As retirement looms ahead, I am at peace.
First job was doing construction cleanup for my dad (LtCol D). I was 12. By high school, I was working for him summers as a ski area maintenance man. Tried college, failed spectacularly. Ski bum for a few years, jobs ranging from liftie to ski tech. Army, 1987 – 2012. Saw the world, not always a pretty view. Retired as a cranky SFC, took my comm’s training and put it to work as a eebil governent contractor for DHS/CBP. Gotta watch those future dem voters coming over the fence…
On a Odd Note to some, I joined the service when, I was 34 some people have Tipped out about this and a Lot of my friends and family thought. I had Lot my Mind, that was not the case if I could have, I would have done it Right after 9/11. I would do it again if I could and I’d still go enlisted