Missing the Military but Grateful for Skills Learned

I entered active duty with the U.S. Army in 1991 and trained as an airborne artilleyman, and later as a tank crewman. After nearly 10 years of service, I seperated after I was diagnosed with an acute medical conditon.

Within six months of seperation I began study at the College of Oceaneering in Wilmington, Calif. While attended courses, I worked as a diver and performed in-water service on boats in the port of Los Angeles. After 18 onths of study, I graduated with certifications in commercial air diving, non-destructive testing, and wet-welding.

I was employed by several inspection firms in Colorado and Minnesota while gaining industry certifications in industrial x-ray, magnetic particle testing, and penetrant inspection. Entry level is exactly that, entry level. Within two and a half years, my income doubled, and I found myself being approached for employment by a Fortune 500 aerospace firm.

Now seven years af ter seperation, my income level is in the top 20 percent of wage earners. My job involves the inspection of criticle aerospace companants for civil and militay aircraft. If you've flown, chances are my name is on the airplane in some shape or form.

The military helped me by instilling a work ethic, showing me discipline, and giving me management skills. I make my monthly base pay in a week now, yet I miss the military desperately. But, I'm grateful for the skills provided to me. I've made it. I'm happy, I have a great job.

(Submitted by Mr. Patrick Gaebelein)

Comments

[Curtis Banker]

I served in a different period of time, 1942 to1963 and retired as a tank commander at Ft Hood Texas. I was on duty until the day I retired so any type of transition help was not available. You were fortunate to find a decent job. I bounced around from job to job at beginning pay until I retired for good in 1983. It was very hard for me ,even to this day, to get used to Civilian work ethic,Since 1983,on retirement,I have found comfort in organizing a veterans group and doing a lot of traveling.
I worked in 7 different States after retiring from the Military andtook several correspondent courses,which I never used, so you can see I was a real " fish out of water" ,so to speak.I miss the Military, so I attend reunions that are being arranged by some of my old Units.