OT: Dave's Calling it Quits - Time to be a Civilian Again

Dave, you'll be fine. You're one of the good guys in my book. Really... You have many marketable skills and are a person with character, integrity and guts. Let me know if I can be of any help.
Brian
 
Thanks for the very kind comments, folks.

I've got some marketable skills from my early years as a Machinist's Mate but I'll be damned if I remember any of that stuff. The stuff I'm comfortable with is not in large demand. (A good thing.) It's probably time for something different.

The shipyard has an apprenticeship program. You spend every other week working as an apprentice; on the off weeks, you're in school at the community college getting an associate's. Tuition and books are covered by the government and you still get paid while you're in school. They hire you on as a journeyman at the end. I know a few folks that've gone this route. It works.

The pay is liveable but not good for the first six months. It gets better after that. By the third year I would be making about what I make now. By the end of the fourth year I would be making more. Plenty of specialties to choose from.

Dave the machinist? Or the welder? Or the pattern maker? It's a possibility. I'd still be a DoN employee. Oh, the irony of it all...

The base cops hire now and then. I'll ask them Tuesday when they're hiring their next class. It would be fun to be the guy trashing the range instead of fixing it for once. :)

We'll see. I'm still nervous, but not as nervous. I've got a lot of loose ends to tie off and not a lot of time to do it in. This weekend won't be over soon enough.
 
Dave I don't know about now but Pattern Makers used to be in short supply and big demand which meant they got paid the big bucks and didn't have to take anuy, or at least much schit.
If the USN will pay for it see about an aptitude test admistered by someone really knowledgeable and see what you're suited for.
Above all try to do something you like, or better yet, *Love* as it makes getting up in the morning a helluva lot easier.;)
I didn't always like my job but I dearly loved my work!!!!:thumbup: :D

I got to make a whole lot of things that went out the end of a barrel as well as parts to make things go BOOM to be effective in their use, very, very, satisfying.:thumbup: :D :cool:
 
Dave, you're on a roll! That was a great post! I went to a school for computer programming when I was 29 in 1985 (About your age now I suspect), as I thought I had an aptitude for that. Turns out that I did, and I have been in that industry for the past 20 years. Finished my AA degree that I had fiddled around with from '75 onwards while working full time, in 1986, and didn't get my BS Degree until 2000. But I had a lot of experience and certifications, and that really helped.

If I could change one thing it would be to have a job where I could work with my hands. I'd love to press a button like Snake Plissken and shut down every computer on the planet! I make a decent salary, but the mind-numbing institutionalized stupidity and political a$$ kissing incompetence of most of the "leaders" is killing me. I dream about having a job I actually liked.

I am 49 years old and have been working full time for 32 years, and can give you only one bit of advice: just find something you like to do and go with that. If you find that, the $ will take care of itself. My only mistake, if you could even call it that, is in doing what millions of other men do, and going solely for what was best for my family. That's what Dad's do, and I am happy and proud that I fulfilled that obligation, but I wish I had also been able to find something that I really enjoyed.

As for your family, not my business, but I cut off Mom 13 or 14 years ago now I guess. Haven't spoken to her since at least '92. My Dad was about the same as yours, but died in '82.

You know they say that while you can tell strangers to go to hell, but you have to put up with your family? That's Hallmark card fantasy. Not true.

Best of luck to you. I think you'll do great!

Regards,

Norm
 
Dave,
Thank you for your years of service to the country.

Good luck on your new path. The adventure awaits. :)


Steve
 
You'll do OK Satori, I'm sure of it. Though your dad may not be supportive (that's ultimately HIS problem) of your decision we all are and are proud of you.

As a bit of an aside, I find it bit ironic that Satori sees himself as becoming more of his own man by retiring from the military while other people join as means of attaining the same goal (through the wages/skills learned).

Bob
 
those who put in at least 20 and get something out of it, and the rest who put in less and walk without getting anything...that's your call...in a few years, I feel there will be a part of you seriously regretting not putting in the extra time to get that retirement check coming in, as that would greatly ease your transition into the civilian world...you have probably already considered this and I am only advising you think it over a little more...you have an excellent chance of getting a civilian job which offers no more satisfaction than the one you are leaving, and most of them have no retirement that compares to what you are leaving...as for the future, I have no idea what your MOS is, nor how it will transfer into the civilian world...one thing that many folk never consider when getting out is civil service, maybe even working for the Navy as a civilian....health benefits would be "ok", dental near non-existant, liberal paid leave being the largest single benefit where you have some time to actually have a life even if the work schedule itself is massive, and there is a marginal retirement plan and you could buy back that military time and have it applied to civilian time in service...you still would have to work until around age 60 at the earliest to consider retiring...or you could stick it out another 10, and THEN apply for civil service where you would have two retirements.....just a couple of options, and no real advise, because it's your life to live.....actually, I don't really believe that last line, because I didn't make myself, and I would consider a lot of quietude/prayer in order before making a life altering decision like that, where the answer might not be what I personally want it to be at this moment..... I would wish you good luck in this, but this isn't about luck, but I think you can tell I am pulling for you to make a wise decision....
 
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