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Went to work at 16 for a local cleaning service at the Millers on Henley St, here in Knoxville. Made Foreman of the crew after three months. Later transfered to another part of the company, cleaning schools, where I was also a Foreman. Did that for several years, into college, until I went off to Basic Training with the U.S. Army Reserves. After getting my MOS as a Construction Surveyor, I went to work for a Civil Engineering firm as a surveyor. Later I went into the office as a Draftsman, then later back out into the field as a Survey Party Chief. Then back into the office where I learned CAD. I've been a Civil Designer for several firms, over a period of 27 years. But 5 years ago I changed fields and moved into Substation and Switchyard Electrical Design. I'm now a Senior Physical Designer. While in the Army Reserve, I worked my way up to Construction Inspector, until I left that unit after Desert Storm. After that I went into a Marksmanship training unit. I shot competitively for the ARCOM and also trained marksmanship to units heading to Bosnia. But the thing I've been most proud of is being married to a wonderful woman for 28 years and raising 3 awesome kids! Sent from my SM-G860P using Tapatalk

I am not even positive I caught all of the posts in here where you folks work in some manner of law enforcement or another, but thank you. You guys have a very necessary and often thankless job. I cannot imagine pinning on a badge these days. My grandfather was career law-enforcement and things were just so much different for them than what you guys have to deal with now. Ya'll are definitely that "thin veneer" that keeps civilized folks separated from total chaos.

Born in the hills of East Tennessee... Raised on the farm deeded from payment for service in the War of 1812... Started shootin a slide action 22 winchester with my dad... Worked thru UT, quarry, road construction, road building. brick layin... Got a BSCE from UT 1969... Enyoyed my job for about 40 years or so... Heavy construction and mods to powerplants... Retired curmudgeon now... leroy

I grew up in the Boston area. Despite my liberal tendencies, I'm no stranger to working an honest day. Money was never abundant in the house, so the summer before I started high school, I literally hoped on my bike one day, went place to place asking if they needed help they were willing to pay me for and handing out my contact info handwritten on some slips of paper to leave behind. The owner of a local glass company (home windows, windshields, mirrors, ect) hired me on the spot because he was impressed I was willing to do all that just to make a few bucks. After that job, I stocked shelves at the local convenience store for the rest of high school, working after school hours about three days a week and on Sunday morning would come in at 7am to put the various sections of the Sunday papers together (news, lifestyle, sports, funnies/coupons). In the summer before my senior year of high school, I enlisted in the Army on the delayed entry program. I knew I wanted to do the same as my father and serve the country for a bit after high school, and on the selfish side, I honestly wanted to branch out of the area I'd lived all my life and get some money for college someday. In the Army, I spent 8.5 years in, all my post basic training and AIT time at Fort Campbell with deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq. Got out in April 2009, and took a contract job with an IT program supporting ground level units. I lived in Kuwait for 2.5 years, did a year back at Fort Campbell, then deployed to Afghanistan as an embed with two of the 101st Brigades for a year, getting the opportunity to spend time with front line units to show them how to use our system in their mission. Then, once the wars winded down, and my stop on the gravy train came up (I was on a sub-contract), I decided to take the Army up on its generous offer to pay for an undergrad degree. Decided to stay in Tennessee, moved from Clarksville to Murfreesboro to make a break from the military and earned a BS in Political Science with a Public Admin focus in three years by going straight through with full time in the summers. As the military was paying for the education and giving me a decent little stipend for housing, I didn't need a full time job, but found a great part-time one as an academic mentor for the MTSU athletic department. I spent two of those three years in school primarily with freshman on the MTSU football team during their first year of college; helping them with study plans, teaching them how to allocate time, giving feedback and corrections on work they did, and running their study hall Mon-Thurs. It was a very rewarding job, and seeing the gains some of them strived for and hit in their year with me was a great feeling. While I was at about the halfway point in college, another TGO'er took me under his wing, and helped me with finding a job when I graduated. He rounded out the edges that came from working with the military and football players, teaching me what I needed to know for a full jump into the private sector. On top of all that, he introduced me to the CEO of the company I work for now...talk about doing a guy a favor. That leads to the "what do you do question." For the last six months, I've worked for a medical management services company of a large radiology practice group. My title is Clinical Operations Specialist, and it's as vague as it sounds because I was really hired with a wide open portfolio. I do a little bit of everything- project management, data analysis, financial proformas, working with all other sections (revenue cycle, IT, HR) to ensure sectional efforts are being synchronized to align towards a shared goal. My bosses and co-workers give me a wide latitude, and a lot of trust. It's quite humbling to be allowed to contribute via such a method. I like to think I add value proportional to how they treat me, but the company I work for did great things well before my arrival, and I wouldn't be successful as I am there now without those same people continuing to excel in their roles. Many of my days end with my wondering how I've been so lucky to this point. I'm not IT, and even my office has IT clutter in it. Now, we have that clutter organized, and as neatly stacked as can be, but if you walk in my office, you see it for sure. We're in the middle of a multi-month systems swap for our doctors, so boxes with desktop systems comprised of big towers because they need the processing power, and large screen monitors in triple are around. I told IT if you're running out of storage space, they can use my office because only three of the four work areas are in use. Unless that CEO has respectable values and personality to match his salary, he isn't worth emulating to me. Some folks are rich because they screwed enough people along the way to make it happen. I'd rather learn from those who earned their money by taking care of people, inspiring them to go out of their way for the company.

Not sure how I missed this thread... I will echo Daves comments above about those that serve and have served. I have several friends that are in LE and the Military I am humbled by your commitment. I'm a transplant from far Northern NY, I lived in the other part of NY (Adirondack Mtns) where it's more like TN than the "City". As soon as the kids were out of the house and the wife could retire we were gone... I'm a regional manager (Eastern US) selling industrial valve products. I got into the business by mistake 25 years ago and worked my way through several jobs and companies to get to this point. I also held an FFL 01 and had my own gunsmithing shop for nearly 20 years, also owned a one hour photo shop before digital cameras. Sold that and answered the ad for a valve sales guy and here I am... I'm self taught in many things and have had very good fortune to work with some great people that mentored me over the years. It's great to be part of thevery TGO community. I've met a few others here and look forward to meeting more of you.

You've no idea how wise you are! We live on my wife's paycheck, and haven't spent mine in years. I'd like retirement to be an option at 50. I'm not sure I'll want to, but it'll be nice to know I can.

I was an electrician for 38 years and an electrical planner for the last 5. Now retired and spend as much of my time fishing for crappie - bass - trout, hunting, riding my 4 wheeler on 2 hunting leases as I possibly can.

The details of my life are quite inconsequential...born and raised in Memphis, a place I still have deep fondness for so back off haters, lol. Went to UT Knoxville, fell in love with the mountains and pretty girls, graduated and stayed. Been a System Admistrator ever since. Garufa was the name of a 45' sailboat I had the pleasure of living on for two weeks in the Bahamas and sailing back to the mainland a long time ago. It was a true adventure and great fun.

Currently I am fortunate to work for Remington Firearms in Huntsville and I am a Technical CSR. Before that I ran couple Gun Shops, joined Marine Corps, Got my College Degree, and wouldn't change a thing. Got married and she is the better half of course. Finally I have an OCD kind of fascination with the AR15/AR10 platform and have done over 300 personal build and got range time on each one to record the data. Lived in Nashville and did shows for a while but now I am settled in Huntsville, AL.

You are not alone in that feeling, buddy. I'm a college dropout. Bad habits, bad grades, and other things gave me the boot from school. Worked several kinds of jobs. Managing mini-markets(Will never do that again!), ware house work as stock puller, shipping and receiving for a small company. I worked for a cemetery operation for 4 years. I did sales and coordination of funerals. Did some line supervision and qc work for 9 years with a company making glass beads for reflective paint applications...road striping, signs, business cards, etc. Also during some of this did travels with craft shows and festivals. Found the Street Rod events and followed them for a while. Operated a seasonal craft and gift shop for 8 years. Some of this stuff ran concurrently, as some of these ran a season and went into another phase. When the economy slowed in the mid 90's, and the discretionary income slacked off, i.e. people got tighter with the dough, I interviewed with an auto parts company and did route delivery for a while. Was offered a sales job with them and did that for the next 10 years. Then my health issues jumped up and bit me in the tail feathers. After almost 3 years of treatments that I wouldn't wish on any of you guys, I was officially placed on SSD where I've been for the last 7 years. So now I'm in the ranks of the less than happily retired, read that as not enough money to be really comfortable. But as my wife is still working, we are ok. Not where I'd like to be, but that's where we've gotten to. I'm officially a house-husband until my wife retires and I get a break from it. I also attempt to help out my In-laws when they will let me. So I actually feel really, really inadequate as gregintenn says. Haven't done the things many here have, and don't have anywhere near the education and work experience. So I get a bit mopey now and then, sometimes maybe a wee bit jealous of some here. And as I've said before, I've had to slow down and stay on the porch as I can't run with the big dogs here, in spite of my efforts to do so. Not complaining, I'm very blessed to still be on this side of the dirt. We have done some of the things we've wanted to do; and hope to do more before the curtain falls.

I am currently helping to take care of my father who was diagnosed with cancer. One day when I am able to I would like to make a career with my degree or maybe go back to college and get a better degree. Aside from working at a grocery store while I was in school I do various odd jobs for people like fixing their vehicles, carpentry stuff, anything I can make a few dollars off of basically.

I am a Physician Assistant (PA) at a large Orthopedic clinic. I have been blessed to be there 40 years and work for a great bunch of surgeons. I have been there longer than anyone to include the docs. For the past 8 years I run our injury clinic Mon - Thurs 4 PM to 8 PM. Good gig, enjoyable work. May hang in up in a couple of yrs, but right now hours and type of work tolerable to enjoyable. Spent 16 yrs in National Guard. Grew up shooting/hunting. Spent a lot of time and money shooting all type clay targets. About 6 years ago went to a Defensive Pistol class at Front Sight. People that really know how to shoot a pistol 'hurt' my feelings. Now have spent considerable amount of time going to classes with various instructors and getting to the point of half-way decent. Enjoy teaching/coaching pistol classes, HCP classes and still going to classes for me at least once a year. My biggest accomplishment is raising two great kids who have good jobs, respect others, Christian, and are responsible gun people.

<insert tragic broken home/gutter trash/drugs and abuse raising with a dash of fostercare here> Left home at seventeen, never looked back. After a long series of bad decisions I pulled my act together and went to school for Computers and Electronics Engineering Technologies. Used that and a strong work ethic to buffalo my way into a job as a Dispatch and Logistics Manager role for about fifteen years. Now I am a plumber, and I have never been happier. Or making better money. I am married, with a child, two black labs and a cat. We have a nice home, in a nice neighborhood with nice things. We support one another and create a good home for our daughter. I have my cars and bikes and guns and guitars. Overall, I know it isn't a competition, but as a gamer (console and PC) I often times am overcome and sit back and think to myself, "I won."

I've been a self employed real estate appraiser since 1989. The bulk of my work is residential. It's been so long since I had a boss I'm pretty much unemployable by now.

Musician, play steel guitar and harmonica (harp), hence my screen name. Been doing it 43 years now. Mostly recording, a few artist gigs over the years, Tammy Wynette, Dan Seals, Billy Walker... this was a career highlight... https://youtu.be/_aL2vrrHaNA

Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous TGOer, we are celebrating Christmas in July. This TGOer is gifting a total of TWELVE (12) 1-year TGO Benefactor subscriptions. Amazing, right? Very awesome!!! RULES: You must have a minimum of 30 posts prior to the creation of this giveaway. OR You must have a minimum of one positive TGO iTrader feedback prior to the creation of this giveaway. If you have ANY negative feedback, you are not eligible to participate. Current Benefactors are not eligible to participate. If you meet the criteria above, simply post "Merry Christmas" to this thread for your chance to win. Ten (10) random winners will be chosen on Sunday, July 23, 2017. Merry Christmas in July, and good luck to all! ***If anyone would like to add any 1-year, or Lifetime Benefactor subscriptions to this giveaway, please let me know.*** Update 7/18/17 -- Thanks to the generosity of another member, we have added TWO MORE memberships!

Wow...that was just...great.

First, do your homework..bet you've heard that before, do some research on your guns to get an idea of how much they're worth. Look up, or ask here, what is required to sell guns. Get a paid account and list them here being sure to use some current pictures. Best to have your dad involved also, specially during the handoff. I would also download the bill of sale on this site and be sure to say you intend to use one in your ads. Good luck with your future sales.

Not very much to tell here. Graduated High School in may 2005, got a job with a industrial electrical company in June of 2005. Worked for them doing rehabs of electrical systems of sewer and water plants until I was let go in 2008 when they ran out of work. A couple of weeks after I was sent home,the CEO of agricultural company that I happened to meet a few months back hired me to do odd jobs for him that included picking up and delivering products, sweeeping floors and various other things. He must have saw more potential in me than I ever thought I had because he worked with me and taught me different things about the business and for the past 7 years I have been a sales rep for the company specializing in customer service. On nights and weekend I am a diesel mechanic for the trucking company that my brother and I started in 2012.

But do you have shorn scrotum...

Within my wide variety, I've been trapped. Couldn't afford or wouldn't take a pay cut. Most importantly, I was unwilling to relocate. Bigger is not better and more stuff is just, more stuff. Low debt, not high income gives more freedom and choice.

Not a whole lot to tell here. I grew up working on the farm. I complained about it then, but I sorely miss it now. Did some time in a prison called a factory. I have worked sales for the "cold drank" industry. I have worked construction. I have driven a tanker hauling sulfuric acid (yes, it hurts), as well as a little bit of flat bedding. I have been a police officer for the last 22 years, and sometimes I love it, sometimes I just hate it. The thing I enjoyed most was the time I spent on the tac team with another agency. These days I'm also TRYING to learn sheath making and holster making. Hopefully soon I can slow down enough to actually learn what I'm doing with this leather. But in this I have found something that I am very passionate about.

Amen to that. Some of my low level factory jobs, I was fired from (never on bad terms, typically temp job terminated) and got depressed and scared from no job but still have bills. Only to find a better job within a couple weeks. My last job I took a pay cut due to policy changes and started looking for a new job. Found one and now I make 1.5x what I did at the old job before the changes. I would have never tried looking without the pay cut. Seems like God has to knock me down a rung on the ladder to get me to start climbing again. Always works out for the better though.

Same, except larger scale (and only work on virtualization) and I'm one of those engineers, not management (which is better than being responsible for subordinates imho lol). Oh, and working on my PhD... not sure what that will do for me other than a sense of self-accomplishment.

Grew up an AF brat and then went in myself after HS. After 22 months I received an honorable discharge and spent the next year working for AOL in Ogden, UT. I then decided to move back to where the family lived here in W. TN and spent a couple of years bouncing around IT and construction jobs before landing in retail and quickly working my way into management. Spent a dozen years doing that with the occasional bonus of getting to beat up shoplifters. Then my employer decided to reorganize its store level management structure and I was offered a buyout. I was ecstatic to take it. These days I drive truck OTR and can finally afford the type of toys I've drooled over when I was eking by in retail. I'm getting ready to buy my truck and take it semi-local as I look for the balance between work and family.

I work in corrections. I supervise some bad mofos. I've worked all the maximum security units where the baddest of the bad are housed. Right now, my post is Death Row. I call it the country club for killers for a reason. We have levels, A, B and C. A levels are able to walk around me free as a bird, no cuffs, shackles, nothing. We qualify with and carry weapons only outside on patrol, medical runs, transport to court, etc. But inside, we have nothing. Not a baton, mace, I mean nothing. If it goes down, all you have is a red panic button on your radio that sets off a body alarm in central control, and your hands, fists and feet. Well, I do wear a shank vest (looks like a bullet proof vest) and a face shield. Face shields worn on units 1 and 3. If you piss them off, they'll try to spit on you or sling ####/piss on you. knock on wood, I've not pissed an inmate off enough to get "#### out" as they call it. Shanks are found often. They have them, we don't. lol LEO's catch them, we CO's have to live with them. I just wanted to try something different. I actually like it. But I'll probably move in to some other branch of law enforcement before it's over.

Well, I have had diverse work experiences, but just haven't really felt fulfilled with them. I do think there is something else coming my way. I suspect that it will show before I leave here.

Hmmm. 8 years active army most with 101st 19 years lLEO (16 SWAT) Got into the NG after an 8 year break in service. (Almost 20 years total service now) Shoot competitively for military and teach LR shooting and Sniper for a couple of companies. Have really been blessed getting paid to work in areas that go along with what I do for enjoyment. 6 years until I retire from police. Plan on staying in military until forced out or stop having fun.

No great story here. I worked corrections for about 4 years. Have been a police officer for 12 years.

Absolutely no need to that way. I have one of your holsters that still just as good, snug and wearable as the day you sent it to me. I have no grand illusions (or delusions for that matter) about my life. I have had many conversations with people, my pastor included, and they say I have had a very interesting life. Things that I don't tell people about the Navy is the constant "forking" I tended to receive, especially being single. Being single is a sure way to get stuck on duty for all holidays. In my second command I was shore duty, but being single, I walked into work on Monday and was told I was deploying Friday for 6 months. The aircraft mechanic I was replacing wasn't deployable due to "marital problems". So fork me over for being single.

I am adding the above to my resume...

Born in CA, worked as a jobsite foreman for 13yrs, I was going through a divorce and my ex-brother in-law convinced me TN was the place to be, so I move to TN and he hires me for his manufacturing business, I move into his house and during the first month of my new life make over his wife's best friend sets me up on a blind date, I make the call and we spend hours just talking, ask her out, do the dinner/movie combo after the movie she invites me back to her place and introduces me to her 3yr old daughter, 1 month later I move in, 8 months later we marry, 11 months later my son is born and in 6wks my son moves out and becomes a FT college student. Dam time flies I'm defiantly not ready to be a empty nester.. Back to the job, I loved my construction job and all my friends I left behind in Ca!! I've been doing my current job for 20yrs, my buddy sold his business 4yrs ago to a corporation and it hasn't been the same since!! Wait it just sucks.... We all make sacrifices for our family..

Seems like most if not all of these jobs have several things in common.....a can do attitude, attention to detail and a devotion of some sort whether it be family, duty or country. Just what I'd expect from a bunch of guys on a gun forum.

Toolmaker by trade. I work in quality now mainly programming CMM’s for First Article inspection of aircraft parts. Ready to retire anytime. Started out in the Navy as a Machinist, got out and worked in some shops, did a few years as a Police Officer, went back to the shops, worked as an Applications Engineer for a Machine Tool Builder, wife wanted to move here, so I took a job as a Toolmaker, and then to where I am now.

Not a lot to tell about me, I am recovering from a old bout of misfortune & miscommunication < i.e. looking for work>. While the last few years I mostly serve my family & friends, in my former life I was a project manager in the defense nuclear industry ( and picked up a post-employment PMP certification). I have a real talent for mowing yards, running errands, and talking people out of stupid decisions (based on my own painful experience). My favorite quote is "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot - 1927 - 1956

I worked at the hospital in Paris Tn. for 30 years as a medical technologist (lab tech.). After 30 years I took my retirement and moved to Murfreesboro because my wife wanted to live there. Took a year off and went to work as a lab tech for 8 more years in Manchester. Decided to retire again. I think this time it might take. Spending my time now playing with my toys. Guns, bicycles, guitars and motorcycles. Rode my bicycle 6018.3 miles last year and am on track to beat that mileage before 2017 is gone. In my spare time I on occasion restore a vintage bicycle and made my first music cd this year of songs I wrote. Yeah, it looks like retirement might just take this time.

Happily retired. Former life as HR Director for three different Fortune 300 Companies. Two well known retailers and one electric utilities company. Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

Oklahoma native here. Worked at the neighborhood grocery store from the age of 13 until I was 18. Enlisted in the Navy the day after my 18th Birthday and spent almost 21 years playing sailor. After the Navy, I went to work for the Postal Service as an electronic technician and spent 26 years doing that. I finally realized I'd been working for 53 years and decided to call it quits in 2009. Retired and enjoying it.

I'm 6 years into my career in logistics. Back in November life threw me a curve ball and I got fired from my job of 5 years despite several promotions and raises. Looking back it was actually a blessing in disguise. I was extremely unhappy there but too scared of change to quit. I was managing a group of 50 people and nearly all were convicted felons. It was so bad I didn't feel safe even with my Ruger LCR on me. My job now is hard to explain. Out of 8000 employees at my new company only 1 other person has the same job title as me. I'm part operations manager, part customer service, and the job has very little stress. I have a great boss and it's nice to actually be appreciated by my employer again. I had to take a substantial pay cut but I'm hopeful that I will eventually change that. Life is funny sometimes. It's important to remember that although money can help, it's not healthy to hold a job that makes your life hell.

i am an inspector for a TDOT engineering field office. Been there since right after high school. I also make holsters, sheaths, and other assorted leather items.

Right now not much. Old guy, retired from the ARMY in 1992. Have done industrial maintenance since. Just retired 1 July 2017 and had shoulder surgery 20 June 2017 so I am being a lay about now. Love shooting/reloading, fishing (light line).

Regional Director for a medical equipment service company with about 50 local engineers that report to managers who report to me. Graduated with a MBA and no clue what to do. Luckily found this company which has been a rocket ship in the last six years. Prior to going back to school, I worked for a company that built cars for celebs and ultra rich. All of our builds were over $100K without the cost of car. I was a project manager and was one of few who took cars home before delivery. We had to test before we sent back to Saudi Arabia and other countries. We did Restomods, exotics, and drag cars. The shop now builds cars for top speed too. I believe they hold the record for rear wheel drive top speed in a viper.

My dad was career military, so we moved around a bit, but I mostly grew up in south Mississippi. I joined the Marine Corps after high school and went to boot camp at Parris Island. After weapons training at Camp Pendelton, I spent a year as a squad leader in a mortar section of a weapons platoon in Okinawa, Japan and South Korea. I went through Marine Security Guard School in Quantico, VA after that and then served at three American Embassies in Copenhagen, Denmark; Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso and finally as part of the security detail for a UN conference in Nairobi, Kenya. After the Marines, I went to school at Ole Miss and got my degree in accounting and became a CPA. I spent six years with two of the largest international public accounting firms and then spent over twenty years managing a tax department in several large corporations. I'm now semi-retired, but I do have a small sole proprietor tax practice focusing on individuals with complex tax reporting needs. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I'm retired now, but I spent 42 years working as a mechanic. Started out in the trucking industry, ended up spending the last 25 years working for the city I live in. There I was the truck and equipment guy. I worked on everything bigger than a pick-up and just about any piece of equipment the city owned. In my time I've worked on everything from weed eaters to bulldozers, shovels to backhoes, Fire trucks, garbage trucks, chain saws, lawn mowers and even the occasional desk chair. I'm a dinosaur, a general mechanic who'll work on anything put in front of me. But my kind are becoming extinct. In these days of high tech, computer controls and electronic everything, you have to specialize in certain areas as one man just can't learn it all anymore. Hell, just the average garbage truck these days has electronics controlling pneumatics which are running hydraulics. Backhoes have computers in 'em now! Gettin' to be too much for my old head. So I pulled the plug 3 years ago. Let the younger generation who grew up with this stuff deal with it. These days the hardest thing I want to work on is lunch.

I grew up in Chattanooga and went to UTC and then TTU to become a mechanical engineer. I spent 7 years doing steering system product design in the auto industry. While I had been looking for another job for a while, my boss called me while I was on vacation to tell me my job was moving to Detroit. That was the final push for me to find something else. I found an unexpectedly brief job designing industrial products (8 months) and then found my current job fixing broken jet engine parts, which I've been doing for 10 years.

I grew up in Sevierville and went to college close to home (not UT). Graduated about 2 decades ago with a business degree but had already sunk deep into IT stuff ( we just called it computers). I have worked a lot of different jobs over the years due to layoffs and business closings. I have been a mortgage loan processor, sold Kirby vaccums, worked retail in Pigeon Forge, done landscape work, trained cashiers, installed school lunchroom cash register systems, installed Gas & Go kiosk systems, and generally whatever it took to pay the bills. I now do IT for a construction company where I am the whole IT department. I support around 75 users in the office and field. I handle the servers, PCs, printers, cellphones, tablets, wireless air cards, accounting systems, and ordering all the supplies for the IT equipment. The company ensures they get their money's worth from me every day. I grew up hunting, but got away from guns while I was trying to work and go to college. Then my jobs kept me busy enough that there was not as lot if "hobby time" with all the travel I did. Plus money was a issue as I got married and started to try get a house and such. I got back into it a few years ago and have been playing at it. I enjoy shooting, but have had to learn/relearn a lot.

Originally from Philly and joined the AF in 68. Two tours in Viet Nam and other stops in Germany, England, Turkey, New Mexico and Arizona (3 times). Retired CMSGT (26 years) from the AF. Then worked for about 20 years as an interior trim carpenter doing everything from crown to custom staircases. Had a heart attack in 08 and received a quad bypass and said the hell with working after that. The missus went back into the AF after 9/11 so we traveled from Montgomery to Tucson until she retired as a SMGT. Came back to Tennessee and mess around with guns and knives and and try to keep up the daily chores around the house.

In the past, I was a residential electrician. Grew up doing that. When the housing market crashed in 08-09, we lost our General Contractor and had to shut down due to nobody else had work either. Went into factory work, Was at Nissan in Smyrna for a while (quality inspection). Evidently it was quite difficult to find someone who could drive a manual transmission (I test drove the finished cars). Now I work at Bridgestone in Lavergne, building tires (22.5" and 24.5")

I'll start... I am in Healthcare IT. I manage an operational support team that takes care of the final tier of support for approximately 10,000 Windows Servers and over 1,000 VMware hosts. We also do special projects and lifecycle work. Basically, if it comes to my team of 12 engineers, it has generally exhausted everyone else's abilities to fix it or get it done. My guys are the "special operations" of IT nerds and I have much respect and love for them. They work some ridiculously long hours and make miracles happen every single day to ensure that doctors, nurses and our patients have reliable infrastructure serving them. I used to be one of those engineers until the company decided that I could either do less damage or accomplish more as a member of management. Not sure which. Probably both.