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Hi all, like most people on here, I just wanted to post a note and let you know what I'm up to. Glad to see so many people use the boards. Well I'll be brief cause these boxers are riding up.
Branched Armor as some of you know and spent a lovely 4 months at Ft Knox. Met a great girl from Louisville and married a year later. Did the First Cav thing at Hood and spent a lovely winter in Bosnia. Fresh drawers, thermal socks, and gortex gloves will put a smile on your face every day. After the Advanced Course I stayed at Knox and commanded the Tank Master Gunner School. For those of you who have done it, you know command is truly one of the best times in life. My 54 men ranged from 14 - 22 years of service so I never had to deal with the problem children we all read about in Behavioral Leadership, or whatever that class we all took. Speaking of that, get a load of this....one time, at band camp, when i was a platoon leader, I had 2 soldiers AWOL, 1 soldier sent to Leavenworth on a rape conviction, my 27 year old tank driver's 18 year old wife was sleeping had kicked him out of the house and the battalion commander's driver had moved in, my platoon sergeant kept trying to sell me AMWAY and for the life of him didn't have a mean bone in his body so he never played the bad guy, my SSG wingman tried to undermine every word I said and conspired with 2 other tank gunners to take control of the platoon, 1 soldier told me he wanted to kill himself and won a trip to the 5th floor of Darnell Hospital to the "Looney" farm, only to tell me 3 days later that everyone in there was "crazy". 3 soldiers were in severe financial standing that I set up a budget for them and nearly had to approve every purchase they made. But when we went to the field and they got away from society, they were the finest group of fighting men I've ever seen. Tactically we kicked ass all the time, go figure.

Ok, enough memories, like many of you, I'm answering the call of big industry. I've built a palacial estate (ok) in Louisville and am looking for employment around that area. My advice for anyone pondering whether or not to get out is to start early. I started looking 5 months ago and still have nothing definate. It's much harder to find something within a certain geographic. But if you're willing to move it's much easier. I've had to turn down offers in the $60K - $80K range in Michigan. Another piece of advice, save up your leave time cause you will definately need it when you transition. Thanks to the First Cav, I'm burning up 79 days of leave and I couldn't make it without that paycheck rolling in while I look for a job. Good luck to you go-getters continuing on, I never thought I'd be one of the corporate jumpers, but hey, priorities change, heart disease runs in the family, and I might be at the midpoint of my life....I don't want to do just one thing while I'm still breathing.
Anyone seen or heard of the old Greeks? Jeff Zeunik, An Bui, Ed Brady, Matt Quinn, Karen Wakefield, Papa?

If anyone passes thru Louisville or comes to the Derby, stop on by.

Mike