Take This Job and Love it! Some of the Duties in the Military Weren’t Fun.

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Military news…

Guard, Reserve Would Get 20 More C-130J Transport Aircraft Under Budget Deal

The Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard are slated to get funding for 20 more C-130J Super Hercules aircraft to replace aging airframes, according to the proposed budget bill that would fund the U.S. government for the rest of the fiscal year.

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After More Than Two Weeks of War, The Russian Military Grinds Forward at a Heavy Cost

Two weeks after Russian forces moved into Ukraine, there’s growing evidence that the invasion has not gone to plan—and that Russia’s military may be struggling to deploy a force capable of quickly defeating a numerically and technologically inferior adversary.

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‘We are disposable’ — Sexual assault survivor blasts Air Force after convicted offender allowed to retire


“You just showed every predator in the DoD that it is honorable to sexually harass and assault Airmen.”

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Why the skies over Ukraine have proven so deadly for Russian pilots

“The VKS is simply never meant to fight the way Western air forces do.”

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The Pentagon is saying diddly squat about what thousands of extra US troops are doing in Europe


“It’s kind of stupid that we can’t just be honest about what we’re doing.”

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Alwyn Cashe, Audie Murphy, Mary Walker among choices to replace bases named after Confederates


The list includes the names of 87 Americans who served bravely and honorably.

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Here is another chapter from my upcoming book, Signs of Hope for the military: In and Out of the trenches of Life.

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Take This Job and Love It

I went out to get the mail today and the mailman was still there sorting out his mail for the next stop. I asked him, “How are you doing?”

“I’m doing fine, but all this work I have to do now is wearing me down.”

My immediate response was that he should be glad he had a job no matter how tiresome it is. He wasn’t too excited that I said that, so I exited left and went back into the house.

I’m sure there are many people today who would love to have a job of any kind. When I was growing up, I had to make money to help support my mother, my brother, and myself. All three of us had to do some kind of job to make ends meet since my mom was divorced and was a single parent.

That was in the 1940s by the way. Times were tough at best, and we each found work to help out. They weren’t glamorous jobs in the least, but with each of us contributing, we were able to survive through the tough years. 

When you leave the military, times may be tough for a while as well. It is a shock to have a pretty good job for three years or more and then walk out into the private sector.

There are many resources in the back of this book to help you find work. It will also give you information on how to find babysitters and other practical help.

Don’t give up if there isn’t an instant job waiting for you when you separate from the military. Job hunting takes time. Job hunting is not on my list of fun things to do, and I am sure it isn’t for you either.

One thing you may have to agree to do is to accept just about any job you can at first. There are many low-level jobs that can lead to much better jobs in the same company if you stay with them and prove you are capable of much more. Yes, having to wear a nametag and taking hamburger orders may be a little degrading for a short time, but it is putting food on the table.

With the minimum wage increasing on a regular basis, a person can now almost make it on a fast-food type job.

You’re probably saying to yourself, Are you kidding me? I will not stoop so low as to take hamburger orders!”

I hear you loud and clear, but there are times when we just need to fight through the storms of life and take on things you may not want to take on. One is working wherever you can to support yourself and your family.

When I got out of the military I was very nervous. I had a family. (My first son was born four months after I got out.) I realized I had to support my family. I was still only about 22 years old, and this was the first time I knew I had to produce quickly on this planet called earth. I was going to college at the time and playing football for George Fox College. We were allowed to live on campus in some apartments. There was tuition to pay and food to put on the table. I knew I had to find a job fast.

The job I found was on a railroad “chain” gang. I call it a chain gang, because I was treated pretty roughly.

When I went to the administration office to ask about job openings, they said they only knew of one, but nobody wanted it. It was a job working on the railroad crew at the local pulp and paper company. I didn’t know why nobody wanted the job, but I grabbed it anyway. I started to work the next Monday.

When I got there, I was told to go out to the railroad tracks and the crew boss would be there. I went there and saw about six guys working on the tracks. It looked interesting since they were replacing old rails with new ones.

I walked up to who I thought was the boss and introduced myself. He said, “Boy, I’m glad to see you. My men have had to do some tough work because there weren’t enough men.”

The shift boss was a person who didn’t like the college kids coming in and taking jobs away from others, so he let us know about it by pouring on the hard labor.

He told me to get a sledgehammer. I had no idea what he meant, but one of the guys quickly pointed it out to me. It looked very heavy and I was right. It took some effort to even pick it up.

This type of sledgehammer was made specifically for driving rail spikes. They often weigh 20 pounds and have curved heads with the peak only being about one inch across. The length of the handle can vary and be more than three feet long. The target sweet spot was not much bigger than a dime. So you had to be accurate or you would be hitting the rails themselves, which damages them.

I slowly got the hang of it and was driving spikes into the ground. On my first break. I took my gloves off and saw the blisters starting to form. One of the crewmen saw the blisters and said, “Welcome to the chain gang.” I asked him what that meant. He told me that prisoners, who were chained together, had to do the same job at many of the prisons around the country. That didn’t make me feel any better.

So I went to work every day and was a grunt along with another college student. We did all the dirty work because the rest of the crew were full-time workers who had been there for years. We were the ones who had to pound the spikes in the track. We were the ones who had to carry replacement rails to the right spot.

The other guy quit after a couple of weeks, but I was determined to slug it out with the chain boss and not let him force me to quit as well. He kept piling heavy work on me. I went home with bloody blisters on my hands even though I wore gloves. I made it through that summer with a smile and messed-up hands, but I didn’t allow anyone to take that job away from me, because of the need to provide for my family.

Later the boss ended up liking me for my toughness. He even started giving me some not-so-tough jobs and asked me to come back the next summer. I didn’t make it because I had a car accident and couldn’t drive to school. I had to drop out.

If you are already out in the private sector, find yourself a job that will provide for your family and love that job. It isn’t your lifelong job, but it is a job.

If you’re still in the military, start taking any and all classes you can at night through the online colleges. The more education you have when you get out, the better job you will get. Your training in the military should help you a great deal as well.

Stay strong and know that you will find work. You will provide for yourself and your family. It just takes time and perseverance.

IWILL

I can tell you many stories where I was tested, like during basic training, where I had to dig a hole and bury a cigarette butt, only to have the sergeant yell at me to dig it up again. He did this three times. I did it all three times without a complaint. (I didn’t even smoke!)

After I was done the sergeant told me, “Good job, soldier!” It was just a test. He later recommended me for soldier of the month and placed me on the honors marching team for Ft. Ord. All because I stood my ground and wouldn’t let him break me down.

One of the worst things we can do as new people in the private sector is to get angry and depressed because we don’t find that dream job right away. Search the appendix in the back of this book. Many sites have job opportunities, schooling, and training.

You also need to remember that God has plans for you that are higher than you ever dreamed you could achieve. Just stay with Him and let Him guide you down the right path.

Think about this

Isn’t it funny we often find that perfect job the day after we were about to give up?

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There will be more excerpts in the future, so keep coming back. Better yet…go to the top of this page and click on subscribe. When you do all future posts will go directly to your inbox.

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Checking in on you. How are you doing? Did you have problems with some of the duties forced on you in the military?

FEAR NOT!

There are over 14,140 veterans on this site who have your back.

Here is what I am asking you to do…please share this site with as many other veterans as you can. It has helped so many.

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If you are battling mentally, but you are losing, GET HELP!!

Here is a toll free number that you can call 24/7. There are highly qualified counselors there to help you, and they will no hang up until they know you are OK.

1-800-273-8255…texting 838255

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

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+If you like what you see, please subscribe at the top of this page where it says, “subscribe.” When you do, all future posts will come directly to your inbox. Also, if you know some else who could benefit from this site, please let them know.

There Were Some times That Military Weren’t Happy With What They Had Done

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Military news…

Pentagon Readies 8,500 US-Based Troops For Possible Eastern Europe Deployment as Tensions With Russia Simmer

At President Joe Biden’s direction, the Pentagon is putting about 8,500 U.S.-based troops on heightened alert for potential deployment to Europe to reassure allies as the Russian military appears poised for a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

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Marine Corps Identifies Deceased Marines in Rollover Near Camp Lejeune

A lance corporal and private first class lost their lives in a rollover crash near Camp Lejeune on Wednesday, the Marine Corps announced Friday. Both enlisted in the Marines in March 2021

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National Guard Leadership Grilled by Lawmakers over Sexual Assault Prosecutions

Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, was grilled by members of a House Armed Services Committee subpanel on his command’s lack of oversight of sexual assault cases within the state-based National Guard units.

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Lawmakers Want the Pentagon to Waive Tricare Copays on Birth Control Services

House lawmakers are urging the Pentagon to expand access to contraception for military family members and retirees by waiving Tricare copayment charges for related doctor appointments.

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Report: U.S. Marines Returned Fire After Suicide Bombing, but No Enemies Were Shooting at Them

A declassified military report found that some U.S. Marines fired their weapons after the Aug. 26 bombing outside Hamid Karzai International Airport—but no enemy shooters were present. Investigators said the Marines were likely reacting to warning shots fired by the British military and other American units.

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SOCOM Boss Tests Positive For COVID-19

Army Gen. Army Richard Clarke is working from home this week with mild symptoms after testing positive for COVID-19 on Sunday. Clarke is fully vaccinated and has received a booster.

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Here is another excerpt from my upcoming book, Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the Trenches of Life.

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Really?

Has there been a time in the military that you weren’t proud of? I had an incident that still bothers me to this day. On one of my days off I was invited to ride with a courier to the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone.)

I thought it would be very interesting, so I accepted the invite. The driver drove pretty fast in the open area. I was white knuckling it much of the way. We did slow down when we went through some villages. The people saw us and yelled at us because they didn’t want us there. This was hard to understand since we were saving them from the enemy. I was glad I couldn’t hear what they were saying.

We came to a farm area which had thousands of acres of rice paddies. In each field there was a deep hole with human waste in it. The people used their own human waste to fertilize the fields. We also saw the local farmers dipping the “honey buckets,” into the hole to get some of the waste out.

I saw an older farmer walking along the road with along pole across his shoulder that had a bucket on either side full of the waste. The driver dared me to spin the farmer with my hands. At that time of my life, I did stupid things to be accepted.

I reached out as far as I could as we passed the farmer. I caught one of the buckets, and this caused the farmer to completely spin around. I looked back and the farmer was screaming at us with human waste dripping from him.

The driver said, “Welcome to the club!” I guess there was a group of people that thought they were special being the one that knocked a defenseless old man down.

I immediately felt remorse for what I had done. I found out I was taken advantage by a guy, who hated the Korean people and did whatever he could to make their lives miserable. That made me even more remorseful.

I learned from this that you need to respect others and what they are doing to help their families. I realized in retrospect that if someone asks you to do something you know isn’t right for you to do it isn’t a group of people you want to be a part of.

We got to the DMZ. What a depressing place that was! It was a very small outpost with guards watching the North Korean soldiers on the other side of the DMZ.

They let me look through some powerful binoculars and I could see a North Korean soldier looking through his binoculars back at me. It was a very odd feeling. He was just another guy like me, but he would probably shoot me if he could.

Today, there is still strife between the two countries, and North Korea seems to be taking on the world on their own.  There is still the DMZ. There are still soldiers looking at each other through binoculars. Nothing much has changed except the lives of those who had to serve in Korea.

They had to come home to try to cope in the private sector. They had/have to adjust just to survive.

I can say that it is hard to block out some of the negative aspects of our military service. It is hard to change thoughts from the active duty mind-set to the different world of the private sector. It took me a while to clear my mind and concentrate on the future. I had to realize that I needed to move on and start a new adventure. I needed to think about the next day of my life and all the days after that instead of dwelling on days gone by.

I never regretted serving my country. I would do it again if I were able. I’ve learned that I just need to be thankful that I have another day on this earth and should seek what I can do to better my life and the lives of others.

IWILL

We have all done some things we are not proud of. We need to correct any wrong doings we have done, by asking for forgiveness or making sure we show others the negative consequences of what we do to others.

Some soldiers, returning to the private sector, have issues that stay with them from their time in the service. I understand this. I have had to re-group myself. The key is to do something about it. Don’t hide your feelings. Get the right help to get you back on track in life. There are many resources in the back of this book to help you on your way down your new path.

Think about this

Isn’t it sad how people think they’re cool when they bully or belittle someone?

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Checking in on you…How are you doing? Are you struggling?

FEAR NOT!

There are over 13,6670 fellow veterans here who have your back.

If you are battling mentally, because of your love for others, but it isn’t working, GET HELP!!

Here is a toll free number that you can call 24/7. There are highly qualified counselors there to help you, and they will no hang up until they know you are OK.

1-800-273-8255…texting 838255.

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

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+If you like what you see, please subscribe at the top of this page where it says, “subscribe.” When you do, all future posts will come directly to your inbox. Also, if you know some else who could benefit from this site, please let them know.

The President’s Generals Did Not Agree With Him on Afghanistan

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Military news…

Quiet day in the military news today. That is probably good.

After years of development, the Air Force will try firing frickin’ laser beams from its deadly AC-130J Ghostrider gunships.

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Leaked documents reveal just how concerned the Marine Corps was about Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller’s call for ‘revolution The Marine posted viral videos to social media in late August criticizing military leadership over their handling of the war in Afghanistan.

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It’s time to stop awarding the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, writes Marine veteran and GWOT Service Medal recipient Austin Dahmer. In fact, that should have happened a long time ago, he says.

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There seems there was a movement to try to change the mind of our president, and his lack of love for the military. Top Generals in the Military are starting to turn on him. They stated that remarks made by him as to how they left Afghanistan were wrong. They said they tried to convince him to leave some troops there and he refused. They questioned his closing of the military airport.

With all of this going on it is no wonder that the president’s approval rating is down to 38%.

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I will be sharing a new excerpt for my upcoming book, Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the Trenches of Life, in my next post coming up in two days.

Be sure to come back to check it out. Better yet! Go up to the top of this page and click on “Subscribe.” When you do all future posts will come directly to you inbox.

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How does you world look to you? Is it rolling too fast. Are you dreading sleeping at night?

FEAR NOT!

There are over 13,225 fellow veterans here who have your back.

If the world looks too scary right now, GET HELP!!

Here is a toll free number to call 24.7. There are highly qualified counselors there to help you, and they will not hang up until they know you are OK.

1-800-273-255…texting 838255

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never fosaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

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+If you like what you see, please subscribe at the top of this page where it says, “subscribe.” When you do, all future posts will come directly to your inbox. Also, if you know some else who could benefit from this site, please let them know.