What are you doing now?

[DrZ]

For those of you who are no longer active or reserve.... I was wondering what are you now doing for a living?

Are/Were you working close to or in your MOS? (Quite a bit of latitude given to MOS conversion to the civilian world.)

Do/Did you find your Marine (military for those few non-Marines here) training assisted you in finding, keeping, or advancing in your job.

I was in Comm/Nav (Avionics) for the F4, A4, and EA6A...and various other birds.... electronics are electronics. When I got out, I went back to University to finish what I started at just about every duty station I have ever had. Still work in electronics but as a Engineer as opposed to a technician.

I believe my electronics training gave me a leg up in school and my Marine training gave me a leg up in life. Valuable life lessons learned... like never stab a person in the back.... it is more satisfying to let then know who and why.

I am asking because I was wondering if others went the same route as I did and I think it would be interesting to the Poolees, Wanna-bes, those currently in and are weighing their options.

[spotts]

I was a grunt in the Marine Corps. I now work for the Department of Veteran Affairs in the Philadelphia Regional Office as a Veteran Services Representative.

[ArtyOps]

I am a Production Manager (Scheduling resources i.e. machines and personnel) at a machine shop that works on high end oilfield parts, aircraft engine shafts, medical components (bone pins, stints, etc.), power generation, and nuclear reactor parts.

It wasn't so much my actual Field Artillery experience I drew from but actually the time I spent in the S-3 (Operations and Training) that I drew from as far as coordination and scheduling.

I would definitely say my training in the Marines gave me excellent skills to draw from. Specifically discipline and surprisingly how I deal with people at work. I guess when you combine those two you could call it professionalism. When my boss tell me to do something I get it done quickly, efficiently and without and gripe, even if it's outside my usual duties.

There is no doubt more, but I'll save that for later. The girlies are waking up and they'll be wanting food.

Semper Fi.

[Supersquishy]

Crop Duster Pilot

edit: I did get my A&P and I.A. from experience from being an Airwinger (Harrier Mech) PRICELESS would have never had the opportunity to get the flying jobs I have had over the years without it. Plus the fact people respect the Marine part of my past especially my new boss.

[DanBO]

Was a Metalsmith on CH-53/CH-46's while in am now an Engineer for Caterpillar Inc.

[ArtyOps]

Was a Metalsmith on CH-53/CH-46's while in am now an Engineer for Caterpillar Inc.

We do a lot of work for Solar, the Caterpillar division.

[TJR1070]

I was an NBC specialist, I now work as a Firefighter/Paramedic for a FD on Long Island. Aside from the obvious that both vocations require a sense of duty above oneself and honor, courage and commitment, the Marines gave me practical skills to use also. Haz-Mat operations are very similar to monitor/survey and decon ops. Alot of my job involved teaching other Marines how to protect themselves in NBC conditions and now I teach EMT and Paramedic for my county at night. So all in all between the life lessons I learned and direct experience, the Marines gave me all the tools I ever needed to succeed in this career path.

[Quinbo]

I was an 0311 and my first and many jobs after getting out was as a computer programmer. I wrote some pretty cool chit and got paid some good bucks for doing so. Military spouse and many moves involved has had me doing all sorts of jobs. I worked at a plant stacking boxes on pallets and actually enjoyed it. I worked at a taco factory counting tacos. Worked at a newspaper on a high speed add insertion machine and my boss had been a corporal in the Marines. Worked for AAfes in the food court mopping floors and chit. My latest job is was as a bartender at the e-club.
Bottem line .... Marine on your resume gives you a plus with most employers.

One of my best friends was an 0341 and is now a network engineer for a large electric co-op. Ironically we went to college together and he studied programming and I studied networking. Who'd a thunk it LOL

[phoneman]

I was an ET in the USN and worked on UHF radios. I got out and started working for a small 2way radio company. Moved into the Paging field when it was hot in the 90s as a technician and then moved on to the cellular world as a manager. I have been a manager for 15 years now and in charge of building new networks (ie LTE) in the Washington DC market. My military training in electronics allowed me to get into the communications world when I got out and I have found that by being forced to mature faster then college kids my same age I was able to become a manager at an earlier age. As a manager that has had to do a lot of highering I have found that 2 people the same age (22), 1 has 4 years in the military and the other has 4 years at college, the maturity level of the former service member is by far more advanced than the college person. I would higher a vet 99 times out of 100 before I would higher a recent college grad. The college grad has spent the last 4 years doing nothing but partying and living off the teat of mom and dad. The vet has spent the same 4 years learning work ethic and how to be a responsible part of society. They understand that hardwork will get you a lot farther than waiting for things to be handed to you.

[temarti]

I was a 1345 Heavy Junk operator, got out in 95 tested on the 1155e (dozer) for a road crew, failed.. found my career in Loss Prevention / Asset Protection, moved up the ranks with Wal-Mart both domestic and international Div. left in 07 and took over as HQ Asset Protection for the MCX / MCCS.

Certainly, being a Marine has its advantages when it comes to finding your career, the most important foundation is the drive to move forward which is inbedded in all of us from the beginning. I am fortunate that somehow made a circle back to the Marines after 11.5 years, however in a new capacity it is still an honor. Besides having the opportunity to combine the only two careers one has known is priceless.

[June 1975]

I supervise an instruments and controls department in a coal fired generating plant. I was an electronics tech as aMarine, and have worked in that field ever since. The electronics I worked with in the suck was old and out of date, so it was not much help in relating to the civilian world. Being a Marine (or any service) was not very popular with the employers in my day, right after VN, but my employer's HR head was a Jarhead and here I am. Now, my boss is ex-recon, and things are great. I do appreciate the pro-vet attitude among employers today.

[firedog974]

When I was in I was a 7051/ aircraft rescue firefighter. I am now a law enforcement officer (currently working Vice). I originally intended on going into the fire service when I got out, and had several job offers, but I opted for a change. Since becoming a LEO, I can really see how the Marines has helped me out in my career. The professionalism, bearing, tact, work ethic, and leadership I developed in the Corps has really given me a leg up, and helped me advance pretty quickly. I also see in my agency that the guys I work with who were in the Corps (there are 4 of us) seem to always be the "go to" guys, and the guys you can rely on to get stuff done right the first time. All the Marines I work with (including me) take a lot of pride in that.

[PGN63]

I was in various infantry MOS, short stint on Embassy duty and Security Force BN. I went on terminal leave on a Friday, the following Monday I was briefing BGen O'Dell on what the Office of Naval Research and MARCORSYSCOM PM Trasys could do for 4th MEB.

I'm still a project officer (CTR) for PM Trasys, initiallly I was managing tactical simulations for the past three years I've been managing Culture & Language training into simulations.

Now for the I love myself;

I designed the September 2004 cover of the Gazette and the TDG that was part of that magazine:

https://www.mca-marines.org/files/0409.pdf

That issue sold out very quickly because there was a wargame disc in the middle of the magazine.

I have published a few other articles in the Gazette, got the mugs but no t-shirt.

[montana]

from 0311 to loger, costruction in oil fields and forest service roads....i used the Caterpillar....along with others
did my stint in the Corps help me????...i was never late for work?

[AKA HITMAN]

As big as a Fudgebar that I was in the Marines, I learned a few things such as give it your best while working, finish what you start, show respect to those who have it coming. After my little stint as a needle jockey and raging drunk for a few years, I did work construction, mainly asphalt roofing, from grunt to supervisor for the better part of 20 years.
When I cleaned up, I never looked back, but my military bearing is there even when I'm screwing around, can't shake it. I get respect for being a Marine from those who know me, but I don't ask for it. What I did as a Marine and what I accomplish now as a private citizen means little to me if I can't back up what I say.
BTW...I was a Combat Engineer. Motor 'T'...long ago and on another planet.