Jobs before the military?

2015-01-04T05:34:14-05:00

Curious to see where we all come from, our differences, and things we have in common.

It is always interesting to see what MOS, or RATE we chose based on our past experience...or if there is no connection at all.

Some folks have chosen entirely different fields or have chosen something familiar.

Into which category do you fall?

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 4 at 2015 5:37 AM

2015-01-04T05:37:55-05:00

I delivered 3 different newspapers. I worked at a small grocery store as a stocker. I worked at two gas stations. I worked at three Burger King restaurants. I worked almost every job on a farm, including driving a combine...hops, corn, hay, alfalfa, flower bulbs, cabbage, berries, apples. I know the value of hard work. I worked in a bike shop. I worked at Safeway as a produce clerk. I was a grease monkey at an auto repair shop. I think that is about it...how about yours?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 4 at 2015 5:45 AM

2015-01-04T05:45:28-05:00

I worked for the dreaded Dept of Motor Vehicle. I had to deal with the rudest people on the planet, but I got to meet some pretty awesome people as well. I learned patience there, but somehow, somewhere over recent years have lost it. Maybe I need a refresher :-) I have worked in a florist and as a cake decorator. I still have people ask on occasion to airbrush a cake or to make their relatives corsages for proms.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 4 at 2015 6:03 AM

2015-01-04T06:03:52-05:00

I was an ASE Certified auto mechanic for 7 years before I joined. Started as the oil change monkey and worked every other position we had until I was the lead tech and shop foreman. We had a great storefront, 8 employees and great customer base. Towards the end of my time there I had struck a deal with the owner to purchase the business. The owner and his family ended up backing out of the deal. I was ready to either own that shop, or move on completely. I enlisted and worked there until I shipped off for basic. If they would have sold me the business I would have never joined the Army. I have never regretted joining or loosing out on the chance to own my own business. The Army has far more opportunities for me and I thrive on that!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 4 at 2015 6:20 AM

2015-01-04T06:20:26-05:00

I worked at a Taco Bell in San Diego. I still love that place.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 4 at 2015 7:33 AM

2015-01-04T07:33:33-05:00

I was an deisel engine mechanic. Somehow I'm still a deisel mechanic.

Response by SGT Charles Vernier made Jan 4 at 2015 7:52 AM

2015-01-04T07:52:36-05:00

I was a cook at Pizza Hut, a laborer for a landscape company, then I had a job as a security guard. I joined the reserves while I was going through college for a criminal justice degree. I finished college in Dec of 1997 & seemed to be going nowhere in life so I went to see the recruiter about going Active Duty. I got a job offer from a civilian law enforcement agency that same week, so I ended up not going Active Duty. Our unit was mobilized Sep 2001 to Oct 2002 and again from Jan 2003 to Jan 2004. After that I went back to the Sheriff's Office & I stayed on reserve status until 2006.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 4 at 2015 8:11 AM

2015-01-04T08:11:42-05:00

I was doing construction work, tying steel (rodbuster), driving 55 miles to work each way living in NC; 4 days a week-10 hours a day. Great Job, great pay in Florence SC. But like many a young Soldier we've all known (or been), it was the "not at work" time where I found the time to often somehow find myself in kind of trouble. Never serious, (no bank robbing, no selling drugs, etc); Usually in some kind of scrape or another.

However, thanks to Police Chief Hammonds (our one man Town Police Dept), had a long talk with me at 2AM on a Sunday morning...at 10AM I was talking to the Army Recuriter and at 2PM I was on the bus to the Raliegh NC MEPS. At 12 midnight I stepped of the train in Columbia, SC, with the Ft. Jackson Welcome Mat out and greeted by several Drill Sergeants (with Attention Deficent Disorder) who needed to be on Ridlin. Dec 221, 1973.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Jan 4 at 2015 9:21 AM

2015-01-04T09:21:38-05:00

I was a diesel mechanic when I joined the Army Reserve. Then I went to be a professional guide in the wilderness area in Idaho. Later I moved to Denmark and shoe horses.