Job fields in the PNW..

[charliesnyder]

In a few years I will be seperating from the Military. I currently have no "real" skillsets and will be going to some sort of Technical school. What are some of the prominent fields in the PNW?

Pre-military I was very interested in the Diesel Mech world. And as of late have gotten more and more interested. Is there any future locally(Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia)?

What would your suggestions be for someone in my shoes? Any advice?

Charlie

 

[chainsaw]

I was in diesel mechanics for a decade, went to school for it, unless you can get in to a primo shop is aint all its cracked up to be.

You could always be a barristo.:awesomework:

 

[charliesnyder]

I was in diesel mechanics for a decade, went to school for it, unless you can get in to a primo shop is aint all its cracked up to be.

You could always be a barristo.:awesomework:

Pay wasn't good? ****ty work? What made it not all its cracked up to be?

And I can barely put soda into a glass with ice without fawking that up..

 

[WHITE TRASH1]

You could always get your CDL so you'll have that option to fall back on. Lots of local companies delivering crap all over the place. And you always have that nuclear option of going over the road if all else fails in the future.

 

[charliesnyder]

If I get into the diesel field I will get my CDL as well. Just to cover my ass..

We have quite the logging operations going on around my house. As far as thier mechanics is that a central location or more of a traveling mech type of job?

 

[Boonie Buster]

Drafting is definitly prominent. Been doing it for 5 years now. Wierd to think it's been that long.

Are you looking for a White or Blue Collar gig?:corn:

 

[JOOP]

The automotive field is tough right now Charlie. There are a ton of mechanic/ techs' out there with years of experience under their belts looking for jobs, diesel and gas. I have often thought about truck driving. It's something to fall back on if I need it. But I think the good future jobs are going to be green related. Some sort of Green technology or something.. Just need to find the company and job.

The unemployment rate is pretty high up here. But maybe in a few years it'll be better when you get out.

 

[MATCHBOX]

In a few years I will be seperating from the Military. I currently have no "real" skillsets and will be going to some sort of Technical school. What are some of the prominent fields in the PNW?

Pre-military I was very interested in the Diesel Mech world. And as of late have gotten more and more interested. Is there any future locally(Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia)?

What would your suggestions be for someone in my shoes? Any advice?

Charlie

Hear me out. I have done alot of work for retirees up here on whidbey is. I have told my son once he goes in he needs to stay in til he can retire but it's best to stay in for at less 25yrs. My Dad and my wifes dad are ex ARMY and navy. They have medical and a check every mo for life. If I would have followed my dad and went in to the Army at 17 I would be retiring in 3 yrs. With 25 in and being E-9 I would be set for life. I have built homes for over 22 yrs and had to switch jobs last yr and now welding jobs are hard to find. As for your CDL trying that now and you don't make alot. I would sit back and think about staying in.Don't know what branch your in but I would STAY in.. I hope it all works out for you and you do the best thing for you. Thanks for serving.

 

[Broken Again]

Don't know what branch your in but I would STAY in.. I hope it all works out for you and you do the best thing for you. Thanks for serving.

Good advice.:awesomework:

Stay in, then go to college, get a degree in a field of your choice....start your own company...

 

[charliesnyder]

Drafting is definitly prominent. Been doing it for 5 years now. Wierd to think it's been that long.

Are you looking for a White or Blue Collar gig?:corn:

In highschool I was huge into the architecture and CAD programs. I did a few job shadows at contruction companies doing the like, but with no money for college I joined the Army.

As far as white or blue collar.. It doesn't really matter to me. I have no issue working with my hands and am fairly literate and capable with a computer.

The automotive field is tough right now Charlie. There are a ton of mechanic/ techs' out there with years of experience under their belts looking for jobs, diesel and gas. I have often thought about truck driving. It's something to fall back on if I need it. But I think the good future jobs are going to be green related. Some sort of Green technology or something.. Just need to find the company and job.

The unemployment rate is pretty high up here. But maybe in a few years it'll be better when you get out.

Thats why I'm trying to get a plan together now, not going to risk everything I have now to get out.

Hear me out. I have done alot of work for retirees up here on whidbey is. I have told my son once he goes in he needs to stay in til he can retire but it's best to stay in for at less 25yrs. My Dad and my wifes dad are ex ARMY and navy. They have medical and a check every mo for life. If I would have followed my dad and went in to the Army at 17 I would be retiring in 3 yrs. With 25 in and being E-9 I would be set for life. I have built homes for over 22 yrs and had to switch jobs last yr and now welding jobs are hard to find. As for your CDL trying that now and you don't make alot. I would sit back and think about staying in.Don't know what branch your in but I would STAY in.. I hope it all works out for you and you do the best thing for you. Thanks for serving.

As far as the Military goes, I'm about 99% sure I'm done with it. I understand the medical and retirement is superb but my fear is not making it to retirement.

I'm 25 and have been in almost 6 years. I have been blown up 3 times by IEDs. This is my second tour to Iraq and am sure to have an Afghanistan rotation in the mix next. My body and mind can't handle this anymore.. I have mild PTSD and it takes me FAR too long to get out of bed each day. My motivation level isn't right for this job anymore. I don't care about anything but getting myself and my soldiers through each day. I have no long term asperations and love of the job is gone.:mad: It is in my best as well as future soldiers best interests for me to seperate. My mindset is lost on it.

 

[Broken Again]

And you said you had no skills....damn dude...you got some balls thou.

Thanks for all you have done and gone thru and best wishes to you when you do get out..

 

[WHITE TRASH1]

I'm 25 and have been in almost 6 years. I have been blown up 3 times by IEDs. This is my second tour to Iraq and am sure to have an Afghanistan rotation in the mix next. My body and mind can't handle this anymore.. I have mild PTSD and it takes me FAR too long to get out of bed each day. My motivation level isn't right for this job anymore. I don't care about anything but getting myself and my soldiers through each day. I have no long term asperations and love of the job is gone.:mad: It is in my best as well as future soldiers best interests for me to seperate. My mindset is lost on it.

You're a wise young man for knowing that about yourself and being able to recognize it before it causes you or anyone around you harm.

 

[TOPWOP]

Charlie look in to the wind turbine tech. I'm one and love it you travel a bit. but its good pay and there are lots of jobs available now. Not sure in 2 years but they are always going to be putting up wind farms. There is a school in Vancouver WA. It takes 6 months, its kind of a crash course. But it makes a big difference in pay. There are other schools out there that take longer and put you in an office. (i don't like working inside). I like my job. its different every day.

 

[JOOP]

Charlie look in to the wind turbine tech. I'm one and love it you travel a bit. but its good pay and there are lots of jobs available now. Not sure in 2 years but they are always going to be putting up wind farms. There is a school in Vancouver WA. It takes 6 months, its kind of a crash course. But it makes a big difference in pay. There are other schools out there that take longer and put you in an office. (i don't like working inside). I like my job. its different every day.

I'd like to get into that. Can you point me in the right direction. I'm tired of the automotive field.

 

[Jokenring]

I am going to have to agree with Joop and 86runner. Get in to the "green" fields. We are only going to be moving away from oil.

I just drove down I-90 yesterday and there are a **** ton more windmills outside of Ellensburg that they put up in the last year since I was last through there.

 

[Binder]

This isn't really what you asked but here's my experience....I did a 3 year tour in the army as a helicopter mechanic and aspired to continue in aviation when I got out. When I got out I wanted to take the summer and do something mindless and different so I took a summer job in construction. My full time job back then was carrying **** up stairs........~ 26 years later I still work for that same company and have great medical and reitirement built up.
I guess my point is you never really know which direction life could take you but honest hard work can get you a long ways FWIW.
Good luck!:beer:

 

[Jeepasaurusrex]

I was in the Army for 8yrs. I worked on some high tech stuff (avionics). I found it was very tough to get into that field with out going back to school for a couple of years, so I stayed out of it. Have you thought of reclassing to a different MOS?

Knowing what I know now, I would of stayed in. Being in the Army was the easiest and toughest job I ever had. Looking back I want to kick myself in the ass for getting out. I've even considered going back in. I talked to the recruiter and they said even though I've been out since '99, I could go back in as my same rank etc. I would just need to get my ass back into shape to pass a PT test and height/weight.

I would really consider reclassifying to a different MOS and stay in. I loved the aviation MOS'. :redneck:

 

[Jeepasaurusrex]

Binder, what was your MOS? Years/duty stations? :corn:

 

[RusM]

Charlie look in to the wind turbine tech. I'm one and love it you travel a bit. but its good pay and there are lots of jobs available now. Not sure in 2 years but they are always going to be putting up wind farms. There is a school in Vancouver WA. It takes 6 months, its kind of a crash course. But it makes a big difference in pay. There are other schools out there that take longer and put you in an office. (i don't like working inside). I like my job. its different every day.

Do you have any names of these schools?

 

[charliesnyder]

I've thought about reclassing and even going to Warrant Officer school to be a helo pilot. I think its just time for a change as far as Military. Last deployment I talked my driver into reclassing to 15t (blackhawk mechanic).. I should have reclassed a few years back for it really to have worked. Deployments are taking thier toll on the wife and I.

4 years married and missed another anniversary this year.

Thanks for all of you giving your input but as of right now the Military is done in my eyes.

 

[charliesnyder]

And you said you had no skills....damn dude...you got some balls thou.

Thanks for all you have done and gone thru and best wishes to you when you do get out..

As far as skills go. I have no formal training in any field. Except killing people..... I chose a ****ty MOS (11B) to begin with and as of right now the only real way for me to reclass is a medical reclass..

 

[TOPWOP]

I'd like to get into that. Can you point me in the right direction. I'm tired of the automotive field.

I am going to have to agree with Joop and 86runner. Get in to the "green" fields. We are only going to be moving away from oil.

I just drove down I-90 yesterday and there are a **** ton more windmills outside of Ellensburg that they put up in the last year since I was last through there.

YA the school in washington is
http://www.nw-rei.com

there are job postings hear
www.greenjobsearch.org

Also here is a page on locations
http://www.awea.org/projects

Right now I'm working in walla walla i live in Yakima. I have a camper i stay in while working. you really need to be able to travel or relocate. as there is not a lot of work on the wet side. But the pay is like working over there.

There are other schools in or. and co. that are nice but they don't really teach you the tech side its more like a business/management and science.

 

[Binder]

Binder, what was your MOS? Years/duty stations? :corn:

67-N....Hueys....Hunter army airfield Georgia...long time ago.

 

[TOPWOP]

Do you have any names of these schools?

I dont know the one in co (i think its red rock not sure)
but the one on or is
http://www.cgcc.cc.or.us/Academics/RenewableEnergyTechnology.cfm.

if you want any more info let me know ill see if i can help.

 

[boxboy]

video game developer/tester
3D Animation technician
any sort of website network admin/manager

SAP any field SAP skills are hot still.
SAP netweaver admin,
SAP application specialist (SAP functional consultant)

anything Java
anything virtual computing (VMware)

 

[Jeepasaurusrex]

My original MOS was 68Q (Avionics Flight Systems Tech) but there was not a huge work load. I did a bunch of OJT down on the hanger floor. My room mate was a 67N and I did a bunch of training on the Huey. Flew about 3 days a week. When I got back to the states I was stationed at Hunter also. Again, no work load so I hung out on the hanger floor and spent the majority of the time working on Blackhawks and Hueys. I ended up co-crew chiefing on Blackhawks sometimes 4 days a week. Went to aerial gunnery school, all the cool stuff.
I was in Fco 9-24 AVN at Hunter. Later when the 24th ID reflagged to 3rd ID, it was changed to Aco 603rd AVN. :redneck:

 

[Binder]

I was in Fco 9-24 AVN at Hunter. Later when the 24th ID reflagged to 3rd ID, it was changed to Aco 603rd AVN.[/B] :redneck:

Doesn't ring a bell, must have changed around. What year?I was in the 132nd aircraft maintenance co (Chinooks) attached to the 609th aircraft maintenance co....Was all 24th ID when I was there..

 

[CHOP SHOP]

all the real money is in ****. good perks too.

 

[Jeepasaurusrex]

Doesn't ring a bell, must have changed around. What year?I was in the 132nd aircraft maintenance co (Chinooks) attached to the 609th aircraft maintenance co....Was all 24th ID when I was there..

March '94-July '97

 

[charliesnyder]

all the real money is in ****. good perks too.

You a professional fluffer B-rad?