To all I am currently in the Marine Corps and have I have about 3 years left till I retire, I worked on KC-130 and AV-8B aircraft as power plants mechanic for most of my career where I have towed many aircraft using a tow tractor. I am currently in Afghanistan where I have not really worked on aircraft so much, but have been running equipment such as telehandlers (T40140) and front end loader with forks. I have really enjoyed doing these things and would like to become a heavy equipment operator when I retire. I have been operating a 10k forklift which was just upgraded to a 15 K this year for the past 5 years. I have looked in to some schools such as ATS which is nice because one of the schools is close to family in Texas. But I am reading mixed things about the training of the schools and other operators options’ about how to learn the ropes. The schools themselves are no problem for me to attend I just need some sound advice on breaking in to this career field, I have a sound employment record and how much will this play into me breaking into this field as well. As well as some advice on what I can do in the meantime to gain some sort of knowledge to help me in the future. My idea for job placement that I envision for myself would be something like an open pit mining, landfill or even a gravel pit. I am I being a little of ahead of myself I don’t know but I have 3 years to fine tune my plans.
Can you change your MOS to get in a construction group? If you can get some wheel loader or gradall experience you could likely get first dibs on a local or state government road crew.
No, as Gunny Sergeant a move to an MOS's like that, is not an option. But I when I return back to North Carolina I will be changing jobs on the Air Station so I may be able to sneak some OJT in if I play my cards right. I just found out about the Helmet to Hard Hats program too. I am trying to network here in Afghanistan and trying to run some more gear. Like I said before I ran Marine Corps Tram which has the same functions as a wheel loader, but has forks instead of the bucket, it can have a bucket too I just don't have access to it. I moved a lot of gravel today with a John Deere compact tractor butman was it slow. I ending up talking with the Constuction crew and they sent over a loader/ backhoe and really helped me out a ton. I am like the go to guy here when someone needs something moved, I have moved generators, trash, over sized loads all with the bobcat and that thing amazes me as to what it can do. If only it had a bucket with it! Anyways if it was not for this stuff I have been doing I would truly be bored over here.
Wow is it that bad out there for information, I figured I would be slammed with Pro's and Con's from this posting.
i can tell you that most contractors would be more than happy to hire a vet with experience.
This is what I understand, but are the schools good enough to gain the experience they want to hire for? Is it possible to sell my inexperience moving dirt but running large equipment/ aircaft safely a big plus?
You should have a real easy time moving into an A & P position with all of your experience working on military aircraft. The way the economy is right now that would be your best bet. Three years? who knows.
Oh ya, if there was enough work around I would hire you in a heart beat. Even with loosey economy and high unemployment we still can't get good help around here.
Go to school! Couple of reasons for this. One is that local companies here want guys out of schools with certs and or experanced operators. And 2 is that you will need the time to become human again. I retired from the Army in 96 and got fired from my first civvy job cause I chewed a guy out like he deserved it. Company didn't like that. I wasn't gental enough and hurt his feelings. This was a 50 something guy who was just plain lazy. Rick
As an ex-navy petty officer, your going to want at least a year maybe more to civilian-ize yourself. School would be a good idea, consider self employment as well. For someone as crisp and organized as a Gunnery Sargent, the co-workers at a land fill or gravel pit will irritate you. You will find that its acceptable if work starts at 7am, to walk in the door at 7:02 every day. Also its ok to come to work looking like you had a fight with the bed, and the bed won big time. Oldtanker is right, civilians don't understand that when a person in charge says to do something that it should be done promptly and without question. Stay safe and best of luck to you in all of your endevours.