Venting?

[charliezulu 0]

Jessica -

Vent away and let it go. Do the next best thing - transition into the same job as a GS-level employee and make them pay you a real salary for once! Lots of room for all kinds of folks on the outside.

CZ

[freeflir29 0]

Quote

The military (and the US Govt, BTW) is a place for unthinking robots, not for people who think for themselves

That all depends on what you choose to do for them. I can assure you that the job I had in the USAF required a lot of brain power as well as free thinking. In fact...it was highly encouraged. The whole culture of the career field was based around doing what needed to be done...screw the "rules." I think Chuck's job is this way to an even greater degree. Now...if you're an aircraft mechanic....yes..."shut up and color" is what you'll hear but there are jobs that are differen't. Most often you have to willing to "pay to play"

[Cajones 0]

I also held a job that put thinking high on the qualities list. It was a very tough job. Many sacrifices, but many rewards. There were very few unbendable rules. We made our own rules to get the job done.
You are probably more a victim of the politics taking over the military machine. I saw it developing when I left ten years ago. As the machine becomes more streamlined and efficient, many of those that have been in for a long time find themselves getting out early, or stepping on those below themselves to get promoted. I'm not saying it's right or okay - just the way it is. The victims are the people who leave because they refuse to shit on others (the good people) and those who end up under the feet of the assholes who use them as stepping stones.
My symapthies if you are one of those...

The laws of physics are strictly enforced.

[SudsyFist 0]

Quote

when I left ten years ago.

holy shiznit! i left, like, seven years ago THIS WEEK!!!

can someone slow down the master clock, please? YOU'RE KILLING ME, LARRY!!!

steve

[rhino 0]

Quote

Hey, take this anyway you want it, but I am about to get tired of the bad-mouthing of the military. If you don't choose to commit to this life, then don't. Don't fault those of us who did adapt to it and become what was needed to do the job that is required of us. Anyone here want to talk shit about the fuzzy green hat I wear on my head everyday at work? I don't think so. I also doubt there are many here that would care to jump through all the hoops one has to in order to obtain said headgear. That being said, when I did do all that work (starting with the Q-course in 1984), the job it landed me took me all over the world several times over. I would not trade a minute of it, good or bad, for almost anything else I can think of.

As for the different Chapters that the military has in place for dismissing people with different "problems", they are mostly avoidable. Jess is certainly not the first person to get chaptered for being a homosexual. Hell, there are plenty in the military, but most of them have sense enough to keep it private, as do the majority of others who choose to partake of strictly-prohibited relationships (heterosexual officer/NCO relationships for example). If you want to keep your job, you find ways to do it; if not, then you become careless and then bitch when you are forced to pay the consequences with either Article 15, Court Martial, or Chapter proceedings. There are many more examples today of people just "coming out" as a way to get out of their military contracts sooner. I consider that very lame. If you sign the contract, then you ought to be able to follow the rules, or at least cover your ass like I stated before. Hey, I have dated several female officers (and lower enlisted, also prohibited), but managed to keep my personal business away from people or military authorities who might have something to say about it. That's just how grown ups do things.

I second that. . Don't even get me started..