Its time to take the first step.

[En`xs]

I have been in the National Guard since I was 17, I am 22 now, fixing to be 23. The one thing I hate about this arrangement is that I am tied down, I need to be in a specific place at a specific time every month, this severely limits my job and travel opportunities, and god I love to drive. Long distances, short, in cars, trucks, motorcycles, it doesnt matter.

Up until very recently I planned on re-enlisting at the end of my contract. I have been to Iraq, what else could they throw at me? How about another tour in Iraq, so here I am slated to start mobilization in February. So, no more re-enlistment, I am tired of that b*lls**t

I have been giving some real thought to life and my future (for once in my life) and I have come to the conclusion that I cant keep jumping from job to job when my respective employers get tired of my absences due to my service. I know it is illegal to fire someone because of service, but in this state you dont need to give a reason for firing an employee, so I have my suspicions.

Beyond that, I have decided that since I no longer plan to re-enlist I plan on entering the transportation field. I have enrolled myself in a local nationally accredited truck driving school and will end my training shortly before I leave to stomp sand castles. I want a job when I come back, right as I step off the plane, not like last time where I lamented in employment limbo for the past 2 years.

My questions are;
Have I made the right choice?

What can I expect to parallel serving in a logistics fleet and serving in an Infantry company?

What am I getting myself into?

[JLKKLJ777]

The trucking industry loves military vets due to the similar nature of the jobs.

As a truck driver you will be "on tour" for 1 to 6 weeks at a time (depends on you, the company you work for, and how often you want to go home) traveling all over this country and possibly Canada at a moments notice.

Your work schedule will differ from day to day as will your duties. You may have to load or unload a trailer, make multiple deliveries, or count and inspect freight while the customer loads or unloads it.

You will perform your job in all types of weather and deal with many civilians (four wheelers) in your travels that really have no business having a drivers license or being on the road at all.

You may have superiors that have no clue how to drive a truck yet they will tell you how to do your job.

The other similarities have to do with sleeping in uncomfortable climates. Due to idling restrictions you may find yourself sleeping in a metal box in the summer time (sweat soaking your pillow and mattress) or trying to sleep in the winter time where temps drop to below zero in some places. Most states allow you to idle without tickets if it drops below 32 or is above 90 but this may vary.

Some companies may require a uniform while others do not care what you wear so long as you get the job done.

You will have to keep track of your work hours on a logbook and chances are you will be underpaid.

So as you can see military vets are used to this stuff already and usually make the transition to otr truck driving fairly easily.

The good part about the industry is you can make a decent paycheck with benefits after going through school and being trained for 4 to 6 weeks with a senior driver.

Figure on making 35 to 40 grand your first calendar year with raises each year until you get up to 60 to 70 grand per year. To make more than this you will have to either get into a specialty niche or get into a union company.

[ranger309]

Originally Posted by JLKKLJ777

You will perform your job in all types of weather and deal with many civilians (four wheelers) in your travels that really have no business having a drivers license or being on the road at all.

snip..........

You may have superiors that have no clue how to drive a truck yet they will tell you how to do your job.

Ain't that the truth?

I don't know how some of these people even manage to walk in an upright position without drooling on their feet, forget about driving a motor vehicle.

Only in Amerika where $$$ is the King of all Things, down at the DMV.

[pro1driver]

Originally Posted by En`xs

I have been in the National Guard since I was 17, I am 22 now, fixing to be 23. The one thing I hate about this arrangement is that I am tied down, I need to be in a specific place at a specific time every month, this severely limits my job and travel opportunities, and god I love to drive. Long distances, short, in cars, trucks, motorcycles, it doesnt matter.

Up until very recently I planned on re-enlisting at the end of my contract. I have been to Iraq, what else could they throw at me? How about another tour in Iraq, so here I am slated to start mobilization in February. So, no more re-enlistment, I am tired of that b*lls**t

I have been giving some real thought to life and my future (for once in my life) and I have come to the conclusion that I cant keep jumping from job to job when my respective employers get tired of my absences due to my service. I know it is illegal to fire someone because of service, but in this state you dont need to give a reason for firing an employee, so I have my suspicions.

Beyond that, I have decided that since I no longer plan to re-enlist I plan on entering the transportation field. I have enrolled myself in a local nationally accredited truck driving school and will end my training shortly before I leave to stomp sand castles. I want a job when I come back, right as I step off the plane, not like last time where I lamented in employment limbo for the past 2 years.

My questions are;
Have I made the right choice?

What can I expect to parallel serving in a logistics fleet and serving in an Infantry company?

What am I getting myself into?

from reading your posting, you say you like driving, any distance.

you can find employment as soon as you grad-e-ate from a trucking school. i personaly know of a student driver who is about to finish trucking school and he got himself a great job (on hold) till he grad-ge-ates from school, at his state's DOT road division. driving whatever they have. home daily, double overtime for snow plowing, etc, etc, AND they will use his military time towards his benefits, meaning he only has to work 30 days (rather than 90) to get full benefits....!!

so you see, the possibilities are there..............

[ranger309]

Damn that driver has it made. Who ever said military service doesn't pay? Well, as long as you don't get your @$$ shot off

[pro1driver]

Originally Posted by ranger309

Damn that driver has it made. Who ever said military service doesn't pay? Well, as long as you don't get your @$$ shot off

yes he does.

he's married with 3 little ones, all under the age of 5.....

and he himself is only 27 years old....!! he got out as a sargent.

talk about a lot of build up pension time........!!!