Good Morning Vietnam! Part one:
As a general update, the job search almost came to a head... until I found out that the selection official haad to pass on the information to yet one more person--who is the one to make the final aye or nay decision on prospective employees. So I waited until 1300 EST, being too wired on coffee and nerves to wait longer--and and called; only to find out that there were six calls out and expected to have returned... my name was on the list, and they really would like to hire me, but golly gee sailor these other folks get to come first and there's a rather large stack before I get to you.
WTF?
So, the job search continues. What can I say? I've spent the better part of 1996 to the present doing living history (mostly civil war--but some revolution/seven years war stuff too). I've busted my hearing out (I'm not completely deaf--but hearing aids by forty would not be an unreasonable expectation), and a lot of money into it (both my own and my family's so as to be able to get good at it). I know as park service employees go, I only have three seasons as a GS-4 (two as a park guide, one as a visitor use assistant--fee collection). I would like to see a return on my investment. And this was a job where it was a match made in heaven--except that other people had higher priority than me.
If it's a matter of experience, how the hell am I supposed to build it if I don't get the fuckin' job? Besides, I have a BA in History minor in American history. Grr...
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Saturday, MAY 20: I left the house at 0745 to go down to the Waleski horse farm on Emery Road in Richeyville for the National Pike Festival with the Ninth PA. Enroute, I met up with the First Sergeant Mike Tommarillo, and our provost corporal/Commisary Sergeant Dave Ward in Sewickley, and then travelled tandem with them down to the site.
Captain Kiss got lost--he was out driving by Cumberland Maryland when we--and he--realized that he was too far out. So much cursing and laughing later--I was standing picket-duty waiting for he to arrive, and the first sergeant came out to keep me company.
Amongst the other things we discussed--I think that a law should be passed re-activating the old militia system. The National Guard is not a Militia--though some members of the Active Military may feel that way. The most basic definition of the militia are: groups that meet on a regular basis to conduct drills, carry weapons appropriate to the organization's rules, and wear uniforms. One may ask, "But this is a civil war group you're with... aren't the uniforms and weapons a little out-dated? I mean, an AK-47 is more useful."
Yes, and when the clip is empty, your AK is as useful as an empty rifled-musket. As for the uniforms--they are still uniforms. And they work. Besides, there are reenacting groups that also do World War II, Spanish-American, World War I, Korea, and Vietnam--rumor also has it that there are also reenactments of Gulf War I out there too... so it would be easy enough to bring these units together under the militia system. A standard pay according to rank in the organization--continue with Standard Operating Procedures for the unit in which one has enlisted; qualify for veterans' preference; and for the new recruits--age 16-18--get a feel for military life to see if they want to cut the mustard in the active military (Marines, Army, etc).
WTF?
So, the job search continues. What can I say? I've spent the better part of 1996 to the present doing living history (mostly civil war--but some revolution/seven years war stuff too). I've busted my hearing out (I'm not completely deaf--but hearing aids by forty would not be an unreasonable expectation), and a lot of money into it (both my own and my family's so as to be able to get good at it). I know as park service employees go, I only have three seasons as a GS-4 (two as a park guide, one as a visitor use assistant--fee collection). I would like to see a return on my investment. And this was a job where it was a match made in heaven--except that other people had higher priority than me.
If it's a matter of experience, how the hell am I supposed to build it if I don't get the fuckin' job? Besides, I have a BA in History minor in American history. Grr...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, MAY 20: I left the house at 0745 to go down to the Waleski horse farm on Emery Road in Richeyville for the National Pike Festival with the Ninth PA. Enroute, I met up with the First Sergeant Mike Tommarillo, and our provost corporal/Commisary Sergeant Dave Ward in Sewickley, and then travelled tandem with them down to the site.
Captain Kiss got lost--he was out driving by Cumberland Maryland when we--and he--realized that he was too far out. So much cursing and laughing later--I was standing picket-duty waiting for he to arrive, and the first sergeant came out to keep me company.
Amongst the other things we discussed--I think that a law should be passed re-activating the old militia system. The National Guard is not a Militia--though some members of the Active Military may feel that way. The most basic definition of the militia are: groups that meet on a regular basis to conduct drills, carry weapons appropriate to the organization's rules, and wear uniforms. One may ask, "But this is a civil war group you're with... aren't the uniforms and weapons a little out-dated? I mean, an AK-47 is more useful."
Yes, and when the clip is empty, your AK is as useful as an empty rifled-musket. As for the uniforms--they are still uniforms. And they work. Besides, there are reenacting groups that also do World War II, Spanish-American, World War I, Korea, and Vietnam--rumor also has it that there are also reenactments of Gulf War I out there too... so it would be easy enough to bring these units together under the militia system. A standard pay according to rank in the organization--continue with Standard Operating Procedures for the unit in which one has enlisted; qualify for veterans' preference; and for the new recruits--age 16-18--get a feel for military life to see if they want to cut the mustard in the active military (Marines, Army, etc).