Hi all,
Jim here, originally from Bucks County, Pa but relocated to Florida thanks to a long career in the US Navy. Presently I am 53 years old and getting better with age....
I retired in 2009 as an Aviation Electronics Technician Senior Chief with designations in Enlisted Air Warfare and Surface Warfare. After 2 years of retired bliss I foolishly took a job in law enforcement, choosing to use my people skills vice technical skills as I find it is more of a challenge and less travel than a professional career using my professional knowledge and skills would have provided. Significantly less money but I have found that money isn't a source of happiness or satisfaction.
I have 3 children none of who still live at home. The lovely Mrs. Viper (Linda) has two children also not living at home. (Ah, the peace and quiet!)
I love music and moonlight as a DJ for the local VFW post. Otherwise I have two old cars and an older model motorcycle I tinker with, take to shows, etc. They take up most of my spare time. I love to run but unfortunately between a work related injury (Fighting with a wanted subject in the back of a pickup truck) and a nagging bone spur I'm sidelined for the time being.... so why not just get fat? Mrs. Viper is a dancer, which makes me a dancer by default. Not a bad way to spend an evening all in all.
I love aircraft and anything to do with aviation and the dynamics of flight. I was fortunate to have spent a long career surrounded by not only the finest aircraft in the world but some of the best and brightest men and women bar none. It was a privilege to follow, lead, and serve along side with the countless US Navy sailors I had been stationed with, and I would do it all over again given the opportunity.
Posted a pic from my final deployment. This is from 2004, HS-7 Dusty Dogs detachment to Kuwait. I am pictured standing center behind the kneeling guy in the blue jacket. Pictured is one of our HH-60H aircraft, HS-7 Commanding Officer (Green flight suit), and all the aircrew and maintainers in that detachment. I got to spend 4 months of a 6 month deployment forward deployed to Kuwait and the USS Essex operating in the Persian Gulf. It was pretty sweet except for the occasional sand storm.
Oh yeah, and I'm a Steelers fan! Go STEELERS!
Great thread LiL.