Comments By Jerry Escondido

the USA for, I It seems like you have been everywhere and done it all. Now back me up.

Did you ever visit a country you would trade for the USA. I never did

These people today that ***** about the government, quality of their lives, etc., need to get out and see how the rest of the word lives. Just my opinion....

Never.....The closest was England, at least there I could mostly understand what they were saying. Some of the slang they used kinda left you going HUH???????

My wife asked me one time about my time in England, I told her if I had gotten a phone call telling me I had 30 minutes to get ready, my immediate response would be what am I going to do with the last 25 minutes.......

Ernie

YOU SEE? THIS IS WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT FOLKS!!!!!

Started my military career in the USAF (5.5 years), out for a year, then into the USN to finish my 20.

During my time in the USAF, I was stationed at the following places: Boot camp Lackland AFB - Jul 1973 - Aug 1973 - San Antonio TX Technical school - Lowry AFB - Aug 1973 - Oct 1973 - Denver CO 318th FIS - McChord AFB - Oct 1973 - Jun 1975 - Tacoma WA 81st MMS - RAF Bentwaters England - Jul 1975 - Jul 1977 63rd CES - Norton AFB - Jul 1977 - Feb 1979 - San Bernardino CA (went to Chanute AFB - Rantoul IL for another tech school)

Made it to the rank of Sgt (E-4) before I got out.

USN 1980 - 1994, retired in 1994.

USS Proteus (AS-19) Aug 1980 - Dec 1981 - Guam USS Constellation (CV-64) - May 1982 - May 1984 - San Diego CA & Bremerton WA (overhaul) NWS Earle NJ - 1984 - 1987 (only official shore duty I was assigned) USS Bainbridge (CGN-25) Nov 1987 - Mar 1991, Norfolk VA USS L Y Spear (AS-36) Apr 1991 - Jul 1994, Norfolk VA - retired

In between all the ships, had several technical schools.

When I went back into the military, I dropped back down to E-3, but made it to E-6 and retired as an E-6, TM1 (SW).

Had some really great times during my time in the military. Would do it again.

Ernie

the USA for, I It seems like you have been everywhere and done it all. Now back me up.

Did you ever visit a country you would trade for the USA. I never did

These people today that ***** about the government, quality of their lives, etc., need to get out and see how the rest of the word lives. Just my opinion....

Operations Specialist Petty Officer Second Class

USS Valley Forge (CG-50) 1999-2004. San Diego, CA

OS, Yes I remember now. You guys sitting up in ComBat, breaking my gear. I know how you guys operated. HA ha. Do you know if they combined the ET, OS, DS ratings into one rating called CS, ComBat Systems? Thanks for the response

The ETs sucked in the DSs, OSs still the same, and RMs sucked in the DPs and now called ITs. I work in the comms field with SPAWAR and RMs aren't the communicators they used to be.

Funny you should say that, the RMs on board the Merrill were a quiet and shady group. They did not play well outside their rate. I was LPO of my work center the last year on board and we partied with every rate when we hit the beach, from BMs, HTs, GM, YMs, SMs through FTs, OS, ET,s etc. The more fiends you got on board the happier life was.

OK, on this day, Thanksgiving, I think we can set aside all the BS, Confusion, Complaining, Blah, Blah, Blah associated with driving.

This is a great time to give thanks.

First and foremost, Mom and Dad. Without them, No Me. Without their guidance, I don't grow up with the values and morals that guide my life.

Second, I give thanks to heaven above for allowing me the good fortune to LIVE IN THE USAb>, the Greatest Country on earthb>. And I can say this with some degree of authority. Thanks, to the US Navy, I visited more than 15 foreign countries, including Texas. Yes, Texas. I've been there 7or8 times. Each time I felt like I was in another country. And my ancestors are from Austin & Midland, Texas. NONE OF THOSE PLACES I HAVE VISITED HAVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE WE ENJOY HERE IN THE USA Time to give thanks to all those, past and present, who have provided the very freedom we enjoy today. Thanks to men like George Washington, John Paul Jones, Admiral Farragut, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Lieutenant General Lewis "Chesty" Puller, and AUDIE L. MURPHY. Now I want to give credit to my favorite Branch of the US Armed Forces. THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY (OK Marine, Army, Air Force, and you to, Coast Guard{or as we called them,"the six feet fleet"}, you guy to) I want you to post: When you were in, What was your Rating, MOS, ? Where did you serve. Squids please, Ships you served on. Don't every forget, the USA Armed Forces are the most powerful forces on Planet Earth!!! Brett, Thanks Again for this great Forum, Jerry Escondido

1980's-early 90's. FTG, later FC. USS Mullinnix (DD-944), USS Capodanno (FF-1093), USS Kidd (DD-993). I think I got those numbers right. Glad I served, but glad I left when I did. Grateful for all who have made it so I didn't have to do 20. Whenever I think I should've stayed in, I look at my family and give thanks for the decision I made at the time.

Godspeed to all those still serving, especially those in harm's way.

I am grateful my nation gave me an opportunity to serve and am honored to have done so.

It sure was refreshing to hear from a fellow Spurance Class Destroyer Sailor.

Just typing that sentence out gave me chills.

I don't know about your tour but while I was on the Merrill, we did a lot of independent steaming. Drug chasing between San Diego And Panama. TYhanks for the response and be careful out there.

Operations Specialist Petty Officer Second Class

USS Valley Forge (CG-50) 1999-2004. San Diego, CA

OS, Yes I remember now. You guys sitting up in ComBat, breaking my gear. I know how you guys operated. HA ha. Do you know if they combined the ET, OS, DS ratings into one rating called CS, ComBat Systems? Thanks for the response

Well, well, thanks for reading on.

OK so here is a question that needs to be answered. How old are you and when did you start your current diving career??? I keep seeing posts on here by men and women worried about their age and starting a new career as a Big Rig Semi Truck Driver. Let us allay some of the worry and stress of those wanting to improve their lives!!!!

I WILL START : I AM 54 YEARS YOUNG AND STARTED MY CURRENT DRIVING CAREER OVER 15 YEARS AGO.

HOW ABOUT YOU ????????????

I should have used spell check better! Yes, it's just the beginning!

Hang in there fellow trucker. From what I have read, you have a rare quality, not found in much of the population today.

I CALL IT, "STICK-TO-IT-TIVENESS" SOME PEOPLE, MORE EDJUMICATED THAN Is BE, THAT CAN TALK BETTERER THAN I, CALL IT, "TENACITY". YOU STICK WITH IT AND YOU WILL ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS, BEST OF LUCK, BROTHER TRUCKER

Something I was thinking about and hope its ok to make this post. Back in the day when I set out to get my CDL (Chaufers license) I remember seeing those big black trucks with the skunk on them and visualizing driving one of them one day. Lol, I didnt care about cpm, average lenght of hauls, and etc, just wanted to drive one of those Big Black Trucks. It was a great time, not sure what other companies offered but I was truckn. I was just thinking in this day and age, what are some of the things YOU look for when picking a company? Is it the color of the truck, the brand of the truck?. I know it probably sounds silly but one never really knows. Lol I do look at it differently now days. I talked to a driver at our truck stop the other day and he said , man no other company offers $10 for every pair of load locks that I turn in at my main terminal. Thats what made me write this post.....

I actually have a little excel sheet I made with the various things that are important in me choosing my first company. #1 is pets and passengers. When I start trucking and I'm in my own truck my mother (who lives with me) is going to be a passenger, I also have a cat, technically I have two but one of them I don't think is gonna last to much longer. I am really attached to the other one though so I need a company that allows me to have my cat and a passenger. After that I start looking at things like do they have an APU, then CPM, then smaller things like forced dispatch, etc I don't see myself declining a load but if I need to for some reason, it's nice to have the option but honestly it's not something I'll turn the company down, it just gives that company more desire when it comes down to comparing my top choices. Since I'm probably going to have to go with a company sponsored program my top choices right now are Roehl Transport, Prime, Knight Transportation, and USA Truck, not really in that order those are just my top 4 choices. Apparently Knight has some trucks that have auto tranny and while it's one thing to learn to drive stick if given the choice I would like my actual job time to be auto so that gives knight a higher score for me. however with knight I would have to figure out my own food and lodging options, this should not be an issue though since I will have my college money (around $7500) mid jan, I'm looking to buy a car so I'll prob have around 3-4k left in March.

you can kinda get the idea of how I'm deciding on my first company, now once I get done with my first year IF I want to find something better I can, but hopefully my first can be my last, however there is 1 or 2 that have my attention once I have that 1 year experience so there's options.

Phox, I definitely agree with your approach to this subject. I decided, after 20+ years of local driving, to go OTR. I did sort of the same as you did. I made out a spreadsheet, more or less, with columns for things that matter to me. I had: truck models, age of trucks, average miles per week-1st year, APUs / Inverters, sign on bonus, safety/fuel/mileage bonus, vacation, etc.

In the end, the single most important thing I had to have was a company that allows it's drivers to take their trucks home during off time.

This was a deal breaker for me, I was not going to leave my personal vehicle in some yard 2 and a half miles away from my home while I was on the road. Nor was I going to spend 5 hours of my days off driving home and back to the yard.

I'm scheduled to start orientation with 3 different companies on 3 different dates. I'll make my decision on or before Dec 14, because the first orientation i am scheduled to start is on Dec 21.

Take care Phox and be safe

About every month or so, someone gets on here and asks "I'm 53. Isn't that too old for trucking?"

If Medicare is on your time horizon (You're at least 60), and if you can answer 3 of these 5 questions, please add your post below. Not too much chatter, just list your age, and how long you have been driving a semi-truck.

(Do not post answers! If you know, you know, and you just may be "old enough:)

1. Who was Captain Kangaroo's rabbit friend?

2. Rags the Tiger hung out with what rabbit?

3. What features were advertised as "included" on new cars? "Radio and ______"? (Hint: not a rabbit!)

4. There may have been an x-ray machine in a shoe store. What was it for?

5. What is CONELRAD?

Pheeeew, 54 and could not answer one. Horay for me.

My dad was a cwo3 and always called the coast guard puddle pirates lol

Now I am not one to knock the other services, but there truly are only two types of Warriors,

SAILORS, and those that wish they were!!!

Now as for the Coast Guard. I'll have you know, you don't even have to know how to swim to serve on board Coast Guard ships. You see, when a Coast Guard Cutter sinks, the crew can just walk to shore.. YUK, YUK, YUK

My dad had 26 years in and mom was a e9 (i think) with 13 years in... I had more then enough of the military lifestyle which is why I never signed up... Worst mistake of my life... I kick myself in the a$$ every time I think about it....

I have found that kids raised in duel military parent households, even if their parents service was before the kids com along, tend to be smarter and more disciplined. Just my personal observation. Of course, my Dad was a Marine before staring his family so I might be a little bit bias....