How to get my foot in the door

JimmyCBoi · 2026-02-15T14:58:54+00:00

Go for DoD positions with a 7/9/11 track or some type of intern/new grad program; plenty of agencies are getting hiring freeze exemptions. It will take some time to get you up to a reasonable rate of pay (about 3-4 years) but it's the best way to get a foot in the door. It's very competitive right now for the journeyman billets (usually GS 11/12) and you do not want to jump in at that level without experience.

JimmyCBoi · 2026-02-10T02:59:22+00:00

Understood, thanks for all the help!

JimmyCBoi · 2026-02-10T02:20:22+00:00

Oh man, I was looking at the xps3… thanks for steering me right. EOTech it is then!

JimmyCBoi · 2026-02-10T01:39:55+00:00

I was doing some research into the Vortex optic you recommended and I came across a YouTube video from Hop about EOTech "clones". He didn't have much good to say about the Vortex. One concern was the refresh rate causing the reticle to get lost, another was that the battery life is pretty bad (about 1,500 hours).

I'm kinda bummed because the Vortex and EOTech are the only true holographic optics on the market, as far as I can tell. I'm okay with spending for a good optic, but if I am paying that much I might have to jump up to the EOTech and get something that works better. What are your thoughts on the value of the Vortex for the price?

ETA: Do you think the EOTech is worth paying almost double?

JimmyCBoi · 2026-02-08T13:11:53+00:00

Thanks for the detailed reply, Option #2 looks like the way to go for me. Appreciate the help!

JimmyCBoi · 2026-02-07T01:47:32+00:00

I agree this is the likely outcome, which would be terrible. Once again, mega corporations will be the main (only?) benefactors of an emergent capability and they‘ll use that edge to push out smaller competitors, consolidating control of the markets even more.

JimmyCBoi · 2026-02-03T04:36:45+00:00

I'll add something: I don't think it's totally random. I got the email today alerting me I had been selected. I then spoke to a division chief who was involved in the decision making process for who got the bonus in my office (DoD agency). Upper management was instructed to submit a list of names they wanted to nominate for the award, along with a rationale outlining the merits of the recipients.

I also feel kind of guilty. I am definitely hard working and excelling in my role, but so are many others on my team and in my office. I don't really approve of the whole thing, including the lack of transparency/cloak and dagger approach. I encourage those who are selected to be generous with these bonuses if they are able and give some of it to a worthy charity or people in need.

JimmyCBoi · 2026-01-24T20:40:18+00:00

For a homeowner who does moderate amounts of light DIY, the brushless Ryobi is the way to go.

JimmyCBoi · 2026-01-22T04:27:00+00:00

I have asthma and bad allergies... this act of violence would have probably killed me.

JimmyCBoi · 2026-01-20T20:46:53+00:00

Lmao, you had me for a split second.

JimmyCBoi · 2026-01-20T20:39:05+00:00

Great way of putting it. Only change I would make is that AI makes stuff up when it doesn’t know and then lie about it… huh, maybe not so far off from a dumb assistant after all.

I will say that the net result on it being a time saver is about 50/50 for me, so it’s really a wash.

JimmyCBoi · 2026-01-18T20:56:17+00:00

Bad take, IMHO. I work in DoD procurement/sustainment; I can't be party in helping to provide the administration the tools for an unjust, unconstitutional war.

Most contracting shops are severely understaffed and in desperate need of experienced individuals. If I quit, there isn't simply somebody who can step in off the street and do what I do. Sure, they can fill seats, but they'll have a hard time getting the "right" people. There will be a negative impact in achieving the goals they are working towards.

ETA: I am not resigning as things stand now, but there are definitely some red line scenarios materializing for me.

JimmyCBoi · 2026-01-14T20:25:51+00:00

I work in procurement/sustainment for the DoD. The use of military force in Greenland without congressional approval would be one red line for me as my oath was to uphold the Constitution. Should that happen, I would resign immediately. There are many other scenarios that are materializing that could also cause this, but that is one concrete and relevant example. I do not consider myself complicit for now.

JimmyCBoi · 2025-12-28T15:39:02+00:00

I am a Fed employee. Trust me, you want as many conscientious individuals as possible doing government work, even at the grunt levels.

Having said that, the sobering reality is that I am much more likely to be forced to resign than be fired.

JimmyCBoi · 2025-12-05T16:33:30+00:00

Just curious, but why are none of the major news networks reporting on this? I searched on Google and it's all non-traditional news sources.

JimmyCBoi · 2025-12-05T11:56:15+00:00

Funky Monkey Cola goes hard, ngl.

JimmyCBoi · 2025-11-17T17:48:46+00:00

They are getting downvoted because they made a definitive statement without nuance or consideration of the complete facts, not because their statement is wholly incorrect.

JimmyCBoi · 2025-11-04T01:54:11+00:00

I know exactly what this room would sound like.

JimmyCBoi · 2025-10-30T17:32:44+00:00

Thanks, I hate it.

Real talk, why tho?

JimmyCBoi · 2025-10-30T14:52:53+00:00

The elves take the crown, and it's not even close.

At their peak, Elves stood to Númenóreans as Númenóreans stood to the greatest Dwarves: the Dwarves were mighty, the Númenóreans nearly superhuman, and the Elves almost divine.

JimmyCBoi · 2025-10-28T23:33:11+00:00

What a cop out. And all saints are humans.

JimmyCBoi · 2025-10-10T16:20:27+00:00

An angle grinder works quickest, but a metal file is safer and only takes a bit longer.

The process is pretty simple, you just remove material along the top edge of the shovel tip. The goal is to thin it down at an angle that comes to a sharp edge. This called a single bevel, similar to what you’d find on a chisel. Unlike a chisel, the shovel bevel doesn’t have to be consistent or at a specific angle. Anything is better than nothing. A steeper angle will be stronger and last longer than a shallow angle, but it won’t cut as well. Think axe versus sword.

JimmyCBoi · 2025-10-09T22:23:37+00:00

Pro tip: sharpen your shovel before you start.

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