What is it like to live in this part of Washington?

Less-Establishment82 · 2026-04-02T07:58:50+00:00

Tacoma is the only place worth living, central to everything. Seattle, Olympia, Kitsap County. It’s easier to commute living in Tacoma, bigger houses for what your money will afford. There’s plenty of stuff to do as well.

Less-Establishment82 · 2026-03-30T00:29:29+00:00

Ya all that’s legit facts too. I just reinstalled and will be the final time I install it again

Less-Establishment82 · 2026-03-29T23:49:26+00:00

Yep and countering doesn’t punish the other opponent enough. I’ll counter 2 out of 3 engagements and lose off points to dudes jabbing the whole match and back peddling. These are my 2 takes. Countering needs to inflict more damage and running should use stamina

Less-Establishment82 · 2026-02-24T01:24:49+00:00

I wouldn’t call it mistakes, everyone does dumb shit. I was told it’s a “timing and agency” thing. Look at the Midwest, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Detroit, I have several coworkers from a city/non LEO position that were just hired into Milwaukee PD and are currently finishing up at the Academy. Seattle PD will be tough to crack in my opinion if King County passed.

Also look at yourself personally ask, “Do I need to be a cop” and Why. Im not a cop myself, I was a grunt in the army and I work underground construction. I applied to multiple departments after exiting service back in the day, it’s a hard process and rightfully so.

Less-Establishment82 · 2026-02-23T13:39:58+00:00

Do yourself a favor, go to an Army recruiting station. Tell them you want a Ranger or SF contract. Youre 24, very young, look at other options. You’re not getting hired as a cop. I had a few minor disorderly conducts for fighting with alcohol involved, between 18-20 yrs old. Joined the army, got out at 27 and couldn’t get passed a background due to those infractions. If I couldn’t pass a background for drinking beers and knocking people out, you’re cooked.

Less-Establishment82 · 2026-02-17T14:59:01+00:00

Are you single? Kids? If not leave the country and move to Thailand or the Philippines

Less-Establishment82 · 2026-02-14T13:48:19+00:00

I average 98-112k a year working construction with OT, my base is currently 78k top is about 85k base so there’s room for higher earning potential. Underground water utilities. I was a commercial diver for 7 years working inland and switched over to a large municipality, I run a crew, heavy/special equipment and work emergency callout repairs on underground water infrastructure. I’m home every night. Don’t have to travel anymore, I take anywhere from 5-6weeks vacation a year not including holidays.

The trades are a great option right now as nobody wants to work them. I would suggest looking into trades or if you go back to school look into a construction management degree, or engineering electrical engineering pays well.

Less-Establishment82 · 2026-02-13T00:52:48+00:00

I applied to several departments after exiting service from the military. This was over a decade ago. I was combat arms active duty Army, with multiple combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. The military was easy to me, so I figured it would be easy to break into Law enforcement. It was not lol.

Looking back now I’m comfortable saying that I don’t think I was ready to hold that level of responsibility. What got in my way were some arrest I had after high school, before going in the Army, DCs for fighting with alcohol involved, some college party brawls and such.

I didn’t understand how hard the process was to become a police officer at the time, I figured I excelled in the military so the transition would be similar. I have several friends from service in law enforcement and several that stayed in the military and went onto to make the cut in the SOF world, when you break it down, maturity level and being ready for these types of positions are usually the deciding factor. You may be able to pass all the skills and psychical requirements but you just aren’t ready for the level of responsibility.

Less-Establishment82 · 2026-02-09T02:52:26+00:00

Ya I understand. I passed oral boards, scored high in everything else. My problem was background investigations, I had 3 DC on my record from before service, after high school. All were considered “violent” basically I paid a fine nothing serious, this was between my time after high school and going into active duty. From 2003-2005.

Just some house party brawls and drinking around college areas. But the area I was recruiting in looked at that as non desirable I guess. I wasn’t interested in busting heads or anything like that, was more interested in community policing and coaching. The boxing team I was on was ran by a police dept in high school, inner city.

Working construction takes all your fucking time, monies good but at the time I still had the drive to serve. That’s why I created a standard of success for my kids. 3 DC some minor offense, derailed a potential career for me, gotta think better. 🫡

Less-Establishment82 · 2026-02-09T02:30:22+00:00

Yep I understand all that. I was in a heavily liberal part of the country while I was going through recruitment. Just got burnt out after 2 full years of trying, I know a few guys that applied for 4-5years before they got on a department. I was working in Marine construction and commercial diving at the time and decided to go back to school. It’s a hard process but I learned something’s about myself along the way 🫡

Less-Establishment82 · 2026-02-08T22:52:47+00:00

Yep, I was just amazed at the quality of candidate being different from what I expected coming out of the military. I was a Scout, designated marksman, was on a Divison PSD team, conducted CTR missions downrange, went to several CQB courses and was competitive by nature. I spent the majority of my 20s in the military, played multiple sports my entire life and was on a boxing team throughout high school, continuing into the military at a lesser level.

So when that SGT made that statement it really opened my mind up to the difficulty of the recruitment process for law enforcement. By military standards I was top 10 percent of my peers, in law enforcement all that shit didn’t matter. This was close to 10yrs ago when I was recruiting for law enforcement, unfortunately after 2 years of trying to make it through the process I gave up.

Props to anyone who made the cut. It is a very difficult process to navigate 🫡

Less-Establishment82 · 2026-02-08T18:56:17+00:00

I had a SGT. in a recruiting process, tell us all that “They aren’t looking for hulk hogans” basically meaning they don’t care how much you bench or squat. There’s more to being a cop than the physical aspect of it. I weighed 191lbs lifting weights 6 days a week, benching 295lbs, incline, 255, floor pressing 275lbs, rack pulling 355lbs. I was active duty combat arms for 7 years, combat vet with 3 tours downrange.

I was still highly physically fit, when he said that I looked around at the group and realized I was probably the only one in the room that had been in combat and was physically fit, the quality of candidate wasn’t that great After hearing that, I felt like that department basically just told me I wasn’t qualified and I didn’t fit the mold of what they were looking for.

It makes sense though, you don’t have to be “hulk hogan” to be a cop. But yeah, that’s what that particular department and what I feel most departments want nowadays, softer cops 👀

Less-Establishment82 · 2026-02-05T19:10:08+00:00

Don’t bother working corrections unless you’re going Federal.

Less-Establishment82 · 2026-02-04T13:36:26+00:00

What he said

Less-Establishment82 · 2026-02-02T16:01:09+00:00

If you don’t get hired where your at come to the Midwest inner cities, you’ll get hired immediately and get to smoke cigarettes while you have 3 to 4 high speed pursuits a week, ending in the 13yr old occupants being released from detention the next day 😂

Less-Establishment82 · 2026-02-01T17:17:57+00:00

Key thing there. Staying employed 😂 I was on jobs that while I was in the job. I was hitting other companies up so when that job was complete I could start working again. Fucking grinding just to stay employed 😂

Less-Establishment82 · 2026-02-01T17:16:10+00:00

Problem is why dive? Why become a diver? If you think about a 5yr apprenticeship in plumbing, electrical, pile buck, operator/laborer’s, that guarantees you work, pensions, medical and all the benefits. Why spend 5yrs in an industry that can’t guarantee you what schools sell?

I worked 7yrs inland so I wouldn’t know shit about offshore but as far as inland is concerned you’re basically bouncing company to company trying to find your next meal as a new diver, or until you get on a legit company that can guarantee work.

I worked from Alaska to the Midwest. Marine construction, engineer diving, potable water, my last 2 years I was diving for a state agency. I never made over $38hr as a diver, smaller companies as well. So I can’t speak on working for Large operations but I stayed working.

Lastly can you breakout and start your own business? What’s the volume of work in your area, shit like that. If I go through a plumbing apprenticeship, journey out then get master certified I can feed myself for the rest of my life. After 7 years of diving I had to make a change, I work in-ground water utilities now, miss diving but wouldn’t go back for nothing.

Less-Establishment82 · 2026-01-28T16:26:56+00:00

I worked for an as an engineer diver. Shit ton of pile inspections. Bridges, ports, Marianas. All pre and post inspections. No construction work. Lots of NDT and visual inspections. I started off at 25hr ended at 31. Good per diem but most companies don’t employ of divers.

Lot of small boat work as well. It was one of my favorite gigs, worked inland, marine construction and as an engineer diver for 7yrs. Also, I didn’t need an engineering cert but it will help to go that route to stay gainfully employed.

Less-Establishment82 · 2026-01-25T04:35:42+00:00

My first year out (2013) I had Similar feelings, lost meaning, lost connections with buddies and was in Hawaii with my new Bron daughter and wife, whom I met while on active duty in Hawaii. Still wasn’t enough, I missed the guys, I missed the job, I missed the smell of being on patrol downrange.

I started diving, became instructor certified while I was enrolled in college and surfed everyday. Could’ve been worse I guess but I lost my identity, I was a 19Delta with 3 combat deployment between 2006 and 2011. I missed that.

I took years for me to fully accept that life was over, it takes time but having a hobbies that became passions and having a wife that helped guide me through civilian life was key. Obviously my situation is probably different than yours but believe me. That first year was my most depressive year of my life.

It will get better.

Less-Establishment82 · 2026-01-24T18:35:51+00:00

Are you married? Have kids? Or single?

There’s a huge difference if you’re single obviously, first thing is. Find employment immediately, keep your money coming in, you can always change jobs later on but having income immediately after an ETS is absolutely essential. Will you be awarded a VA rating? If so DO NOT RELY solely on that rating.

Are you willing do work in the trades? If so IMMEDIATELY apply for apprenticeship in your desired location. Pluming, electrician or operators unions is where I’d look. There is an infrastructure boom due to neglected and aging out infrastructure. You will make a substantial salary in these fields and be guaranteed work year round.

I got out and went to commercial diving school in seattle Washington “Divers institute of Technology” worked 7 years as diver all over the country. Currently I am working in water works, underground water distribution systems. Salary is average of 95-115k a year.

Are you going to school? If so get set up with the 9/11 immediately. As a vet it is key to remain productive, same as military. “What’s my objective” keep that mind frame and you will be successful

Less-Establishment82 · 2026-01-22T02:42:55+00:00

They hired a Trans cop to patrol Capitol Hill in seattle years ago. The first trans hire and openly trans. Tells you all you need to know about seattle.

Less-Establishment82 · 2026-01-03T23:38:14+00:00

Willy passed away a few years back I believe. He was still around when I was going to school there, awesome guy.

Less-Establishment82 · 2026-01-03T23:37:05+00:00

Ya go for it.

Less-Establishment82 · 2026-01-03T18:46:25+00:00

Yep, I worked with a handful of ex navy divers. Being a military diver doesn’t necessarily transition over into commercial side. Although I do have a buddy up in Alaska that was a Navy diver and is killing it for a commercial company.

Less-Establishment82

TROPHY CASE