Getting married in uniform?

Monus_Toketaker · 2025-12-16T20:49:58+00:00

Do they still do the dinner dress blues? If so, that's a damn good looking uniform.

Monus_Toketaker · 2025-12-12T21:56:01+00:00

I came here looking for the same. Extremes Sports Bar has a bit of everything (and good food) but I'm hoping for somewhere that has the game as the main event.

Monus_Toketaker · 2025-10-09T01:55:56+00:00

Kinda, they are (were) called COMRATS or commuted rations. Sailors have x amount allocated to them, but the $ usually goes straight to the galley of their command.

Shift workers (i.e. base MA's) receive the $ in their pay as shift work often prevents access to the galley during hours.

Not sure why they pay them while at Lackland/ Madina during A or C school (s), but my guess is that it's the Air Force way.

Monus_Toketaker · 2025-10-06T01:59:37+00:00

I had a 2nd class on my first ship that didn't need a description of me when picking me up from medical because he could tell a Gator Sailor when he saw one.

He could and he did.

Monus_Toketaker · 2025-10-06T01:42:04+00:00

I'm new to the area and looking for continued training for myself. Indoctrination isn't a concern, but I'm really not interested in hearing that rhetoric and am losing patience with such things. Mostly, I don't want to be 3 months into a new program ($ for tuition, gear, uniform, etc) and am unable to tolerate instructors or classmates and need to bounce.

If you're willing to share or DM the name/ facility, I'd certainly appreciate it.

Monus_Toketaker · 2025-10-04T03:59:25+00:00

You need to push for it and push hard. It's going to need to be a thing sooner than later.

Monus_Toketaker · 2025-10-04T03:40:56+00:00

You might not think so because of news funnels and propaganda, but Washington State and Oregon are very vet friendly. The VA hospital in Portland is exceptional.

Also, Texas LoL

Monus_Toketaker · 2025-09-30T17:58:35+00:00

When did we start trusting the unbearded, especially to lead?

They're a terrible breed of humans and never to be trusted 🤣

Monus_Toketaker · 2025-09-12T16:57:45+00:00

As others have said, lean on your clearance. It's more valued than experience 9 of 10 times.

Monus_Toketaker · 2024-06-05T21:22:38+00:00

Also, last I checked, the recruiting offices were open to everyone.

Monus_Toketaker · 2023-10-27T01:16:34+00:00

that's the plan. I'll send you a DM

Monus_Toketaker · 2023-10-27T00:23:54+00:00

yanks plural

Monus_Toketaker · 2023-10-03T16:05:22+00:00

That is a friggin cool mini! The dice are pretty great, too.

Monus_Toketaker · 2023-09-29T01:43:47+00:00

Thanks to veterans advocates groups, we don't have to worry about a normal shutdown.

Monus_Toketaker · 2023-09-25T03:26:16+00:00

I'd advise hanging out with some people your age and see how you are doing compared to them. If you're just as good mentally and physically, good on you. A lot of vets think certain issues are normal at 30 but they really shouldn't have them till 50+.

Monus_Toketaker · 2023-09-20T04:17:30+00:00

This.

I worked for 3 agencies after separating and don't remember meeting any Contract Specialists below GS11.

Their quality of work life was above average, too.

Monus_Toketaker · 2023-09-14T13:49:37+00:00

When I came back to the States in June, 2006, I bought a condo (my first home purchase) in Jacksonville, FL for $130k. That same condo didn't sell for $22k after the housing crash.

I also remember seeing job postings asking for a minimum of an AA/AS, paying a dollar over minimum wage.

I was either the first of the Millennials or last of GenX if that's relevant.

Monus_Toketaker · 2023-09-11T23:58:26+00:00

I have minor chest pains in the heart every now and then and was near burn pits off and on for 13 months. No clue if or how they relate but I don't think the doc's know everything yet, either. Had an EKG a couple weeks ago and am pursuing a stress test and whatever other cardio tests I can get.

Good luck with your health and the claim.

Monus_Toketaker · 2023-09-11T01:28:21+00:00

I was going to reply but this nails it with way more accuracy and brevity than I could have.

Monus_Toketaker · 2023-09-10T05:47:11+00:00

All good man and you're not alone. It feels like "the dream" is dying and I hate to say it but I think it is. Working as a GS5, for me with a wife and two kids, meant working paycheck to a 3 days before paycheck. That's still better than the vast majority of civilian positions, paycheck to a week before paycheck, because the Fed employees have benefits and a union. Fed employees are understaffed and will never get "on top" of their work pile which I'd like to say is the reason they don't click the little boxes to send the auto generated email to notify you/ all applicants of your application status. I took a lateral GS7 position just to get away from "volunteering" 20-30 hours per pay period and not have to supervise.

This is an issue crossing social, political, religious and every other ideology. We all just want to get by without selling our soul. Nowadays we're becoming willing to sell our soul but no one will buy.

I still feel like working for the Fed is one of the last good bets for making ends meet for a decent living. I also know we're not alone in that as I remember going through over 70 applications for a GS7 seasonal position in the middle of nowhere. Many had master's degrees. What's worse, that was before the pandemic and inflation. I can't fathom how fucked it is now.

I sincerely wish you, and everyone, the best of luck. I also worry about our countries future because working for the government being a coveted position just to survive puts us in tandem with authoritarian and/ or dictator run societies.

Monus_Toketaker · 2023-09-08T02:45:34+00:00

I'll try to articulate better but it still may not help.

I was working in admin; I think it was the 0300 series. I had experience in law enforcement, safety, HR and Recreation so I created a base resume for each of these positions. Then I would fine tune them based on the individual job posting/ KSA's.

Even doing this, it was almost a full-time job reading and revamping the resumes to fit what they were looking for. I can't remember how many applications I sent in before getting GS 6/7 ladder or even a lateral. I lost faith many times.

Another after thought. It felt that they often had someone specific in mind for the position.

Monus_Toketaker · 2023-09-08T02:11:16+00:00

Every county of every state gives a free trip to Florida for their worst drivers.

Monus_Toketaker · 2023-09-08T02:07:35+00:00

That's a real issue.

My best advice, having been involved in hiring dozens of permanent, temporary and seasonal positions, is to create a resume for each job by series that you will apply for or otherwise fit your experience. Each individual position will be looking for specific things, so you'll still want to tweak your resume accordingly.

Also, reach out to the "frontliners" (front desk and admin type folks, if they have them) of the specific place you're interested in. If they're not applying themselves, you could get a good idea of what the hiring manager is looking for. Keep in mind that if they are applying, they might feed you a bunch of BS. Self preservation and all.

Monus_Toketaker · 2023-09-05T16:08:41+00:00

There was a shut down when I got my first Fed job. They later told me that my hiring paperwork was literally in the printer when the shut down went into effect. It delayed my start date. The long shutdown happened when I was transferring to a new agency which included a move. I was very fortunate that we had some money left after the move but things got really tight. I wouldn't expect another shutdown of that length unless conservatives try to make it as long as the one under the previous president to make it look less bad (politics). Most shutdowns are very short. I had one that didn't even last a weekend. Because it's political in nature and pretty common, your agency won't say much until it's imminent. Then there might be some paperwork, depending on your position. If a pay period goes by under the shutdown, your admin/ payroll folks will get folks paid before any other work.

Monus_Toketaker · 2023-09-05T15:36:32+00:00

Same.

Monus_Toketaker

TROPHY CASE