"Propellers 'R' Us"

I had taken a few days of leave before I retired, to get some kind of civilian job lined up when I got out, and found one with the Boise Interagency Fire Center, working on an aircraft ramp for the BLM, up there by the south end of the airport.

The money was good, and I'd be working about 8 or 9 months a year during the fire season. I wasn't too excited about having to commute, but it was only as far as the Vista exit, and it was usually a fairly relaxing drive, as long as I didn't have to go into town for any reason!

I would start, three days after I retired, so there really wasn't much time to relax at all, but that was ok too. Although this too was a government agency, it didn't come with the stress that made up military life. You basically went to work, did your job and came home.

And when you worked overtime HERE.......you got paid "time & a half" for it! THIS would be a nice change TOO. There were no haircut regulations there, and if you wanted to grow a beard............GO FOR IT!. That was probably the FIRST thing I did. (I stopped wearing a beard a long time ago, and while it was never one of life's desires----I grew one initially "JUST BECAUSE I COULD!)

During my job interview, the Ramp Chief, Dave Fishback, told me that my job initially would be servicing and loading airplanes-----------mostly single and twin engine Forest Service Prop jobs, and an occasional DC-3. The only whine of a jet, would be the contract 737 whenever IT flew. This was gonna be a nice quiet atmosphere, compared to the noise and shriek of an Aardvark ramp!

There were 10 of us TOTAL, five per shift, when the fire season got under way. For NOW though, I'd be on dayshift getting "trained", learning how to drive and operate a fuel truck, service oil in the different types of planes, properly strap cargo down, etc. And NO preflight inspections or maintenance----------that would be somebody ELSE's job on the other side of the field. If I turned a wrench at all, it would be doing tune-ups on our little flightline tugs. I'd start out making more money than I ever did as a Master Sergeant.

Which brought the only concern to mind that Dave had about me. On active duty, I had been in charge of maintenace shifts before I retired, and when we split up into two shifts HERE, I would be working for Jeff Newton, a young fellow who'd been with the BLM about 7 years or so, and had never served a day in the service. Although he had no military experience at all, he HAD been a shift leader HERE for the last few fire seasons.

Dave himself was retired Navy, and asked me if I thought I'd have any problem working for a YOUNG civilian like Jeff.

"Heck no!" I replied.......I'M the "NEW GUY" here".......and I thought to myself-----("The money's better than what I'm used to.....the work is easier......the hours are better.......I can be an INDIVIDUAL here...........if for some reason I DON'T like it, I CAN QUIT........and because I'm NOT in charge of anyone, I'M the only one I have to be responsible for!")

WORKS FOR ME!!

While I have never ducked or dodged responsibility in the Service, I have always looked back on my earliest days in the Marine Corps with the fondest of memories. My life was never as simple and uncluttered, as when I was a PFC, (Private First Class)------------I got up in the morning, showered & shaved, made my bunk, went to chow, kept my boots shined and my rifle cleaned, and did whatever the day called for. Any crap from "topside", the Platoon Sergeant handled it. It was a simple life.

Oh yeah, I'd be MOST HAPPY to work for young Jeff at THESE wages and all the overtime you want me to work! And one of the things I quickly learned was that unlike the old 12-14 hour shifts on the Mountain Home Ramp, there was always a definite purpose for the overtime at the BLM.........when they have to fork out "time & a half" pay...........they don't waste your time doing "dog & pony" crap!. You aren't out there "burning the midnight oil" just because some old duffer thinks everyone needs to be on 12-hour shifts for awhile. In the Service...........it all pays the same no matter HOW long they work you. Not out HERE. When they have to PAY you, they don't waste your time.

I was gonna LIKE being a civilian!

We had "uniforms", tan and brown with BLM patches on the sleeves, but you could wear whatever kind of shoes you felt comfortable with. It was fairly laid back, although you really busted butt during heavy fire projects and the different aircraft would be coming in for supplies and fuel. During the slack times, we'd just spend time taking care of the ramp equipment, and keeping all the support vehicles in shape.

The beard was coming along nicely as well. Back here in Mountain Home, I was becoming somewhat of a "stranger". Many of those who hadn't seen me since I retired, never even RECOGNIZED me when I'd walk right BY them at Albertson's or someplace. I could have been a good "spy" had I chosen to be!

For the first time in quite awhile, I felt like I was my OWN person. I was enjoying my job, and it seemed to me like there was a "silent aura of mutual respect." As much as I really liked what I was doing, it was still a new and good feeling just to KNOW...........that I could walk out anytime I so desired. Likewise, if you're a good employee for someone, THEY usually treat YOU pretty good in return, so you WON'T just walk out, leaving them to have to train someone else from scratch.

But when you're ENLISTED, you're STUCK! If you're stationed in some stinkhole where you hate who you're working for.........that's just TOUGH ain't it! And the "tyrants" love it, because they KNOW the only option you have is to go AWOL, and then Leavenworth is waiting for you.

Yes.........as a civilian, I was now going to be able to enjoy ALL of the freedoms I had once fought for.