JimAK
Well-Known Member
Hey guys... long time lurker, first time poster. I've been browsing through the ADX threads for a few weeks, and finally created an account a few days ago to start joining in.
I'm a mid-life career changer - Retired from the US Air Force (enlisted) nearly 4 years ago, and decided to go to college. I'll be graduating in a few weeks with a BS in Aviation Management, and (in theory) my DX ticket. I passed the written back in December, and am scheduled for the O/P in about 3 weeks. My university has a Part 65 cert for DX training, wrapping all of the 200 required hours into seven traditional semester-long courses - for some of us, that was spread out over 3 years of schooling. Five courses that most students take anyway (weather, FARs, airline ops, aerodynamics, aircraft systsm, etc.), and two dedicated to dispatching.
Anyway... I'm excited and nervous. I grew up around General Aviation, and had wanted to go the commercial piloting route. Got accepted to the UND pilot program in 1990, but stupid teenager decisions cancelled that plan, and I ended up in the military instead. Never lost my passion for aviation, or the aviation industry, though. I figured going the dispatcher route was a course correction to put me back where my passion lies.
I'm a bit nervous for a few reasons: one, i've never been a "civilian". 45 years old, and I've never applied for a job... never interviewed for a job... never had to live "office politics". My wife comes home from her corporate job every day with stories that make me shake my head. "You'll see", she just says. "Just kick them in the ass with your boots", I say, "Correct their attitude and change their behavior!". So, I'm an old-dog NCO trying to learn some new tricks. I'm sure the fact that most of my supervisors up several steps will all be younger than me will be an adjustment as well.
None of that is to say that I'm difficult, and set in my ways. I'm pretty sure I'll adjust to life just fine, and I'm easy to get along with. I think I'm fairly well qualified - and possibly much more qualified than most newly-minted DXers. I've spent many years in high-paced operation centers, with 27 things needing done at once and the ability to prioritize those things under pressure a must-have skill. Buckle under the stress, and bad things can happen.
I've noticed in my browsing of these thread for the past few weeks that there seems to be a "reluctance" (might not be the right word) for people to indicate where they're from or where they work. Is this just typical internet anonymity, or is there something more to it? I imagine it's a small world, and saying something wrong might have repercussions? Or, is it more of a "competition" thing? Everyone angling for a small number of jobs, so disclosing who you are and where you are is a disadvantage? Or am I just imagining that part of it?
Anyway, looking forward to the discussions and being part of an active group.
I'm a mid-life career changer - Retired from the US Air Force (enlisted) nearly 4 years ago, and decided to go to college. I'll be graduating in a few weeks with a BS in Aviation Management, and (in theory) my DX ticket. I passed the written back in December, and am scheduled for the O/P in about 3 weeks. My university has a Part 65 cert for DX training, wrapping all of the 200 required hours into seven traditional semester-long courses - for some of us, that was spread out over 3 years of schooling. Five courses that most students take anyway (weather, FARs, airline ops, aerodynamics, aircraft systsm, etc.), and two dedicated to dispatching.
Anyway... I'm excited and nervous. I grew up around General Aviation, and had wanted to go the commercial piloting route. Got accepted to the UND pilot program in 1990, but stupid teenager decisions cancelled that plan, and I ended up in the military instead. Never lost my passion for aviation, or the aviation industry, though. I figured going the dispatcher route was a course correction to put me back where my passion lies.
I'm a bit nervous for a few reasons: one, i've never been a "civilian". 45 years old, and I've never applied for a job... never interviewed for a job... never had to live "office politics". My wife comes home from her corporate job every day with stories that make me shake my head. "You'll see", she just says. "Just kick them in the ass with your boots", I say, "Correct their attitude and change their behavior!". So, I'm an old-dog NCO trying to learn some new tricks. I'm sure the fact that most of my supervisors up several steps will all be younger than me will be an adjustment as well.
None of that is to say that I'm difficult, and set in my ways. I'm pretty sure I'll adjust to life just fine, and I'm easy to get along with. I think I'm fairly well qualified - and possibly much more qualified than most newly-minted DXers. I've spent many years in high-paced operation centers, with 27 things needing done at once and the ability to prioritize those things under pressure a must-have skill. Buckle under the stress, and bad things can happen.
I've noticed in my browsing of these thread for the past few weeks that there seems to be a "reluctance" (might not be the right word) for people to indicate where they're from or where they work. Is this just typical internet anonymity, or is there something more to it? I imagine it's a small world, and saying something wrong might have repercussions? Or, is it more of a "competition" thing? Everyone angling for a small number of jobs, so disclosing who you are and where you are is a disadvantage? Or am I just imagining that part of it?
Anyway, looking forward to the discussions and being part of an active group.