There ought to be something suitable with some military establisment, maybe dealing with military historical research. With all the money that Bush poured into the military there should be some left even after the wars. Especially given your status as a vet, don't they tend to help the vets out? If not, shame on them. :nope:

None that I've seen. I actually worked at Hill AFB for a year. I try not to dwell on the fact that if I'd stayed there I would have retired in 2001 with a 30-year Federal pension.

I've already experienced that one a couple of times.

As for the job, we'll see what comes up.

You cannot be terminated without reason.

Unfortunately in "at will employment" states like Texas and Utah, you can.

Probably true, then again I realize Poor Steve was hired as a 'temp'.

Still I would at least ask the reason for my termination unless I was aware of the reason.

Jims right. Explore the possibilities. :up:

Hey Steve, sorry to hear about the rough road. Been in a similar situation myself, though I'm only in my 30's. Been a mover for the last dozen years, and like you said it's beginning to be a "pain." Always been able to just get by, but now that my knees and back are wrecked, I've got zero skills besides knowing how to pick things up. Lame.

I've also dealt with depression my whole life, and for me, being a "know-nothing mover" doesn't help at all. Being stuck in a rut is depressing, and yet they're hard to get out of because they're so comfortable and farmiliar.

About a year ago, I ruined my back, and though I can still "get by", the clock is ticking as to for how much longer. Anyways, what I did, and what I recommend is to go to college and get some kind of degree. There's all kinds of financial aid out there, some free - some not, but even the ones you have to pay back have decent payment plans and interest rates.

Go back to school, Steve. Find something you love or something you've always been interested in and take some classes, maybe even get a degree. Me, I've always been fascinated by machining and tool making, so I'm going to a community college and in another year I'll have an associates degree in machine manufacturing technology.

With my part time moving job and school loans, I am just barely able to make it, but I am making it. In a years time I'll have a degree and hopefully an entry level job making &16-18 an hour. Same as what I'm making now, but that's entry level vs. 12 years experience, and I'm good with that. Two and a half years in school will cost me about $15,000, but you get 10 years to pay it back. Gonna be about $250 a month & I'll be able to swing that.

Also, going back to school has really helped with my depression. It's amazing how good you can feel when you prove to yourself that you are capable of improvement, especially when you're doing it for yourself.

Anyways Steve, from being in a similar situation, that's my advice to you. Go back to school, and find a skill/trade you can love. That, and stop listening to the voices that say "you can't". Drown them out with "I WILL"

The longest journey begins with a single step. Much love, and good luck brother.

Use your Navy clout. You earned it.

Your discharge papers are acceptable ID at any US government agency, including the USPS.

Getting an education is still one of the best investments you can make. :yep:

I wasn't the 'perfect fit' they were looking for. That's about it in a tiny family-owned store.

I agree. Unfortunately I have nothing to invest. I keep running into snags trying to get somebody else to pay for it. But I keep trying.

Like Mookie said, in many states there's a thing called "At Will Employment".

As much as it sucks in this situation and although I used to think that the concept was wrong, awhile back a conversation with my neighbor and good friend changed my perspective.

He owns a Temp service, and our families met up for drinks one night recently. Somehow the concept of At Will Employment came up. I was squarely in the camp of employers needing a reason to fire someone. He was in favor of current "At Will" laws.

He gave me a great example supporting it. Essentially, he had a sales manager working for him that was scheduled to attend a meeting with a very lucrative potential client. On that day, said manager didn't show up, and it was later determined that said manager had found another job and simply decided to quit without informing anyone.

Said manager's move possibly cost my neighbor in the area of over $1 million annually.

His point was this: the employee had NO legal obligation WHATSOEVER to retain his business as an employer, even to the point likely losing a massive sum of money (which would have added to the bottom line and have paid dividends by way of raises and bonuses to his other employees). Why then should the employer have ANY legal obligation to the employee?

I happen to agree with him.

It's too bad that, in some situations it harms one of our own, but At Will Employment is, in my opinion, only fair.

Sorry to digress and take this conversation off-topic. Just had an opinion I wanted to share.

Btw, Steve - if you have some contact information and some basic background you can PM me, that same neighbor is affiliated with companies in your area and may be willing to help. I know you never ask for anything, but please, PM me your situation and I'll see if I can help you out. No promises, but no good man should stand alone in his time of need.

Never give up ... always keep looking, but sometimes you got to look at the chart on the chart table.

You say you have friends in Salt Lake, a bonding, a connection so to speak.

Fine, but what keeps you in Salt Lake City, Utah ... Fear of failure?

It's too cold there Steve ...

Find a friend that will ship your stuff for you to you when you get a job:

A: in a warmer location like San Diego

B: YMCA it till you have a job

C: Contact VA hospital for a ID card and a check up

D: Apply for VA Vietnam pension fund (it's for vets that served during the Vietnam war that can't get their act together after they came home) (you know for killing so many people left some of them a little crazy, but the 3 billion dollar fund is for everryone that served) as a homeless person.

Do it at any VA admin city with your DD-214 form

E: Never give up ... faith and fear don't go together

Out of these three faith, hope and love ... love is the strongest bond

If we were having lunch I would say the same thing ... hang in there and get yourself to a US Navy friendly city with vets that care. :yeah:

Nope - these guys:
http://www.myspace.com/monkeyrumband

More than just friends. They are my whole life.

Says who? I love the winters here.

Grew up in L.A. I like Utah.

Not much different from being in the Homeless Shelter. Been there, done that. I have a place for now.

I've had my VA card for 20 years now. I get checked there every six months.

I've looked into that. Actually it's for victims of Agent Orange. I don't qualify.

Well, it happened. I found a new place, but after two months my flaky new roommate got himself (and me) evicted. I spent the last two nights on a cot in what they call the 'Overflow Shelter'. Not too bad really - it beats living outside.

All my stuff is safe in storage. The only downside is that I can't play any games. I can still work on the Ship Names mod here at the library, and that's what I spent most of my time on anyway. That, and the band, which is still going, so there may be some money there sometime, but not soon.

The biggest aggravation is that I could have done all this two months ago and had a lot of money in the bank. Instead it's happening now and I spent most of it. Oh well, fair return for it - I had my own room for two more months.

I have a couple of applications in at different places, and the VA Pension might be available for me after all. Won't know for awhile though.

That is sh!te news mate :nope:

I'm gonna say a few words for ya tonight :up:

Here's hoping the current dark cloud has a golden lining :sunny: