After 20 Years, I'm A Civilian Once Again

[TrainTrac]

Well, my terminal leave ended yesterday, so as of today, I'm officially transferred to the U.S. Navy Fleet Reserve. I thoroughly enjoyed my 20 years of service in the Navy, but it was time to move on.



I went on terminal leave in June and moved my family from the Norfolk, VA area (spent 10 years there) back to our home town in Central Illinois. Bon Jovi's song "Who Says You Can't Go Home" has been our theme song this year. It's certainly an interesting experience returning home after 20 years. So many things changed (my hometown got a few stop lights), yet some things remain the same.



Now begins the hunt for a new job...



Oh, just to bring this back around to something Sport-Trac related, I haven't seen near as many ST's here in Central IL as I did back in SE VA. If there are any Central IL ST owners on this site, let's hear from ya!

 

[Hal S]

Thank you for your service!!!!!

 

[Tommy VanNess]

I second what Hal said... Thank you for you service to our country.



Tommy

 

[Bill Ellis]

St. Louis is close to a big part of Central Illinois. Which town are you from? I might pass that way when I drive to Chicago.

 

[Tony Tassillo]

still got a year and a half to go. congrats to you....

 

[TrainTrac]

Bill,



I'm from and now once again living in Mahomet. It's a small town about 12 miles west of Champaign on I-74. It's also right off I-72. Give me a shout if you pass through.



Another good thing about moving back here is that now I can once again go to Cardinals games! I can't wait to see the new ballpark!

 

[EddieS'04]

TT...congrats on retirement and thanks for your service to all of the USA....

 

[Gerald Pierce]

Andy, going to miss that nice ST rolling around NOB.... Fair Winds and Following Seas!



This may very well be my last ride, we'll have to see.



Good Luck in the job hunt. I get job posting emailed to me quite often... If I see one in your area, I'll pass it on.



Gerry

 

[shawn stonbraker 2]

TT, congrats and thanks for the years in service. Good luck in finding work.

 

[Kevin Palmer]

Congrats to you. I recently put in my retirement papers after 23 years. It came with mixed emotions, but I am glad I did so. A rather large weight was lifted off my chest when I accepted it. I truly hope all goes well for you and I thank you for your time...

 

[Fred]

Thank you VERY much for your service, TrainTrac! I wish there was a saluting smiley.

 

[troy malone]

Congrats! i've been out of the Air Force 3 years today.. time goes fast.... good luck with the job hunt.. look into Civil Service jobs if your going to live by a base.. make sure you take enough time off prior to going to work.. i took 6 months before i started looking for a job.. vacation time comes slow after getting 30 days a year... the other thing i had to get used to was sick days.. 21 years with out being out sick.. in the civilian sector people call in sick for everything...



troy

 

[ReggieMRegalOne05 Legaspi]

Congratulations and THANKS for the 20 years of your life dedicated to serving my adopted country. Hoping you'll land a good job. Try this one: http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/

 

[Dan gelb]

yes thaks for your service.

My brother has 16 yrs Navy also I visited him years ago

when he was in VA but now stationed in Cali.

 

[user 64247]

Congratulations and thanks for your service. My son just graduated from Recruit Training at Great Lakes last Friday, and is going to A-school as an electronics tech! While up there, I parked next to another mysporttrac.com member at the Navy Lodge.



Good to have you back in central Illinois again. I grew up in DeLand, and my brother used to own the Dairy Queen in Mahomet! What a small world....

 

[Nelson Atwell]

Congratulations on your retirement.

 

[Sal Adinolfi]

Congrats. And Thanks for Serving with US.



Hope to be right there with you in about 3 years.



23 years USAF For me

 

[TrainTrac]

Thanks for the compliments, everyone. I really appreciate it. I consider it an honor to have had the privilege of serving my country for the last 20 years.

Andy, going to miss that nice ST rolling around NOB.... Fair Winds and Following Seas!

Gerry,



I think I saw you on base a few times also. Aren't you back down in FL back at sea?

Congratulations and thanks for your service. My son just graduated from Recruit Training at Great Lakes last Friday, and is going to A-school as an electronics tech! While up there, I parked next to another mysporttrac.com member at the Navy Lodge.



Good to have you back in central Illinois again. I grew up in DeLand, and my brother used to own the Dairy Queen in Mahomet! What a small world....

Fish,



Did you happen to find a MyST.com card on your driver's side door? The red one parked next to you was me! We were taking my son to the "Day Out With Thomas" event at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, IL on that Saturday, and decided to come up and stay at the Navy Lodge on Friday and do a little shopping at the NEX. Too bad we couldn't have met up that Friday night.



Best of luck to your son. If he ever needs any help or advice from a fellow ET, look me up.



Also, if you ever pass through Mahomet, give me shout.

 

[user 64247]

TrainTrac,



Didn't see a card, so I bet it wasn't me ... it was probably MyST member "Senior Pete" from Oregon ... didn't have his plates on yet. I wasn't actually staying at Navy Lodge, but my ex was, so that was kind of "home base" for seeing my son. When I pulled in there Saturday, Senior Pete was there but you were probably already gone.



Interesting you're a railroad buff, too (should have guessed by the alias). The last two years for Christmas my employees bought me "Throttle Time" certificates for the Monticello Railway Museum, so I've been able to run the FP4A and F7 over there. Tons of fun!