Firstly, be early to your workplace. I was one-half hour early when I was at the repair station in Sacramento. This buffer gives you the luxury of NOT rushing to work, and thus, relieves you of stress to beat the clock. When I commuted, 90% of the drivers were driving over the speed limit. The Highway Patrol pulled over quite a number every day. Being early allows you to decompress with a beverage and a treat. Moreover, your employer won’t bother you.
When I was deployed to Cal Fire’s firebases, my duty time was around 14 hours. The start time was 8 am. However, I came in at 5 am to do my paperwork and preflight my three aircraft. The radial engine planes I started to see if the engines made the rated power at 35 inches of manifold pressure. Often, I had to change out a fouled spark plug. One morning, I got to wake up Marty Bruno, my Cal Fire overlord at 5 am. It was glorious to hear his confusion. One of the tank door braces had failed which caused the door to open slightly. This caused all 800 gallons of retardant to be spilled on the tarmac.
Do live far below your means. I carried $30,000 in my checking account for FU money. If an employer mistreated me, I quit. After I married Mary, I made it my mission to pay off her home’s mortgage. I worked as much overtime as possible that she would allow during the winter months. When I was deployed, I banked the daily per diem. I slept in the wilderness. Two years into our marriage, I suspected there was something wrong with me. One day, as if some switch had been thrown, I could no longer run. I had the early stages of ALS. That was in 2004. I was forced into medical retirement in 2010. My point in this is that you never know what may befall you. If I hadn’t done what I had done, I might have been put to the curb.
Do what others shy from in tasks. When I finished my college aircraft courses, I wasn’t a master of any of the disciplines. In high demand are the skills of electrical troubleshooting and sheet metal repair. I made these my high priority. I was slow at first, but in time, pattern recognition came to me in my electrical troubleshooting. Strive to become more valuable to your employer. This is insurance for when you f_ck up. Do the hard tasks first! That way you can inform your lead if there’s a problem so { he } can make the adjustments to the maintenance schedule.
After a few years at Cal Fire, I requested a meeting with Marty Bruno and Russell MacCallum, the program manager. I asked to be transferred to the job title of sheet metal specialist. Marty and Russell looked at each other in dismay at my request. Marty asked why. I told them that I was overstressed to the point I had hand tremors. I thought doing one thing would relieve my stress. Russell said, “Mark we have a lot of people who do just one thing. Mark, you do many things, we need more of you.”
Honestly, I thought my growing skill sets had gone unnoticed. Russell said he would make the change if I really was dead set on it, but if I would stay put, he would see to it to reduce my workload. I stayed put. Knowing I was recognized as a producer did a lot to reduce my stress levels. I learned it is key to communicate with the higher-ups.
The one time I got written up, it wasn’t for what I did on an aircraft, it was for what I said. I saw this was the case for my fellow mechanics. My advice is to only say what is needed to perform your job. I was mostly unsuccessful. I had a game of trying to say not one word at work from time to time. Ironically, I haven’t spoken one word in eleven years as a result of the ALS affliction.
Lastly, if you see something unlawful according to your state’s laws in the workplace, for heaven’s sake, don’t tell your employer. Report the unlawful activities to law enforcement. Marvin was running in effect a prostitution ring at work. Marvin was soliciting his fellow workers to have sex with his stripper girlfriend for a sum of money. To my left in the above picture is my best friend Russell Knight. Russell had just returned from their honeymoon and Marvin approached Russell with his solicitation. I became very angry, and I stormed upstairs to management. My reward was months of grief. The lesson is that you can’t tell who is partaking in unlawful activity.
My last { lastly }. I worked closely with Timmy on the OV-10 dock. Timmy was a nice man that I thought was one of the finest humans that I had the pleasure to meet. Timmy invited me to come over for dinner and meet his wife. I showed up at the appointed time. We had dinner. Afterward, Timmy put on a video game for the two daughters. This was Timmy’s second marriage. I had talked to Timmy’s daughter at work. Timmy’s daughter was 16 years old. His wife’s daughter was 15 years old. Timmy’s daughter started dancing to music and hanging on Timmy as a lovesick newlywed young woman.
All the while, Timmy’s wife was staring daggers his way. I was disturbed by the spectacle. After about 5 minutes, I arose and called Timmy to speak to me outside. I told Timmy his daughter’s behavior was not normal and he was in the wrong to allow it. Timmy thanked me and said he had wondered if it look weird. I told Timmy that I had stopped allowing my two daughters from sitting on my lap when they reached ten and 9 years old.
That spring, I came in for the second shift. Deputies came during the first shift and hauled off Timmy giving no reason. Everyone was upset including management. After the shift, I beelined my way to the county jail to talk to Timmy. Before I went up to see Timmy, I deposited $60 in Timmy’s inmate account. I then reviewed the charges against him that are on display along with the other inmates. Timmy was charged with having sex with a minor.
I took a seat where the Deputy directed me. Timmy came to the booth and picked up the phone. Timmy really looked disheveled. Before I could tell Timmy there was no expectation of privacy, Timmy confirmed his guilt. Timmy put some blame on his wife’s daughter’s luring him. Timmy said he would plea guilty. I left with a heavy heart. I called Russell MacCallum to inform him of what had transpired. Timmy served 4 years in prison.
Published by Editor, Sammy Campbell. Written by Mark Pullen.