Too long a story. Suffice it to say I enlisted in the US Navy in May 1983 and retired in July 2009 as an ATCS, Senior Chief Aviation Electronics Technician. From there I went to Basic Law Enforcement school and was hired by the Volusia County Sheriffs Office and worked patrol from 2011-2018, retiring a second time.
In the Navy I worked on both the SH-3 Sea King and SH-60 Seahawk helicopters, maintaining both the airborne SONAR systems and avionic systems, but as my career progressed I became Quality Assurance qualified and performed inspection and repair of all the different aircraft systems, flight control, powerplant, hydraulic, electrical and structural. I became qualified to release aircraft "Safe for Flight" which basically says the aircraft is safe for the aircrew to fly, the aviation achievement I am most proud of. I made 7 Mediterranean deployments to include being forward deployed to Kuwait in 1998 and again in 2005 to support US Navy SEAL's in pipeline protection and ship interdiction operations.
As a deputy sheriff I made numerous arrests and was involved in one shooting.
Bottom line, two retirement checks and great health insurance which contributes to my modest and peaceful pursuit of fishing, old cars, motorcycling, and traveling. Oh yeah, and dancing. Linda and I are accomplished ballroom dancers and I am a semi-professional DJ.
I wouldn't change a thing about my service. Both careers were rewarding and exciting at the same time.