gptigers
| Favorite team: | LSU  |
| Location: | East Tennessee |
| Biography: | |
| Interests: | |
| Occupation: | |
| Number of Posts: | 231 |
| Registered on: | 12/31/2010 |
| Online Status: | Not Online |
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14 across NC, GA, KS, KY, TN, CA, PA, and LA. Dad was in the Army so moved a lot.
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re: Fishing near Townsend, TN
Posted by gptigers on 1/5/25 at 3:10 pm to catchyalater
How was the fishing?
re: Fishing near Townsend, TN
Posted by gptigers on 12/25/24 at 4:21 pm to catchyalater
quote:
Stop in at Little River Outfitters in Townsend
This. They'll give you some good information on where to go, techniques, etc within whatever parameters you give them. If you do plan to fish/hike in GSMNP keep in mind that you now have to purchase a permit to park in one spot longer than 15 minutes.
Little River is stocked...they've finished up for the year (will resume in February) but there are plenty of holdovers. If you want to get into fly fishing it's not that tricky to pick up. I've been on a couple of trips with Rob Fightmaster (guide) and all have been very enjoyable.
Dude was a beast. I "played" ball with him at LHS (he was a year ahead of me). He put me on my arse too many times to count.
Oldest got a $500/semester alumni scholarship. No in state tuition. Wife and I both went to LSU.
re: Is the job market beginning to show some cracks?
Posted by gptigers on 8/1/24 at 3:18 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
My $0.02 from someone in IT infrastructure and cybersecurity...and a couple of observations.
Whereas before we struggled to get qualified applicants to create hiring pools of sufficient size the last few hiring efforts I have been a part of the pool of qualified applicants is much larger. What has changed between the two 'phases' are the mass layoffs in the IT sector.
I also spend a lot of time offering coaching & mentorship services to service members transitioning from active duty/full time school to the work force and it has been much harder to find viable opportunities for them of late. When I retired off active duty (2021) the rate of hire for servicemembers participating in fellowship/Skillbridge programs was really high for job offers...now many of these same companies are not promising any jobs at the conclusion of their program.
Correlated yes, but may not be causation.
Whereas before we struggled to get qualified applicants to create hiring pools of sufficient size the last few hiring efforts I have been a part of the pool of qualified applicants is much larger. What has changed between the two 'phases' are the mass layoffs in the IT sector.
I also spend a lot of time offering coaching & mentorship services to service members transitioning from active duty/full time school to the work force and it has been much harder to find viable opportunities for them of late. When I retired off active duty (2021) the rate of hire for servicemembers participating in fellowship/Skillbridge programs was really high for job offers...now many of these same companies are not promising any jobs at the conclusion of their program.
Correlated yes, but may not be causation.
re: Iraq-Afganistan War veterans, what were your experiences?
Posted by gptigers on 7/26/24 at 6:07 am to SidewalkTiger
quote:
what were your experiences?
20 year Army veteran with 4 combat tours (3x Iraq, 1x Afghanistan). First deployment (2004) was pretty intense...I characterize it as the "million dollar experience I wouldn't pay a dollar for."
The remainder had upsides, downsides, and their own "oh shite this is going sideways" moments, but pale in comparison to my first.
My tactical experiences were all very positive (camaraderie, selflessness, mission focused, etc). My experiences at higher commands, although impactful and positive in the sense that I learned/grew, also demonstrated that much of the strategic failures were as much the military's fault as it was political. Sunk cost bias, 'can't fail so we'll perpetuate the cycle' approaches, etc.
re: Why is the job market so crappy right now?
Posted by gptigers on 6/24/24 at 6:02 pm to KamaCausey_LSU
quote:
tech companies have been over hiring for the past few years
This
quote:
Fort Polk, La
I guess I'm one of the small few who really enjoyed my time there. First posting was as an O/C...loved that job. Second time was to 4/10 MTN...and it was by far the best operational experience in my career. Both times the common factor was the people I served with.
re: For the vets - what was your best/worst command (base)?
Posted by gptigers on 6/7/24 at 10:26 am to Spaceman Spiff
I was posted on an exchange program to the Canadian military..duty in Ottawa, Canada. Lots to see and do, was able to spend time with family (after 10 straight years of deployments and BCT life), very different (real winters lol), and learned the most in that 3 year period than in any other job.
Greenbriar is seconded. Can also fish the Little River upstream of Elkmont campground or downstream along the Little River Gorge Road. All of the fly shops in this area are solid with Little River Outfitters in Townsend being my go-to (link below). I've been doing well with a small yellow stimulator with a small dropper about 12-18".
If fishing on the Cherokee reservation...special permits apply. If fishing in Gatlinburg proper...special permits apply. If parking for longer than ~15min in GSMNP...you need a parking permit.
LRO Hompage
ETA: water and weather is warm enough to wet wade...do be mindful of the rocks...they can be really slick.
If fishing on the Cherokee reservation...special permits apply. If fishing in Gatlinburg proper...special permits apply. If parking for longer than ~15min in GSMNP...you need a parking permit.
LRO Hompage
ETA: water and weather is warm enough to wet wade...do be mindful of the rocks...they can be really slick.
Yes. Three of my classmates got caught on a quiz - punishment was single letter grade reduction of their final grade. I don't think there was definitive proof, only very strong circumstantial evidence. Context - it's a graduate program with a mix of traditional and non-traditional students. Had it been a more significant event (test) outcome probably different, but who knows.
re: Ever resign from a job with nothing lined up?
Posted by gptigers on 5/6/24 at 4:22 pm to Wildcat98USA
Yep. Definitely one of the hardest decisions I had to make as I had a family at home. That said, if there were ever a time in my life to do so that was the time. I ended up with a gap in salaried income for approximately 2 months. Savings covered that gap before the new job kicked in.
quote:
I think we might be in a rude awakening,
Historically the US enters every war unprepared to fight it, that defense strategies were focused on a different threat.
re: Revolver for Wife?
Posted by gptigers on 1/2/24 at 6:58 pm to RetiredSaintsLsuFan
I started with a similar approach as you...9mm compact pistol, then a 38 revolver. Ended up settling on a S&W M&P 380EZ. Wife can easily work the slide and the recoil is manageable. I'd rather her have something that she is comfortable shooting than something that has the 'best ballistic coefficient,...".
re: Rise of Disabled Veterans
Posted by gptigers on 12/23/23 at 4:33 pm to AllDayEveryDay
quote:
Some truly are physically or mentally ill. Some are riding govt disability as a form of welfare. Hard to tell which is which.
This.
Combat veteran here. Several of the folks I served with would advocate what to say to get a higher % rating. Some guys just accepted what was offered. Some guys quietly bore their injuries and didn't want anything. The book "Tribe" by Sebastian Junger has some good insights into this dynamic.
Enjoy the year.
One of my professional regrets was electing constructive credit for CGSC (long story, but this was circa 2013) and foregoing the year at FLKS. Really wish that I had completed the residency program as well as competed for SAMS.
One of my professional regrets was electing constructive credit for CGSC (long story, but this was circa 2013) and foregoing the year at FLKS. Really wish that I had completed the residency program as well as competed for SAMS.
Filson - most of their product line is American made, especially their waxed gear.
Hill People Gear good bags, packs, and associated load carrying items.
Mystery Ranch military product line - good bags and packs.
Hill People Gear good bags, packs, and associated load carrying items.
Mystery Ranch military product line - good bags and packs.
re: Fishing smoky mountain national park
Posted by gptigers on 11/13/23 at 7:15 pm to EasternShoreTider
Seconded on Panther Creek. There’s a small footbridge over some wet area on the trail…usually I don’t put a line in until this point. Trail is an old logging railroad so it’s pretty flat and slopes gently upward.
The folks at Little River Outfitters in Townsend will get you squared away. Very knowledgeable, friendly, and always wiling to help out non-locals find fish. Casting will likely be very short (9-12’) and primarily on pocket water. This time of year anything with an orange and brown tone works well..never sink caddis with a nymph dropper will be good for just about anywhere.
Little River Outfitters
Little River Outfitters
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