Becoming a Federal Employee

Like making a decision to join the Navy, making the decision to be a Federal Employee was one that influenced my worklife.

Most people don't really look ahead 5, or 10 years and wonder where they will be.  Before joining the Navy, I figured I would end up working in Orofino or Lewiston.  Maybe with Les Scwhab, or Tree Farming.  Maybe with the logging industry, which is the main economic force in Central Idaho.

Joining the Navy set me on a course.  Being stationed at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard turns out to the most determining thing of my life.

While working at PSNY it was mentioned to me several times that if I decided to get out of the Navy, they would hire me.  I would work as a "Civilian Radioman".   Being in the Navy and working with Civilians (aka Federal Employees) gave me the opportunity to get out of the Navy thinking that I would have an instant job.

Well, it just so happened that PSNY had a position opened after I got out of the Navy. However Ronald Reagan had put a hiring freeze on all Federal Employees.   I was looking forward to working with everyone again in the message center, but it was not to be. 

I had money to live on when I got out of the Navy on July 8th, 1982.  I had opted to join the Navy Reserves so I had a few extra bucks.  

I put in appications for jobs around Portsmouth.   I even listed COMPUTERS as a skill.  Not too many people could have that on their resume in 1982.  It was still a foriegn word.   I had a few interviews, but was not satisfied with most of them.  There was one job at a medium-sized Hair Saloon that I would have liked.  They had just bought a TRS-80 computer to keep their operations on.  Also the thought of working at a Saloon with all those women applealed to me. They wanted to hire me at just above minimum wage.   I told them I wanted $5 an hour.  They would not budge.   I continued my extended vacation.  There were women on the beaches too.

One day in October, Lillian called me and told me there was a position in Newport, Rhode Island.  It was not affected by the Federal Hiring Freeze.  She encouraged me to go down there for an Interview.  I went there the next day, which was a Thursday.  It took a while to get to where I was going.  I was interviewed by two people.  They offered me the job, and I took it.  I was to report to work on Monday.

On the 18th of October 1982, I became a Federal Employee.  Little did I know that this ended up being my career choice.

Here is the FIRST "Leave and Earnings Statement" that I received.