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zero7one
28 March 2009, 09:19
I am curious what the background demographic for Weapon Evolution is. Everyone is welcome to Weapon Evolution and one career path is not better than the other. We all work together and all have similar interests.

For clarification, Military includes all branches of the Armed Forces, whether Active Duty, Reserves, or National Guard. Law Enforcement includes full and part time Local/State/Federal - Police/Sheriff/Trooper/Agent/Corrections/Etc. Firearms Manufacturers and Distributors includes anyone who works for or owns a company that makes or sells any types of firearms.

If you don't fall into any of these categories, please select "Other" and explain below.

Stickman
28 March 2009, 10:17
Prior MIL, current LEO. I also work with quite a few different manufacturers within the weapon community.

Dutch
28 March 2009, 10:49
Military: Security and Law Enforcement, Firearms instructor and Armorer. Been assigned to multi-service units.

Dutch

wildcrafter
28 March 2009, 11:17
Odd man out..I'm just a civilian with an interest in firearms.

Army Chief
28 March 2009, 11:39
Former LEO, current military for 25+ years, and my only relevant connection to the industry is Stick. :)

AC

103m 95g
28 March 2009, 11:42
LEO, night watch patrol supervisor

jeeves915
28 March 2009, 12:51
Civilian (Pharm.D Student if you must know). Been fascinated with guns and the like since a young age. (Along with cars and computers....)
-Adam

adrenaline151
28 March 2009, 13:54
Former Corrections Officer, currently have a self-owned/operated house painting business, but am enrolled to go back to school for Conservation Law Enforcement/Criminal Justice in the fall. Mostly just love to shoot, hunt, trap, fish, anything outdoors, and obviously, protection of myself, family, and innocent bystanders is a priority.

rob_s
28 March 2009, 14:32
hobby shooter

Army Chief
28 March 2009, 14:48
Hobby shooter? You can come and train my HQ Command Group any time, Rob.

AC

Bighead
28 March 2009, 15:38
Retired Military (AF Combat Control).

Cameron
28 March 2009, 16:33
Surfer

XCoastie
28 March 2009, 17:26
Ex MIL

TC2 USCG here

M4tographer
28 March 2009, 17:46
Prior Army Military Police (3 years), gobs of private security, and presently a self-employed photog. ;)

OfcPowder
28 March 2009, 20:29
Current LEO equipped with a Tactical Trunk Monkey

zero7one
28 March 2009, 20:30
Current LEO equipped with a Tactical Trunk Monkey

Were you issued the TTM, or did you have to pay for it out of your own pocket?

Uglyduck
28 March 2009, 22:39
Professional Firefighter working on Tac-med

federalist22
29 March 2009, 04:53
former Army, former defense contractor, current DoD civilian supporting our nation's warfighters

TehLlama
29 March 2009, 07:33
Current Active Jarhead.

HS2
29 March 2009, 08:32
Vintage recreational shooter

Titleist
29 March 2009, 10:28
Purveyor of universal filth and evil...aka Advertising.

OfcPowder
29 March 2009, 11:38
Were you issued the TTM, or did you have to pay for it out of your own pocket?

Yeah that was an out of pocket expense that required prior approval by the Chief. Not cheap, but well worth it.

GriffonSec
30 March 2009, 11:50
12 Years Army Tanker. 10 years as Head Flashlight Cop.

Stop, or I'll yell Stop again!

clayart
30 March 2009, 12:20
totally civilian....I just enjoy my guns. Oh and thanks to this website I was able to finish my AR project. Thanks for all the advice and help![adore]

Venom
30 March 2009, 13:07
former mil; still in the reserves...and apart from that I just like to shoot and have nice gear ;)

12131
30 March 2009, 14:20
"Civilian gun nut"

sadmin
31 March 2009, 05:37
typical east texas civilian. brought up hunting/shooting/outdoors...gravitated toward an intrest in military type firearms for hobby. systems admin by trade; supporting our nation's warfighters. great site, God bless!

5thprofession47
31 March 2009, 07:44
I'm a Nuclear Security Officer for a large utility provider and I co-own a business that provides security consulting services, close-protection and hard skills development training.

Army Chief
31 March 2009, 07:58
In view of 12131 and sadmin's entries, perhaps "Texan" should have been it's own polling category.

AC

lfgmike
31 March 2009, 19:54
finance manager, Lexus dealership. Handgun owner, and future AR owner- ever since Katrina, I had the revelation that you cannot trust the government to protect you and your family.

NextGhost
31 March 2009, 20:20
Prior active duty USMC 0311, current active duty USAF officer, in between mil service was a security consultant and contractor on and off while getting my degree. Will very likely be submitting a "blue to green" package to try and become an Army ordnance officer

Venom
31 March 2009, 23:12
usmc to af ? different universe?

federalist22
1 April 2009, 05:13
In view of 12131 and sadmin's entries, perhaps "Texan" should have been it's own polling category.

AC
A Texan category would have been good......I could have polled under a that.

Bighead
1 April 2009, 06:39
usmc to af ? different universe?

You might be surprised to find out how many guys from other services have made the move to the AF...primarily to Combat Control and Pararescue in my experience. I remember one case in the late 90s where I was given 3 new guys on my team, just out of the Combat Control training pipeline, to get up to speed on unit and team SOPs...1 x prior-Navy SDV driver, 1 x prior-Force Recon Marine and 1 x prior-Navy EOD.

BOBRO
1 April 2009, 15:57
10+ years US Military, and now a Manufacturer.

alpha.kilo
2 April 2009, 00:26
Law enforcement. Patrol Sergeant. And I need a tactical trunk monkey.

K9MAKO
2 April 2009, 01:11
Former Marine, currently a K-9 officer/SWAT team member.

trinydex
3 April 2009, 09:29
You might be surprised to find out how many guys from other services have made the move to the AF...primarily to Combat Control and Pararescue in my experience. I remember one case in the late 90s where I was given 3 new guys on my team, just out of the Combat Control training pipeline, to get up to speed on unit and team SOPs...1 x prior-Navy SDV driver, 1 x prior-Force Recon Marine and 1 x prior-Navy EOD.

isn't combat control really crazy? like they drop you by yourself behind enemy lines and expect you to coordinate everything and then get out alive.

alt154shiver
3 April 2009, 11:38
New to the forum.

Former US Navy LE/ATFP (Master-At-Arms - We don't really have a designated role anymore, other than "Hey, carry that weapon with minimal training and try to look tough")

In the process of becoming LE.

ETA:

Combat Control is the only thing I'd consider switching over for.

Bighead
3 April 2009, 13:44
isn't combat control really crazy? like they drop you by yourself behind enemy lines and expect you to coordinate everything and then get out alive.

Uh...no. Generally speaking (mission dependent), you are attached to a SEAL team, SF ODA, Coalition SOF team, etc. Nobody goes in by themselves.

I enjoyed it, and still miss it, but it hurts rolling out of the bed in the morning.

Venom
3 April 2009, 14:53
I didn't and still dont want to turn this thread into a AF thread ;) but I'll atleast clarify that I did not mean the relativly small percentage of AFSOC personell, when I was talking about a different universe between the USMC and the AF.

Bighead
3 April 2009, 15:15
Sorry about that...

tac40
3 April 2009, 22:14
Prior mil, currently LEO and waiting to retire-if my wife lets me;)

NextGhost
4 April 2009, 01:35
... talking about a different universe between the USMC and the AF.

Yes, very different. Not necessarily in a bad way, just different. Sorry about the time between answers, I'm TDY and computer time is a bit limited right now.

VR-15
10 April 2009, 08:57
Civilian gun nut and business owner.

rat31465
10 April 2009, 16:40
First Post...so Hello All.
I chose civvy gun nut but I have spent several years as an assistant Range master, helped teach ladies handgun courses and two years as a Hunting Safety Instructor for the State of Missouri. Oh, and I have been a gun nut since Dad gave me a .22 rifle for my fourth birthday...funny though he didn't trust me with a BB-gun until I was 7.

OUTLAW-ONE
10 April 2009, 16:46
former USN, current LEO, finally reporting to SWAT school monday at 0800.

lanceriley
11 April 2009, 07:59
civilian gun nut who helps out the local leo during training the new ones.

sobebu2z
11 April 2009, 15:54
Active Duty AF in Balad

gunnut284
15 April 2009, 03:55
Current LEO

Charlie-2-6
29 April 2009, 02:39
Civilian after my MIL service as an instructor/Pl Cmdr I joined our Army reserves and am now Assistant S3 in a Mech Inf unit, but my main task is playing OPFOR for troops preparing for overseas deployment and ofcourse avid shooter and firearms enthousiast.

SKULL
29 April 2009, 07:04
physical therapist is my dayjob.. baby maker by night.[:D]

will join the army reserve soon after my wife gives birth of our second child.:o

xjkrenzer
29 April 2009, 10:43
Army MP

Jerry R
3 May 2009, 13:59
I was Navy from 1965 to 1978.

jamgusmc
3 May 2009, 18:18
Former USMC, Weapons Enthusiast.

Stickman
4 May 2009, 10:56
Army MP



God loves the MP so much, that to create balance in the universe, the rest of the military is forced to hate them.


This holy law applies to all branches.

travclem
4 May 2009, 16:06
I am a Pre Pharmacy student at Texas Tech. I love guns. 90% of my family is LEO. Dad is an LEO/Gun dealer/firearms instructor/armorer/vol firefighter. I've been around guns my whole life[:D]

TOM1911
5 May 2009, 09:17
Prior Mil. (AF). Prior industry and LE and SEC trainer and currently a DOD contractor.

scumhunter
6 May 2009, 01:32
18-year LEO and 8-year SWAT OP.

aflineman
12 May 2009, 22:47
Retired Mil. Electrical background, but tended to do quite a bit of work with other folks depending upon where I am. I guess my curious nature tends to open some doors. (Or maybe I'm just stange)[crazy] [:D]

NoQtr
26 May 2009, 07:19
15yrs LE, 8yrs SWAT, dept armorer and partner in firearm business.

LittleLebowski
1 June 2009, 04:19
God loves the MP so much, that to create balance in the universe, the rest of the military is forced to hate them.


This holy law applies to all branches.

You can't spell wimp without....:D

Former Marine 03, water survival instructor, not a nasty leg. Now I'm a UNIX/Linux sysadmin doing class and unclass gov't IT work in VA.

Seawolf
2 June 2009, 12:47
5 years US Navy aircrew 89-94 (Gulf War vet), former LEO for 6 years, currently working in the aviation field.
I have an interest in becoming an NRA instructor and I enjoy training and competition.

Mr.Goodtimes
13 June 2009, 15:02
lifeguard. working on joining the navy to become a SEAL though. hopefully it all works out. its been my goal since i was in highschool and i really cant see my self doing anything else.

tactical assault
16 June 2009, 14:03
Deputy Sheriff.

rocketman
22 June 2009, 11:58
Sgt. USMC. 1975-1979
0351 Assaultman
Alpha 1/4, Golf 2/6, Weapons Platoon

Two kids in the Marines
Cpl Rocketman and 2nd Lt Rocketman

Buckeye67
23 June 2009, 00:09
I grew up around firearms. The first centerfire rifle I learned to shoot was a Colt SP1. I'm also prior military and prior LEO.

I was in the US Army Reserve from 1985-1991. Then I worked for a municipal police department in Northern Kentucky from 1988-1993 and was part of the department's FTU & SWAT during the last two years I worked there.

Now I work in the Comm Center as a dispatcher for a smallerish department in SW Ohio. If I can get some health issues squared-away, I'd like to get back out on the road eventually.

Continuity
23 June 2009, 13:41
Deputy Sheriff.

Specifically, an IPC instructor, road certified, jail bitch.

11B_Trooper
23 July 2009, 03:00
11B-US Army Infantry. Currently in lovely Mesopotamia.

rgrprib
23 July 2009, 09:14
U.S. Army, 2nd Ranger Bn - 13F (Forward Observer)
U.S. Army Reserve, 3/3 INF - 11B (Scout Platoon SGT)
Deputy Sheriff - only 1 yr.
Sr. SW/HW Support Engineer - New Product Development
Husband
Father
Tax Payer
Builder and Collector of Firearms

dragondoc
23 July 2009, 23:37
Current Active Duty Medic for 22 years.

Stickman
23 July 2009, 23:41
Current Active Duty Medic for 22 years.


God bless you for that, everyone loves a medic!


Welcome to the board.

sniperfrog
30 July 2009, 17:09
Former SEAL Team. Now DOE security guy

cmoore
9 August 2009, 03:43
Prior military and current LEO (almost 20 years), firearms instructor, marine unit operator, gang officer, proud father and loving husband....

nitehawk1946
9 August 2009, 07:25
Prior Military, multiple government contract assignments, various aviation support assignments, avid gun collector. Husband, Father, Taxpayer also.

kbar04
29 August 2009, 06:47
Retired military, Intelligence Officer 23 years counting enlisted time and Reserve.

MILEO440
31 August 2009, 14:05
I'm a current part time Michigan LEO looking for a full time gig, and am willing to move.

Old Soldier
23 October 2009, 15:05
Retired US Army (retired in 74) now mostly firearms enthusiast, some gunsmithing, and at age 75, busily fading away.

Quib
23 October 2009, 16:24
- Prior Service
- US Army
- Former 67V: Observation/Aero Scout Helicopter Crew Chief
- Veteran: Desert Shield-Desert Storm-Provide Comfort

Bill Bryant
23 October 2009, 19:00
private school music teacher and hunter with son about to head off to USMC boot camp

GYATES
24 October 2009, 20:51
Prior USMC O311 currently LE.

Blankwaffe
25 October 2009, 22:57
Former LEO.
Up until recently middle management in the motorcycle industry.

Quentin
26 October 2009, 09:38
US Army '66-'69: stationed in Okinawa, Vietnam, Korea

mplogan
26 October 2009, 18:18
Former USMC, current LEO, about to become a traitor lawyer.[crazy]

nozzle13
28 October 2009, 05:08
Former 11Bang Bang
Current Fire Fighting Lt. in the roughest city this side of Detroit!
Life long Gunney
Powerball Hopeful!

Ian/SWAT-K9
29 October 2009, 17:04
Swat cop with a land shark (K9).....

Eric
29 October 2009, 21:32
Former USMC, current LEO, about to become a traitor lawyer.[crazy]
Interesting carer change. While there are certainly honorable practitioners, some of the things I have seen turns my stomach.

mlosi762
30 October 2009, 07:35
Former 11B squad leader and small arms instructor. OIF vet with A 2/7 IN, 1/3ID out of Ft. Stewart, GA "Cottonbalers!" Currently using my GI bill benifits to get my edjumacations on.[wstupid] Addicted to door kicking and killing Jihad on contact. Loving husband and soon-to-be proud father.

Hoss356
13 November 2009, 22:49
Former military, I served with Bush... left for boot 2 weeks after he took office and got 2 weeks minus 3 days after the new guy took over. Was an E6 Navy firefighter-DC1(sw) when I got out and I went from running my own shops and training personnel in firefighting/whole bunch of other s--t to the culture shock that is community college!

Scarecrow87
14 November 2009, 17:18
Prior Civilian Gun Nut, now just waiting for background check and I'll be going to the academy :)

marksmatter
15 November 2009, 17:31
Prior mil (NYARNG), mech. engineer and pilot. Now have more interest in ecommerce and shooting (the lead kind and the digital image kind).

BigTime
15 November 2009, 21:29
Prior Military,current LEO

Alaskapopo
16 November 2009, 01:07
Current law enforcement and civilian gun nut.
Pat

pezboy
16 November 2009, 11:12
Prior active duty Military (Army 11B) and currently a DoD Civilian (Navy).
Dustin

Raven_Thunder
27 November 2009, 18:56
Currently AD USCG, in Gunner's Mate "A" school at the time of this post.
Husband

Narc
8 December 2009, 01:24
Current LEO (narcotics detective)

tac40
8 December 2009, 06:45
welcome aboard all.

aceat64
8 December 2009, 09:26
I'm just a Linux Server Admin who likes guns. Also a Texan.

johnnychimpo
8 December 2009, 09:50
LE ,Midnite shift Sgt.

lmtrocks
8 December 2009, 14:33
Armed Civilian and on hiatus from LE Training Academy. Next class...

hwaya
8 December 2009, 16:55
Current Student at Virginia Military Institute. Commissioning in the Army in 2012.

Dano357
9 December 2009, 10:08
NYPD, Retired Tampa Police Officer

4SRecon
9 December 2009, 13:46
Carpenter/Gun enthusiast. Saw dust & Gun powder everywhere.

chase102798
10 December 2009, 20:30
Carpenter/Gun enthusiast. Saw dust & Gun powder everywhere.

A man after my own heart.

boyblue
20 December 2009, 18:25
Patrol and SWAT cop

Garrasa
20 December 2009, 19:36
active MIL with love of fine firearms

rcrandall
21 December 2009, 14:55
Former U.S. Marine 0311/MSG (Embassy Guard) 6.5 years. Current Police Officer for 11 years with 10 years on SWAT. Head department firearms instructor and armorer. Unrepentant gun and terminal ballistics nerd.

Gator
21 December 2009, 16:27
Businessman. Grew up around guns--a very difficult addiction to kick.

Paulo_Santos
21 December 2009, 17:24
Former U.S. Marine 0311/MSG (Embassy Guard) 6.5 years. Current Police Officer for 11 years with 10 years on SWAT. Head department firearms instructor and armorer. Unrepentant gun and terminal ballistics nerd.

I didn't know it was possible to have Marine + Nerd together. [BD]

Quib
21 December 2009, 17:50
LOL......I didn’t think there was such a thing as a “former” Marine.

Paulo_Santos
21 December 2009, 18:21
LOL......I didn’t think there was such a thing as a “former” Marine.

The is no such thing as an "Ex-Marine". Former Marine is OK.
Damn Army guys. LOL.

Quib
21 December 2009, 19:25
The is no such thing as an "Ex-Marine". Former Marine is OK.
Damn Army guys. LOL.


LOL.....I stand corrected. [bash]

SDDuc996
21 December 2009, 23:10
You might be surprised to find out how many guys from other services have made the move to the AF...primarily to Combat Control and Pararescue in my experience. I remember one case in the late 90s where I was given 3 new guys on my team, just out of the Combat Control training pipeline, to get up to speed on unit and team SOPs...1 x prior-Navy SDV driver, 1 x prior-Force Recon Marine and 1 x prior-Navy EOD.

Can you blame them? Better quality of life to be sure. Hell, don't you guys get a new running shoe allowance every 3 months? I knew a couple guys willing to leave the Teams for PJ.

Texan, Ordnance Tech (support) for the Teams. (NOT a Frog, though I'm fortunate enough to have gone to some of the same schools.) Got to work with a lot of branches SOF, and foreign countries SOF as well.

rcrandall
22 December 2009, 15:23
When I was in the infantry in Okinawa we went down to Kadena Airbase and it was culture shock. Man the AF guys live good! A bunch of dumb grunts, it was like County bumpkins in the big city for the first time. We were living in open squad bays with no AC, when we weren't training in the jungle. They lived in these things that looked like hotels. Our PX's were bare bones shit holes and they had fully equiped stores! WTF?

As for being a nerd, I don't wear a pocket protector or "high waters" but instead I always smell like Slip2000 lubricant and cordite and have oil and carbon stains on my clothes.

sneedb2
22 December 2009, 19:16
I am actually a civi, attempted BCT in the Army, and they kicked me out for EPTS (Asthma, of which I did not know I actually had until then).

I am a degreed accountant with a degree in finance as well. My leg into law enforcement is through fraud, white collar crime and the like. Otherwise, I'm just a civi with a passion for shooting, hunting, and all things firearms.

--Brandon

Grunt167
24 December 2009, 16:24
Almost six years Army Infantry from '77 to '83... Served 18 months guarding nukes in Greece as a Nuclear Custodial Agent the the rest of my time at Ft. Carson with the 4th ID... I helped do the initial setup of the NTC at Ft Irwin while on TDY there... Mostly target array setup etc... I made Sgt./E-5 and was a Squad Leader and Asst. Platoon Sergent after 3 years and was on the list for Staff Sergeant when I broke my back warming up to lift weights.... After that Uncle didn't want me any more for some reason...[BD] Healed up after I got out under the tender care of the VA but I miss the Big Green Machine every day....

TripleBravo
4 January 2010, 23:10
Active Cop (16 years) and owner of a relatively new firearms business.

JeffNM
6 January 2010, 13:58
Civi Gun Nut. Engineer, Husband, Rancher - Helping Feed The US good prime Beef.

Go4broke
6 January 2010, 18:05
Just another civi gun nut here ! [:)]

Mike91A
6 January 2010, 21:46
How about prior military/current civilian gun nut .

Win75
31 January 2010, 14:31
New here. 31 year Missouri Department of Corrections, retired. 5 years part time Deputy Sheriff. Now working in gun store to help feed my gun addiction. [:)]

ggt1_02
2 February 2010, 17:35
Former Marine 0331, 1998-2005. I like to stay current on weapon related topics.

tracksol
2 February 2010, 21:35
Chair Force Ranger here!

Emilio84
3 February 2010, 14:24
Civilian - Engineer (the design kind... not the choo chooo kind)

PD Sgt.
3 February 2010, 21:29
First post, figured I would introduce myself here. Prior USAR (nothing too high speed, I could tell you, but I'd have to wake you up after). Fifteen years LE (so far), six of those in Homicide. More recently, promoted to Sgt., and back out to the street. Mainly into pistols and ARs, along with a bit of reloading. Impressed with the quality of the site so far, hope I can contribute.

tac40
4 February 2010, 07:27
welcome aboard Sgt, be safe out there.

dragondoc
14 February 2010, 01:20
Active Duty Army Combat Medic (with skill identifiers as a flight medic and instructor) at your service. SFC with 23 years in the saddle and some gray hairs to show for it. [:)] Currently assigned to BAMC working the night shift as a supervisor for nursing (and no I am not a Nurse) [bash].

devilpig
14 February 2010, 01:29
Prior MIL, current LE

DanJaquish
16 February 2010, 20:57
I was a 5" GM for 5 years, as soon as I got out I went to gunsmithing school, afterwords worked as an armorer for 3 years as a DOE contractor, now working for a firearms manufacturer and a tool company.

Quib
17 February 2010, 03:22
I was a 5" GM for 5 years, as soon as I got out I went to gunsmithing school, afterwords worked as an armorer for 3 years as a DOE contractor, now working for a firearms manufacturer and a tool company.

Welcome Dan!

Look forward to working with you guys. [:)]

DanJaquish
17 February 2010, 20:39
Welcome Dan!

Look forward to working with you guys. [:)]

Thank you Quib!

NavyDavy
21 February 2010, 07:25
Retired Navy. ET1 E6
Current Reserve Deputy Sheriff.
Current armed security officer. (Federal contract guard)

xfyrfiter
22 February 2010, 15:30
Thanks all mil & leo former and current. I am ret. vol ff unemployed marina manager and gun nut for 50 years+

223nbecker45
22 February 2010, 19:46
I'm a civilain, Ground Support Equipment Mechanic at SFO airport, Looking to get into Water treatment.

Line Rider
23 February 2010, 06:34
Current LEO day shift SGT and traffic homoicide investigator PPCT and TASER instructor

anthonytburg07
9 March 2010, 14:16
currently enrolled at the College of Charleston. Have 7 months before I go to basic (Army). By the way Im new here. Another member recommended that I joined after talking with him on AR15.com, so here I am.

GraphiteBrawler
9 March 2010, 14:30
Military Family, but I was never active duty myself.
I do a little of this and a little of that.

Defender3
10 March 2010, 16:34
Former USAF Security Police/Security Forces, 27 years. I'm "retired" now working for a large defense contractor in NoVA.

miczero
10 March 2010, 19:40
Current MIL - In southern Georgia for now keeping A-10's in the air.

GaCop
18 March 2010, 04:50
Retired military-20 years. Retired law enforcement-22 years.

Worked as contractor in Afghanistan 2007. Certified Colt M-16/Subgun and Glock Armorer, Firearms Instructor, 2nd Mar Div Scout Sniper School August 1990. SWAT Sniper.

Tracker722
19 March 2010, 22:32
Army brat, (learned how to field strip an M1 at age 6), currently 23 years LEO. Tac team member, (sniper), dept. armorer, free-lance gunsmith, firearms and tactics instructor.

Small Dog
23 March 2010, 15:30
Just a civilian with no military or LEO background. I am working on my NRA pistol instructor creds though. Hopefully I will be complete and certified within the month.

jp0319
30 March 2010, 22:31
Current Military Army 15+ years

Ranger325
31 March 2010, 09:17
US Army Retired...................now just a Former Action Guy. [:D]

Kitty
21 April 2010, 00:29
I woke up this morning with a headache and a new tattoo, and my computer was on WEVO.

Not really sure what happened before that....

bb818
28 April 2010, 14:40
Retired LEO

2ATA
29 April 2010, 06:03
Been a Medic since around '94. Firefghter for a while, got my Tactical Medic in 2000. Now retired from the street and working in a hospital.

Now I'm just a regular guy that has been a gun hobbyist since my father bought me my first 22 for my 5th birthday.

liberty057
29 April 2010, 07:44
Civilian Shooter, Professional Web Developer, Lover of Weaponry.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3059/4553542700_860b5e8056.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2114/4511498523_2f48530914.jpg

Ripcode
29 April 2010, 09:47
Currently:

Computer Programmer for my intermediate school district
Paid-On-Call Firefighter/Medical First Responder (Going on my 11th year)

Formerly:

Civilian volunteer diver on the County Sheriff Recovery Dive Team

JH6210O+
3 May 2010, 04:28
Active duty US Marine Cpl, 1371 Combat Engineer with 3rd MARDIV. Getting ready to do my first tour in Afghanistan soon.

tac40
3 May 2010, 07:46
Be safe on your tour brother, get some.

ixian
28 June 2010, 11:56
civilian gun owning Canadian...
Prior military, for a short while a long time ago, now working for lojack and for the Bank of Canada security.
I've also worked for your Diplomatic Security Service as a local guard for the Montréal US Consulate General.

70Karmin
2 July 2010, 08:47
Prior military here.

UWone77
2 May 2014, 15:02
Let's resurrect this thread [:D]

12+ year LEO.
Crappy Part time Photographer [BD]

nobodyspecial
2 May 2014, 15:47
12 year military, split between communications and Military Police.

Airborne_EWO
2 May 2014, 17:08
Current military

tact
2 May 2014, 20:00
11 mil 2 fed

DMViergever
3 May 2014, 08:11
Hillbilly from Kansas with a lot of training certs...getting a couple NRA trainer certificates this summer then expanding. I have been doing T&E for some companies for several years, featured writer for Guns & Tactics Magazine and ammy photography.

browcs
5 May 2014, 19:34
- Retired USAF officer (intel)
- 14+ year Fed LEO
- Single dad for over 16 years (a job all of its own)

Army203
8 May 2014, 19:18
Prior 6 years Army Infantry, Prior security contractor, current full time college student.

Soisauss
9 May 2014, 22:05
Civilian owner, always had a soft spot in my heart for firearms (not as a mean for war or terror, but for the advancement of technology).

Former Science Teacher (6-12) (potential of going back), Currently a Analytical Chemist and Biologist.

camomike
10 May 2014, 18:27
Born to and raised by a Marine/avid hunter. Firearms were a right of passage growing up.

Pyzik
12 May 2014, 06:47
Civilian. Quality department for printing and label company.

Trying to get into the firearm world. Trijicon, L3 and few other companies are in my general area. Hoping to land a quality job at one of those places some day.

Aragorn
17 May 2014, 14:10
Had a very short stint in the military before a fiasco involving eye surgery. Since then I've had a few other professions, to include retail at a few gunshops, machining and now flight instruction. All this before 30. Also a competitive shooter, though not nearly as much since flying took over my life. Dad was Air Force and armorer, which is where I got the initial bug that turned into competition, and then BRD.

Dr Tran
22 May 2014, 22:01
Am I imagining things or was my response deleted from this thread?

There is no shame in interpretive dance.

UWone77
23 May 2014, 04:38
Am I imagining things or was my response deleted from this thread?

There is no shame in interpretive dance.

No one deleted anything as far as I can tell.

Battle Cock
23 May 2014, 15:26
My background is no doubt different from almost everyone else here. I grew up as a farm laborer, ranch hand, landscaper, and barbwire magician. I've done everything from construction, to hotel maintenance, I've managed a remote pack station off grid and up in the mountains, and devoted a portion of my life to holistic living with a group of like minded people to examine the philosophical and literary elements of our existence. (I swear it's not a cult!) I'm an amateur gunsmith, grip stippler, and most recently I've become a home security specialist.
I wasn't born with a gun in my hand but I discovered the joy of firearms before I was old enough to buy one and I've never been able to get enough of them ever since.

XACT_ABORT
23 May 2014, 16:58
This is actually pretty fun. Very diverse crowd here. I am a civilian, former corrections officer currently about 180 degrees out of phase with that profession as a Database administrator for a global insurance company. So I'm an IT geek I guess. My firearms fixation started with qualifications for the corrections dept and grew from there with a brief hiatus when the kids were small. Really just getting back into it over the last handful of years.

Ride4frnt
23 May 2014, 17:08
Plenty of odd jobs at golf courses, car dealers, retail etc. Nothing gun related as far as a profession. Military won't take me do to previous injuries. Graphic design and web design graduate with no desire to use those degrees outside of freelance. I have to do something hands on for a profession. For the last 6 years I've been in the optical industry and actively seeking other opportunities. Wish I could get into a firearms related profession somehow, but not happening in maryland...

UWone77
23 May 2014, 18:52
This is actually pretty fun. Very diverse crowd here. I am a civilian, former corrections officer currently about 180 degrees out of phase with that profession as a Database administrator for a global insurance company. So I'm an IT geek I guess. My firearms fixation started with qualifications for the corrections dept and grew from there with a brief hiatus when the kids were small. Really just getting back into it over the last handful of years.

Your comment struck me... you're right, we have such a diverse background of people here, all brought together by a common interest.

Personally, no one else in my family even owns a gun. Not sure how I got into them. First handgun was when I turned 21. Collected a couple here and there over the years until Eric (Mod here) instructed my first Patrol Rifle Class. During the class, not only did I put a ton of rounds down range, but also enjoyed every minute of it. (I always round handgun shooting and training tedious, but rifle not so much) He also introduced me to the concept of owning more than 1 AR, and it kind of blew up from there.

Ride4frnt
23 May 2014, 21:13
Your comment struck me... you're right, we have such a diverse background of people here, all brought together by a common interest.



That's what I love about forums like this. It's a very close community, and no matter where you're from or who you are, we are all here with a common interest.

I've met many of my best friends through a fishing forum I belong to. We all look out for one another.

Eric
23 May 2014, 23:54
Personally, no one else in my family even owns a gun. Not sure how I got into them. I'm the oddball in my family tree as well.

First handgun was when I turned 21. Collected a couple here and there over the years until Eric (Mod here) instructed my first Patrol Rifle Class. During the class, not only did I put a ton of rounds down range, but also enjoyed every minute of it. (I always found handgun shooting and training tedious, but rifle not so much) He also introduced me to the concept of owning more than 1 AR, and it kind of blew up from there. Oh sure, blame me. [BD]

Uffdaphil
24 May 2014, 09:14
My weapons background is intermittent. As a city kid My first exposure was from my shady uncle on grandpa's farm. He gave my brother and me (~age 12) a .22 auto and .45 1911 to shoot squirrels after 2 minutes of instruction. And my folks were okay with that! Had great fun but not much success. I remember a twin hammer 12 gauge double barrel he cut down and made into a "pirate pistol." Legality wasn't his thing.

Early 1969 the Army made me a company armorer several months into my Viet tour. No training, just piles of manuals, boxes of parts and a semi trailer for an arms room. A real dream job. Lots of fun learning the M-60 and converting all my buddies M-14s to select fire. Plenty of variety to play with - sawed off (No, I was not the butcher.) M2 carbine was my fave truck gun for Saigon runs.

About 15 years later I got into handguns via our postal gun club. Fed LEO range right in the basement of the main P.O. - 95% of the time was vacant. Closed down per '90s hysteria even though never a problem.

Then a few years ago After concluding that we had passed the tipping point where those voters beholden to big gov't. significantly outnumber those paying the bills, I found ARs to be, shall we say, interesting once more. After not handling one since 1969, I was pleasantly surprised by how many options exist and even more by what fun putting together and shooting different combinations can be.

So that's how I came to today where I have the rifles, but no one in the extended clan cares to shoot. You would think three teenage boys would drool over free ammo and top tier guns to shoot. Oh well, the sibs know where to call if SHTF and I know who will be feeding me.

browcs
24 May 2014, 13:36
I'm the oddball in my family tree as well. [BD]

Same here...no one in my immediate family are/were into guns. My parents were very cool; I asked for and they got me a subscription to Guns & Ammo magazine....when I was ten years old. How cool was that? Sucks thought that I lived in uber gun-unfriendly NYC though. I was also one of the few in my extended family that went to the military, only that became an officer and LEO. Everyone else is either in construction, general contracting, or teaching.

GOST
27 May 2014, 06:06
I grew up a military brat, Dad is retired Airforce. Our family also owns a cattle farm and Dad made me use the manual post hole digger even though we had an auger on the New Holland; he found it amusing. I enlisted at 19 into the Air National Guards and was honorably discharged 9 months later due to having to have parts reconstructed in my left knee. I now have been married for 9 years and have 2 daughters. I am currently employed as an Engineer/Supervisor on a DOE facility.

Hmac
27 May 2014, 07:01
15 years as Medical Director of county multi-agency TAC Team and Tactical EMS for the Sheriff's Department, 5 years as Assistant Coroner and death investigator for this county. 15 years as a state EMS Examiner and this hospita'sl EMS Director. Currently also Medical Director for the Bomb Squad. My full time job is as a General and Laparoendoscopic Surgeon.

RiverRat
27 May 2014, 10:39
Pure civilian here.

I retired after 20+ years in the biopharmaceutical industry. A large portion of that time was spent designing, building and testing production equipment for biotech products with multi-billion dollar revenue streams. It's that period that reinforced an almost(?) anal-retentive form-follows-function thought process. And yes, that approach lingers on with how I look at part lists for an AR15. I ended my career with several years of project management, working with pre-commercial development efforts.

Both sides of my family are gun owners and hunters, my father was a Marine - so its no surprise that I started shooting around the age of 7, becoming a fairly proficient shotgunner by age 12. We never were into competition, it was all backyard, riverfront fun. Dad instilled the Harry Pope philosophy of "stand on your hind legs and shoot like a man" so I never really got deeply into precision bench shooting. Even now, at 82, my father is still out there shooting. He has been lusting after a Beretta 92 for a long time - he got one for Christmas and has been shooting the heck out of it. The Ol Fart still makes me proud of him.......

These days, I'm living quietly in Colorado. I can step into my side yard for some casual, short-range handgunning or to test a new AR. There's national forest abutting our neighbor's property and I've started scouting an easily accessed, safe place for longer-range shooting. As for other interests, sadly I remain a huge geek. I play cutthroat boardgames with some frighteningly intelligent friends and do the console/PC thing with my 12 year old daughter.
It's a pretty soft life these days :)

Soisauss
1 June 2014, 20:15
Those are some of the most interesting read I've did tonight. Just like UW77 said, we are a like a stew, if it tastes good, throw em in. It'll be eaten! Diversity with a common core. I approve!

Thompson
2 June 2014, 08:45
I'm future military. Currently in college studying mechanical engineering & Army ROTC at Penn State.

Like quite a few here have said, no one in my family or shoots at all. (It sucks, because they have that mindset of black = evil & guns = bad :( ... but I'm working on it.)

I actually didn't get into firearms until after watching some of Tim's (Military Arms Channel) videos regarding the whole Feinstein/AWB videos. Which basically peaked my interest for firearms.

After the Army, I would like to apply my engineering degree to the firearms industry, to develop/test new products essentially. (If I could work for someone like Magpul ... my life would be complete)