PMEL Experience

[Thraxas]

I was curious. How many years have the board posters worked in PMEL? I've been at it for about 8 years.
Feel free to give details if you want.

[dallanta]

I thought I would reply to this, as a lot of you "younger" guys might get a good laugh.  Many moons ago, in the 70s, we could eat and drink while working and I had an ashtray at my bench.  I know, that is inconcievable now;  but then we had tubes and transistors also. ICs were a new thing that no one had really seen yet.  We figured it wouldnt "catch on".  LOL  And since I never got rich off this work, I am still doing it, since 1971.

[Thraxas]

I thought I would reply to this, as a lot of you "younger" guys might get a good laugh.  Many moons ago, in the 70s, we could eat and drink while working and I had an ashtray at my bench.  I know, that is inconcievable now;  but then we had tubes and transistors also. ICs were a new thing that no one had really seen yet.  We figured it wouldnt "catch on".  LOL  And since I never got rich off this work, I am still doing it, since 1971.

I think I saw a tube once, but I never thought they were actually real. 
I've heard many a story about eating, drinking and smoking at the bench. I kind of wish today's PMEL's were a little less uptight. Of course having a fridge under my bench would probably be bad for my weight. 

[Thraxas]

I have approximately 15 years, military and civilian.  The Civilian market is definitely less anal, the onus for the quality side of the house is on the quality department.  Where as in the Military, the tech is held to a bit higher standard!  However, the civilian market is a tad scary in that alot of the companies are fly by night.  But these years have whizzed by!   dallanta, we still eat and drink at our bench!   Alright AFMET guys chill, kidding, kidding!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah "Joe's Calibration Emporium" doesn't scream quality.
Better watch out! Those AFMET guys are throwing their coffee mugs at you!

[Thraxas]

I don't mind, as long as they put one of those coins inside!   I AIN"T PAYIN' for one!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, either that, or "impress" one of the auditors. Apparently it doesn't take much to "impress" them. If you make them think they're dumber than you, they'll give you a coin in a heartbeat.

[Thraxas]

Thanks to everyone that's voted! Everyone else...come on! Vote now! It's anonymous. You're not dating yourself unless you want to.

[Thraxas]

Woohoo! Got some more votes! It's nice to see some "youngsters" here. Now, if the remaining 319 members were to vote and Post, this place would be more lively.

[dallanta]

I remember once, I had this scope all repaired and just finished calibrating it.  My bench was kind a messy, so I set my coffee cup on top.  Yep, I knocked it right off,  poof, dead scope. one of the tubes must have cooked off, lol.    Oh well, I just lit up a smoke and got another cup of coffee.

[Thraxas]

I remember once, I had this scope all repaired and just finished calibrating it.  My bench was kind a messy, so I set my coffee cup on top.  Yep, I knocked it right off,  poof, dead scope. one of the tubes must have cooked off, lol.    Oh well, I just lit up a smoke and got another cup of coffee.

That's funny. Did you trip a bunch of breakers in the lab? I can imagine all the cursing after the power goes out.

[bradley563]

OK, I will post.  I am in the Navy (used to be Air Force)  I have been in calibration for about 12 years now.  Getting ready to retire to the Orlando FL area.

[Thraxas]

OK, I will post.  I am in the Navy (used to be Air Force)  I have been in calibration for about 12 years now.  Getting ready to retire to the Orlando FL area.

Hey, thanks for posting. I didn't intend to seem so whiney, but I appreciate your response none the less.
Orlando is a nice place to retire. Unfortunately, the Naval Training Center was closed a little while ago. I think the Navy Exchange is still around. It got torn up pretty badly during the hurricanes last year, but who needs the Exchange when you have Walmart and Target?

[bradley563]

Hey the wife and myself will take those little trips to the Air Force base in Melbourne every now and then.

[Thraxas]

Hey the wife and myself will take those little trips to the Air Force base in Melbourne every now and then.

I've been to Patrick a few times. It's a decent little base. The humidity makes you hope your car's A/C never breaks.

[bradley563]

The heat will be bearable.  With myself being stationed in Norfolk, VA until I retire and my family being in FL.  It will be well worth the heat to finally be back with them again.

[mdbuike]

I've been PMEL since '78, when I cross trained out of SATCOM...retired in '94 and been a contractor for ACC ever since

Mike