Soo...sorry for the title...don't mean it to be abrasive. But before I tell you the gist of what I mean....let me clear up a couple things about myself....First my screen name....couldn't for the life of me think of what I wanted it to be. So I figured I'd just throw up there one of my many jobs I had in my many years on this planet. B52 TailGunner was one of several careers I had during my 24 years in the US Air Force.....I'll throw up a blast from the past here.....
Now the pic above was actually after my stint as a gunner when they eliminated the gunners position in 1991, and I evolved from gunner to an airborne radio operator, and finally I "punched out" of the military in 1997. Last thing I'll say about my military career was that my highlight during that time was serving as one of the radio operators for Gen (Stormin) Norman Swartzkopf until he retired. 
So once I returned to civilian life in 1997, like many of us retiree's, I pondered what was next at this stage in my life. I still considered myself young enough to dive into a second career that would take me to "retirement age", which funny enough is now..but I still can't fathom retiring as I would go crazy!!!! So my thoughts were, I'll see about getting another government job, you know, take my military skills and turn that into a civil service job on a military base somewhere. Yea...I'll be a "double dipper", and when I retire I'll get not just one pension, but TWO pensions, (and probably social security if it's still around)!! What could be better....then I can take it easy into my golden years!! Well...I applied for several positions, and figured, I got this!! This is gonna be great, and in the meantime until I get the call that I've got a job, I'll just work around the house...take care of much needed improvements, get all the "honey do's" done, and just relax after 24 years of being deployed, flying and spending time away from the family.
Well...to make a long story short..or shorter..one month turned to two, two to three, three to six!! WTH, how can someone with my skillset not get another government job, after all..I was a tailgunner for like 10 years, and airborne radio operator for another 14!! I even served with Stormin Norman!!!
Eventually I resigned myself to the fact that my aspiration to be a double dipper was probably not going to work out. And I was getting BORED not working. Not to mention, kinda missed having a paycheck every two weeks. SO...what did I want to do? I kinda always wanted to open my own business, and back in 1998, cell phones were really starting to be the rage. So I though, hey, I've had communications experience in the military, this would be perfect!! I'll become a cell phone dealer!! So I got started that year.....do you remember these.....
Ahhhh...those were the days....I was killing it....loved the business, and ended up opening up 17 retail locations throughout Georgia and Alabama, selling service for all the major carriers back then....not sure if some of you remember Cingular, Powertel, or Nextel!! Actually Nextel was my most successful, was crushing it back then with "hit me up with my chirp chirp"! Loved those phones (I know, some people couldn't stand to hear that anyone taking on that obnoxious radio, but it had a cool factor if you had one)!
So anyway, I did this until 2008, almost 10 years....until....SPRINT came along and screwed up everything by buying out Nextel!! That ruined the market for many of us 3rd party dealers, so I ended up selling out, or downsizing my locations, until I sold my last one in 2008!
So I took a needed hiatus, taking a break, back to relaxing for bit! That turned into almost a year of relaxing, and thought to myself, I need to get off my %$%!! So I made some phone calls to some of my old contacts from the wireless world, hit up some contacts in Linked In, and was offered a position on the "dark side"! To those of us that were in the old dealer network, that meant working for corporate. So I took a job that leveraged my experience running multiple units and eventually ended up covering a territory of 5 states, Puerto Rico and Guantanamo. So yep...on the road a lot now. So here I am now...in my travel mode......
SOOOO after that boring summarization, and your probably saying, "c'mon man, get to it, how can you save me money"? Since my background now for the last 20 years has been in wireless, and still is, I sometimes have info about "special promotions" that are, or will be running shortly in the future, that revolves around new handsets or plans, for ALL 4 of the major carriers. Not only that, I'm pretty much considered a SME, subject matter expert, around new handsets that are already fielded, or soon to be fielded, as well as possible launch dates. If your a handset geek, like I am now, and your interested in the latest and greatest phones, have any questions, give me a follow, and I'll return yours. I'll be periodically putting out the latest deals, from the major carriers, as well as the big box stores like Best Buy, Target, Walmart, Etc. Even some online deals as well. Now understand, some of this info, especially exact launch dates are kept close to the chest, but I can get you close.
So that's about it fellow Steemite's (am I saying that right?) Hope this wasn't too long and boring and you got to read thru the whole thing. By the way....I've just recently gotten into the whole crypto scene over the last 3 months, so that has been taking up some of my time! It's an enigma to me, but slowly getting to understand it better....after all, how else did I end up here!!!
Looking forward to having conversations and building relationships with you. As I understand it, if you liked my first intro, please give me a vote, and I'll for sure return the favor.
Take Care....Steve
A very interesting introduction. As i am based in Borneo, I don't think the money saving part applies to me. Anyway welcome to Steemit and I wish you success. I have tips on my profile which are useful to newbies and minnows alike. Check it out.
Hi Steve @b52tailgunner
My Name @sallsteem From #aceh
Welcome to The World's Best And Largest Community @eSteem !!
The Development of the World Economy Followed by the Development of Digital Currency E-Comerce !!
Give Positive Contribution In #steemit
You Will Get Your Rights Here.
Follow And Upvote When You Like Me
Thank you very much
Hi To @b52tailgunner , im @rawyachahhed.
welcome to steemit
here we will be a creative about what we want to show to the crowd and to all users of steemit...
we will make the eyes of the users steemit so that we can be the public spotlight.
congratulations Come in steemit and hopefully andabetah here
greeting steemit....!!! 👍👍👍👍👍👍
Thanks Rouro for your comment....My hope is to contribute something of value, and that users are able to either gain insight, knowledge or even save money....looking forward to following you....
Welcome to the community. Hope it works out for you.
Fellow "Steemians" but anything goes ;) Keep putting out those deals, marketing yourself Steve and just creating. Oh, and thank you for Service!
Thanks Avilsd....I learn something new everyday....following....
Nice to be your friend here at Steemit <3 ! The community needs cool people like you :)
I already upvoted and followed you to see all of your future blogs!
I wish you more followers and friends!
Don't forget to follow me too @apple64 so that we can be friend forever :D
Thanks Apple...it's a pleasure....looking forward to following you as well..... :)
Welcome to the Steemit platform, I hope it works here for you, success.
Thanks Ana....this is a new venture so we'll see how it works out...but I'm following you and wish you success as well.
Thank you ! 😊
the picture of you and stormin norman alone is worth the follow. best of luck to you
Well thanks Paulduffy....same to you....appreciate the follow, and doing the same and a vote...
Upvote and follow me i back
https://steemit.com/introduceyourself/@youss/75-followers-in-2-days-thank-you-all-2-step
Thanks youss...I appreciate that....
Wow I never even knew B-52s had any gunners much less a tail gunner- learn something every day.
Yep...loved the job back in the day....and was sorry to see the position eliminated....The pic below is a B-52H model, where the gunner sat up front with the rest of the flight crew in the cockpit.....
A big warm Steemit welcome goes out to you Steve and what an insight into your life story!
I'm looking forward to future posts, Followed & High Pawed! :-D
Flatrider
Sorry for the delayed thank you here Flatrider....follow back to you..
No problem Steve and I appreciate it, thanks mate.
Welcome here @B52tailgunner:) Nice post, i will follow your account, please follow me at @khunpoom
Thank you....and I surely will
We salute to our arm forces they are the real protectors of us..
Thanks Bilalq!!
My pleasure @b52tailgunner.
Welcome to Steem @b52tailgunner I have upvoted and sent you a tip
Welcome to Steemit @b52tailgunner :)
Make sure to participate in this weeks giveaway to get known in the community!
Here are some helpful tips to get you started:
@reggaemuffin, the creator of this bot is a witness. See what a witness is and consider voting for the ones you feel are good for steem.
Welcome and Thank You for being with us!! Following your Blog now
Thank you digitalplayer.....follow back given..
Wow. Your post into reminds me of many things as well.
I welcome you to Steemit. I believe you will enjoy and have amazing time here to collaborate and learn for other members here. I will be looking up to you sharing words of knowldege and wisdom. Please stay tuned for my writeups on cryptocurrency and please follow me @bewajijohnson
Thanks much....and followed!!!
Hi To @b52tailgunner , im @rawyachahhed.
welcome to steemit
here we will be a creative about what we want to show to the crowd and to all users of steemit...
we will make the eyes of the users steemit so that we can be the public spotlight.
congratulations Come in steemit and hopefully andabetah here
greeting steemit....!!! 👍👍👍👍👍👍
Welcome! Hope you share some good content with us! This is a great way to meet people from all over the world. I am a Brazilian writer and videomaker, living in London. Here I post about photography, travelling and stories. Have a look at my profile and if you like it, follow me. Cheers!
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STOPWelcome to steemit community...
What a wonderfully written intro you got here.
Do read my below recipes to have a successful steemit experience.
RECIPES FOR SUCCESS
Be yourself, originality matters a lot. Write and submit quality content at least three times weekly.
You can get into arguments but without being disrespectful to people to avoid down votes
upvote and follow posts that interest you...as well as people who upvote and follow you. Reciprocity matters. However, be careful not to exceed 20 upvotes per day as doing that will begin to deplete ur steem power. This is important.
spend sometime to comment on other people's posts daily.
Give quality feedback to peoples comments.
Observe this rules and success will follow you. Wishing you best of luck in your steemit activities.
I'm @eurogee
Thanks for sharing your story with us, welcome
Sorry for the late reply kingvelt, but thank you...following you as well....
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STOPWelcome to Steemit ! have fun with it. Followed. Follow me back 😘
Done Kassie....thank you.....
Hey! Welcome to Steemit. Hope you have a good time.
Hey @b52tailgunner, I definitely know what you mean about the government jobs. I've been trying to get into a government job and even a Air National Guard job for about 2 years. The system is broken, in my opinion. Anyway, I'm still trying, but a pension would be nice...I was RIF'ed, so no pension for me! Anyway, I'll give ya a follow...it will be soon enough that I need to upgrade my Galaxy Note 3!
Your absolutely right about that. I'm glad I did my 24...wouldn't change anything around that....but I'm ok where things took me....good luck to ya....and thanks for the follow, I'll return the favor....
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STOPWelcome to steemit b52tailgunner, happy to have you here
I am @alienposts , my real name is achraf :)
Checkout my blog posts, Enjoy your time here and let's get this party started :)
This post received a 4.9% upvote from @randowhale thanks to @b52tailgunner! For more information, click here!
STEEMIANS !!! Up Voted and Followed. Good to have you here Tail-Gunner
Welcome well come welcome
Hey Steve. Welcome to Steemit. I'll try and keep you in mind as a go to for a good deal on phones :D Gave ya a follow.
Welcome @b52tailgunner!
Welcome Steve! Upvoted post. Had to give a nod to your use of SME - a term that I use almost daily in my corporate setting :)
LOL, I came here after seeing the title and wondering what scam this guy is selling. But I was amazed how you put your whole story out, not very detailed, but still very informative. So many kills you made in your gunner career!!!
Welcome to steemit! :) I'm new here, too. Let's discover this brand new world of steeming! (^_^)/
Wow, great back story. Looking forward to your posts.
Thanks Akin....hope you enjoy....I'm heading out to Guantanomo (GTMO) here this week, and look forward to doing a few posts from there....
Hi, do you have any advice, how to make money quickly?
Welcome to steem @b52tailgunner, hope you're looking forward to earning a lot of money! Type minnowsupport in the search to get off to a good start. Follow me if you need free banners you can use on your blog!
Awesome Nick...thanks for that.....following...
Welcome @b52tailgunner to Steemit. Have great days in steemit. Please follow me @bankhai
Thanks Rob....following....appreciate the follow...
Sorry for the late follow Gaman....but thank you..