Recruitment

In '91 deals could still be had.  My ex-girlfriend had moved to San Diego from Los Angeles.  She rented a two bedroom 1250 square foot ten year old apartment on top of the hill in Solano Beach overlooking the Del Mar racetrack,  From her kitchen you could see the 5 down south and from her bedroom you could see the 5 heading north.  They wanted only $120K to buy it as a condo.  Biggest mistake I or we ever made in not grapping that opportunity.  Solano Beach is absolutely beautiful and I kick myself for not leaving Los Angeles then.  I could of transferred to TRW in San Diego then, I think I would have just missed the financial bubble that Qualcomm offered in their boom then.

This was just after that cult had committed suicide to ride on the comet in Santa Fe Springs.


Edited by Gil - 24 Aug 2018 at 12:13pm

FTGC(SS) Lane wrote: In 1981 my gross monthly income went from $1,150 in September to $1,745 in October.

FTGC(SS) Lane wrote: In 1973 as an E5 over 4 I had a brand new vehicle. Many of my shipmates did; except the goat locker, who all seemed to have 5 year old cars. In 1980 as an E6 over 11 with a wife and two children I qualified for food stamps. What is different between then and now?

US inflation in the 70's was at its highest rates in the last 70 years: I suspect that explains a lot. Watergate/Nixon, energy crisis, Carter. Wages for most people never recovered. 

A slight change of subject but following the same line, police agencies are having the same problem in recruiting officers.  Far less people are applying for the profession.  When I started the process you answered a small add in the classified section to get your name on the list for the written test.  Over 5,000 took the written, then came physical, agility, interviews and background investigation.  Thirty eight of us graduated the academy.  Today there is a group in the department who go out and recruit at schools, adds basically begging for people.  Few want to put up with the hardships of difficult positions.