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Marine guest
02-16-2004, 22:19
Gentlemen,

I happened upon “pop a smoke” while searching about information on the helos. I have read a few posts and have found that there seems to be a tremendous wealth of experience and sound advice offered here. Thus I will definitely come back frequently to read.

First off, and most importantly, I would like to say a resounding thank-you for your service in Vietnam. I’m sure that many of you never got the recognition or even appreciation you deserved for serving your country when it called then.

I am a Marine like all of you. I am a fallen angel who was NPQ’d two months from my wings (long story which I’ll refrain from telling here). Since that time I have truly missed flying, esp the short time after beginners and intermediate which I was blessed to fly the helos. I chose to leave after my commitment and pursue grad school. I am not having trouble finding a job, just finding the “right” job were I believe I truly belong. Because my interest hasn’t waned in helicopter aviation, I am hoping to break into working on designing them. This desire coupled with my sincere interest to be a part of making our helicopters as safe and reliable as possible for future aircrews (I myself have already lost two friends, and I have countless other buddies still flying) leads me to request your assistance.

I have been working hard to get my foot in the door at Sikorsky and Bell (LM & Boeing as well) but the reality in this age of cut and paste resumes over the internet, is that networking is still pretty much the only real way to get a job. Additionally I believe in my case I have a perceived glass wall at the HR office when they see that don’t have an engineering degree. My bachelors (and my soon to be masters) is in Industrial Design. It’s very similar to an ME degree with less quality control and stress testing, etc and more human factors, aesthetics and marketing, but overall still product development. The main point is that I have aviation, manufacturing, materials, ergonomic, and now research experience and education and I’m having trouble getting into this arena.

So I figured that perhaps one of you (not surprisingly) went on to work in one of those companies related to military aviation, can relate to my interest to get back into that environment and might be able to help me out and offer some advice or contacts. My work (portfolio and resume are listed at: www.vojir.us (http://www.vojir.us) )

Thank you for any and all assistance that you are able provide.

Semper Fi,
Ryan J. Vojir

Leatherneck
02-18-2004, 15:17
Hey, Ryan, welcome!

Try the Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division at Patuxent River, MD. It's a large busy base focused on design, testing and acquisition of Navy and marine aircraft of all types. There is a HUGE contractor community supporting the military both on and off-base. Human factors is a very important design consideration. Try the St. Mary's chanber of commerce to find the tons of large and small companies doing business there.

There is a large Marine community there-both active duty and not, and southern maryland is a nice place to live. Several members of this forum are there, I believe.

Good luck. The ole' Marine never leaves, does it?

TC

Wayne Stafford
02-18-2004, 22:10
The Helicopter Exposition is in Las Vegas the week of March 15.

Wayne Stafford

pm3777
02-19-2004, 15:41
Try www.Sikorsky.com SF PM

Marine guest
02-21-2004, 11:53
Wayne,

Funny I just found out about that expo the same day you posted. I have a buddy there-so free place to stay, the expo allows a free day to students who attend the job forum (no brainer there), and a cheap flight so I'll be definitely be there. I am guessing (hoping) that this will be my best opportunity to get beyond the websites, HR reps, etc. and make ties with the real folks who develop the a/c and can push from within to get me hired on.

Leatherneck,

No it doesn't. You can take the man out of the Corps, but not the Corps out of the man. I contacted SMCC as you advised.

Thanks again and please keep any further advice or contacts coming.

Respectfully,
RJV