Should I become a police officer or nurse or stick with it?

[JustaNumber]

Doing what you love for a living is way more important than money or stability. You can find a way to get another aviation job if your current one falls through. You can't buy happiness, though.

I guess it comes down to, what inspires you in your free time? Would you rather spend your day off at the hospital, the police station, or the airport?

Your future wife will be much happier being around you if you are happy with yourself and your own life choices, and you're not just doing whatever you think will make her happy. You have to start with being your own self in order to have a long and successful marriage.

 

[Talian]

I left flying about five years ago and sometimes feel a longing to go back to it and I think I will always have that in the back of my mind.
Its a hard decision to make. Thankfully mine worked out fine, I married a woman who makes six figure income with all the benefits, including free travel, hotel and rental car upgrades etc...
As for myself I now own a very lucrative business. Although it's not as fun as flying but much more rewarding and I will soon be looking to buy my own plane to tame the desire in me to fly for a living.
Only you know if this is something you could sacrifice so much for. I was seriously considering sending resumes out as recent as three months ago, but looking at the current situation I have to say "What the hell was I thinking".
Good luck in what ever you choose.

 

[Way2Broke]

AHH you were so mistreated......

I wasn't mistreated at all. I treated myself well the whole time. I might have been underpaid, but I was never mistreated. Not everything in life is fair, and your actions teach people how to treat you, not the other way around. Even when I was in the tent I still was still a very happy and determined person. I wouldn't want it any other way. It even keeps me motivated today because I don't want to go back to that.

I know a guy that flies a DC-9 that lives in a trailer park that is a happy guy. My favorite kind of people are those that don't just make the same decisions that the guy in front of them did. They have stories to tell and things they can teach you you life lessons that most people can't. This falls under the learn from other people because you will never have enough time to do everything they have done category.

 

[satpak77]

Doing what you love for a living is way more important than money or stability. You can find a way to get another aviation job if your current one falls through. You can't buy happiness, though.

I guess it comes down to, what inspires you in your free time? Would you rather spend your day off at the hospital, the police station, or the airport?

Your future wife will be much happier being around you if you are happy with yourself and your own life choices, and you're not just doing whatever you think will make her happy. You have to start with being your own self in order to have a long and successful marriage.

One of the better flightinfo posts in a long time.

FYI you will never fly heavies to Europe once a month, have 28 days off the rest of the month, and make $200,000 a year as a Police Officer or Nurse. Come to think of it, you won't in year 2008 or in the future as an airline pilot either, as that job described above no longer exists.

So I suppose the question we must ask is, "If the airline job I orginally "signed up for" no longer exists, then why am I still chasing it?

You CAN make $65-100K a year as a Police Officer or Nurse if you choose who you go work for. You can also come home feeling like you did just a little something for someone else, and maybe contributed to society. And have a retirement plan, and benefits that won't disappear if crude oil goes higher.

What a concept huh

 

[satpak77]

Doing what you love for a living is way more important than money or stability. You can find a way to get another aviation job if your current one falls through. You can't buy happiness, though.

Someone else who sees what life is all about...another good post.

 

[piav8r]

Speaking for myself, I'm POST eligible in the state of MN. If I end up on the street again I will probably go the LE route and not look back. I love my job and would love to stay with it but sometimes you have to give up what you love to do what you must.

 

[satpak77]

as an additional note, anybody ever dated two chicks? Even loved two women?

You CAN enjoy two things at once. I know people who fly professionally, left it to do something else equally interesting, enjoyed that too, then went back to flying. Its not like the FAA is gonna change the way a VOR works. Unless you stop flying for 20 years, I mean come on, unless you are retarded, you will get spooled back up in no time.

They came and went back to flying and the world kept turning. THEY were happier because of it, and felt more fulfilled because of it.

 

[Way2Broke]

as an additional note, anybody ever dated two chicks? Even loved two women?

Chicks digged the tent BTW. :laugh:

 

[satpak77]

Chicks digged the tent BTW. :laugh:

dude I had an air matress, one plate, one knife and fork, and one plastic glass when I flew a tired Lance on night 135 runs. Oh yeah a big container of Tang also, I used to drink that stuff.

I would land at 7 AM, then go to a local hotel that offered free breakfast to guests.

Looking back, when a girl came over, she probably thought I was Jeffrey Dahmer or something or Ted Bundy with his VW Beetle.

Didn't matter tho...chicks are dumb, esp the ones that work in stores in the mall.....they blindly entered my pad and blindly and willingly stayed late into the night....that air mattress saw alot of use...said girls came back again and again

 

[Way2Broke]

dude I had an air matress, one plate, one knife and fork, and one plastic glass when I flew a tired Lance on night 135 runs. Oh yeah a big container of Tang also, I used to drink that stuff.

I would land at 7 AM, then go to a local hotel that offered free breakfast to guests.

Looking back, when a girl came over, she probably thought I was Jeffrey Dahmer or something or Ted Bundy with his VW Beetle.

Didn't matter tho...chicks are dumb, esp the ones that work in stores in the mall.....they blindly entered my pad and blindly and willingly stayed late into the night....that air mattress saw alot of use...said girls came back again and again

See what I mean about good stories to tell! Do you still use the mattress on camping trips and when guests come over? If you do remind me never to spend the night at your place.

 

[satpak77]

See what I mean about good stories to tell! Do you still use the mattress on camping trips and when guests come over?

No I deflated it, folded it up, and returned it to Wal-Mart after one year of 135 life (and dumb female guests) and got my $29 back

Bought a Gleim ATP study guide with the 29 dollars

TRUE STORY, you can't make this up. I am really telling the truth here.

 

[Griff]

For what it is worth...... Don't spend 20 plus years doing something you don't like. If you go public sector, check out the retirement system in the particular area you are interested. Make that a top priority!

What's the difference between cops and firefighters? A firefighter never wanted to be a cop!! (that's a joke)

I've got 25 plus years in as a hose jockey and fly coporate on the side. Best deal in the world for me and my family. I love it.

No offense to the brothers and sisters in blue! Y'all have saved my a$$ on more than one occasion.

Beware though, public service is not for everyone. Just my $.02.

Good Luck!!

 

[ALIMBO]

Funny my dad is a fire fighter for Chicago he wouldn't trade his job for the world some days I wish I could be a fire fighter but I just don't think thats why God put me on this earth o well I guess we shall find out soon enough.

 

[belchfire]

Well, the best you could ever count on is topping out at some scumbag regional.

The majors are down for the count. No retirement, no respect and bene's are for ******************** any more. Oh, sure you can try to fly anywhere in the world for free...but who the heck wants to take the crapshoot on getting stuck in Hong Kong for an extra three days and exiled to coach because the airline upgraded someone on points and bumps you into steerage.

It ain't your daddy's airline industry...

 

[Way2Broke]

When I flew a tired Lance on night 135 runs.

Ram Air or Package Express? I also spent a short time sleeping on a air mattress in a spare room in the hangar at the Concord Airport.

 

[Daytonaflyer]

If you become a cop, do it in Las Vegas. Base salary is around $53,000. Many cops here make around $80,000. Also, prison corrections officers in Las Vegas can make well over $100,000 with the top earning officer making over $160,000 last year by working lots of overtime. All this with no college degree required.

http://www.policeemployment.com/cityjobs/northvegas/

This link is for the city of North Las Vegas; Las Vegas metro cops make even more.

 

[siucavflight]

I dont really care what you do.

 

[Rally]

Hitting the bottle this early in the morning?

 

[MALSR]

My friend is an ER nurse and has already made 35k this year and its not even May. He made 97K last year alone. Thats without a Masters degree. Think if he pursues that as well.

 

[mamba20]

People will always be sick and people will always misbehave. Heck, with nursing you can probably make more then a heavy captain after a few years. I's stick with flying though

 

[Secret Squirrel]

Remember, the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. It is only after we actually jump over to the other side we see all the brown patches.
I loved my 5 years as a police officer. But I lost 3 friends in shootings and traffic accidents, and a bunch more that had to medical out and will never be physically the same. There are many events I remember fondly that I really helped people and felt a sense of accomplishment. But what really sticks out in my mind are the many traffic accidents where I could not tell where the SUV ended and the bodies started. The many young people who took their own lives with guns, scum of the earth that molest or abuse their children, and morally dead people addicted to drugs are really what stick in my mind.
There was the time I was the first responder to a child not breathing and had to do cpr on a newborn I knew was dead. The mom got drunk, fell asleep with the baby in bed and rolled over on it. When she woke up she found the baby not breathing (probably was screaming and struggling to breath that woke her up) she screamed and work up the 10 other drunk people in the trailer and they called police. I can still smell the three homeless people we found in a burned out building, huddled in the corner to try to escape the flames, bodies half burned half normal. The horror on their faces eternally burned and eternally etched in my mind. Or then there are the fond memories of going with DFYS to take someones kids away from their parents. Or trying to hold a guys jugular as he bled out from 20 stab wounds around the head and chest while I waited for the ambulance to come. I saw him die in front of me. Both of us looking in each others eyes.

Now I am not trying to dissuade you from becoming a cop. I did love the job. But just realize that there is a dark side to the job. You are always a cop no matter what you do. You go to a party and everybody knows you are a cop. Everybody has that story about how the cop mistreated them because they were just traveling with traffic and everybody was speeding. You tend to lose friends who are not cops and be closer with the people you work with. Good luck with your decision. I actually think people should have to do ride alongs with their local police to realize how evil some people really are, and how bad some areas of their town really are. Sorry it was so long

 

[chignutsak]

Great post man. Cop buddy of mine told me a story of a semi that had crushed a minivan with kids. He was on the scene before ambulances arrived. I have all the respect in the world for cops. For those thinking of putting on the shield, think really hard about some of the awful sides of human nature you will see.

 

[Vspeeds]

Yea, but a lot of the a$$ will look like Ron Jeremy.

LMAO
Damn good dude!

 

[B-J-J Fighter]

Has anyone here been a full-time firefighter?

 

[JettBoii]

There are many specialties that you can pursue as an RN. Yes you can make good money without a masters degree but you can make better with one. You could get your BSN and work in any type of ICU for one to two years then apply to CRNA school; certified nurse anesthetist. When you graduate 28-36 months later (mean program length) you will easily start off at around 90K a year with option to make much much more depending on the schedule/service you work. If you work for yourself or do agency/contract you can make over 150K a year. Nurse Practicioners make anywhere from 80K/120K a year; also requires a masters degree.

Your job is never in jeopardy, your home everynight and you have a big fat paycheck to take care of yourself or your family with.

 

[Daytonaflyer]

My friend is an ER nurse and has already made 35k this year and its not even May. He made 97K last year alone. Thats without a Masters degree. Think if he pursues that as well.

Actually with a master's degree, he probably won't make any more money, he'll possibly earn even less. I worked as an academic advisor for a university nursing program for a little while between flying jobs, and one of the most common misconceptions from nurses was that they would earn more money after they got their masters.
All the master's will allow him to do is teach nursing or work in nursing administration. Those jobs are usually salary and have limited earning power compared to other nursing jobs when you can work overtime and pick up extra shifts. Most hospitals don't offer a pay raise to continue nursing with a master's degree.

 

[JoeMerchant]

Keep flying and find a nurse with handcuffs....Problem solved....

 

[MALSR]

Actually with a master's degree, he probably won't make any more money, he'll possibly earn even less. I worked as an academic advisor for a university nursing program for a little while between flying jobs, and one of the most common misconceptions from nurses was that they would earn more money after they got their masters.
All the master's will allow him to do is teach nursing or work in nursing administration. Those jobs are usually salary and have limited earning power compared to other nursing jobs when you can work overtime and pick up extra shifts. Most hospitals don't offer a pay raise to continue nursing with a master's degree.

I also have a friend who is a hospital administrator; started out as an RN and then got Masters. Making 150K now.

 

[satpak77]

Indeed RN will never be out of work, and always be around hot young females. Its 2008 people, and soon will be 2010, 2015, and it is "ok" to be a man and be an RN.

Speak Spanish and your never-out-of-a-job status just got double bulletproof

 

[Griff]

I am a full time firefighter...... West coast type but don't hold that against me..... we try.