What was your primary Occupational Specialty in the Military? What was the most significant skill you learned and was this useful in your civilian life?

When I enlisted in the Army in 1973, I was almost two months past my 23rd birthday, about five years older than the majority of enlistees. I already had five years of work experience in general administration and communications with New York Telephone Company.

Because of my strong typing skills and speed, I was assigned the primary MOS of 71B (clerk typist). As time went on and I achieved a higher rank, the MOS was automatically upgraded to 71L (administrative specialist).

While on active duty, I held various positions: Company clerk, librarian assistant, intelligence administrative specialist, and casualty operations NCO, just to name a few.

During my first reenlistment, I applied for and was awarded a secondary MOS of 81E (illustrator). This was primarily based on college art courses and my interest in pursuing an art-related field in the future. No military training in this MOS was offered or provided to me, and I never had the opportunity to utilize it while on active duty.

However, after my formal retirement, I utilized military opportunities for my art education, expounding on my secondary MOS. I have been able to create painted landscapes, which I have successfully marketed and generated revenue from.