Comm Merger

So sad to say i signed a contract to be a wiredawg and now after only being in it for seven months they are merging me into a different career field. Worst thing is that I got orders to Korea which i wanted but now this merger is really screwing things up. Anyone else got any input on what's going on??

Merged with what?

I guess im either going to be working with networking and servers or sitting behind a desk taking phone calls and submitting work orders thats what i mean by merger. Because everything is going fiber and VoIP Cable will be doing all premise wiring and if your lucky you may get to wire the jack thats how it is happening here at Scott anyways. Your either me sent to Comm focal point, Switch Tech (programming phones all day), LAN/WAN, Cable/antenna systems so as you see at scott wiredawgs won't exist anymore so it sounds I was just wondering if this is how the other bases are doing it or if anyone has heard different.

I know exactly what you mean. They've already had our Netman shop and Wiredawgs merge into the same office here. There's still a lot to be accomplished, though. It's been stressful and somewhat disappointing for all the dawgs, because we all feel how you're feeling...like we're losing our real job. So goes the world of technology, I guess.

So, yeah, just know that your dawgs at Spangdahlem are feeling the same way you are. We all want our old job back and the AF can throw VoIP back into the dump they pulled it out of.

Here at Lajes, the Wire Dawgs were sorta merged with the Network infrastructure guys and they took premise wiring form us (the Cable Dawgs). So it is just the way of transformation in this ever changing AF. At Least Cable isn't merging or changing with this new 1DX thing.

You guys should be happy about merging into networking. That is valuable experience if you ever decide to get out, believe me!

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[i]Originally posted by Brian06[/i]
[br]You guys should be happy about merging into networking. That is valuable experience if you ever decide to get out, believe me!

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That is a really good point there. Get the experience while you can!!!

We are semi-merged with our Network shop and Cable shop..apparently we have 4 of our guys going to work with Cable since they are going to be doing the LAN drops.

Pretty soon Comm wont be a Sq. It will be one shop, one career field.

Hey ShortRound who needs Teletubbies any way.

Come on DAWGS!!!
Think of all the stuff YOU have to TEACH the LAN weenies!
How many FUBARed patch panels have you seen? Countless, right? Teach them how to do it right!
We have been "networking" people for over 130 years, computers haven't been around for half that.
Who should be teaching whom?

I started my AF career as a 362x1, Telephone Switch Systems Repairman Electro-mechanical.
I am happy I had the opportunity to learn outside plant and some cabling on Uncle Sam's nickel.

What's the worst case scenerio? You absolutely hate it, but you've learned something that will make you a more valuable asset in the civilian job market. Or, like me, you come back as a civilian in an MEO doing what you've always loved.

Whats all this complaining about? You guys should be happy about merging into networking. I was a telephone guy not long ago and decided to get out. Jobs are scarce on the outside unless you have networking skills to go along with it. So I joined the reserves to be a "LAN weenie". Best move I ever made!

BTW - The merger will tentatively take place Oct 2009 - For all the wire dawgs, LAN junkies, and Tech Control the new career field is 1B1X2 -- Cyber Transport Systems Specialist | The schoolhouse is tweaking the new course as I type this.

I agree to any experience is worth it.

I started as 361X1 back in 86, took a host of courses with FO installation and digital switching all at sheppard or keelsler. I never got anything in the civilian world that dealt specifically with the above, and I applied at alot of operation bells and clecs. I ended up getting into ip networking and unix administration.


And I'm lovin it

Actually, we will primarily fall under Client Systems, according to the power point slide I got from Mr. SanMiguel at the school house. But we know that most bases, they will suck us in to Cyber Transport with the 2E2 weenies! At Travis, everything is contracted out and with our TDC disbanded, they are trying to shove us all in Infrastructure. Not to mention the 2 flight re-structure of comm. has jacked up alot of things with manning and "too many chiefs (in this case, Masters and Seniors) and not enough indians!

There seems to be an identity crisis in wiredawg land.

I came in as a 362x4- outside plant in 88. I can say without a doubt the skills I learned have me were I am at today. For those of you who have an opprontunity to learn new and more advanced job skills, espesially in networking don't pass them up. The outside world is converging and the AF is following. As an old phone guy I had a lot of learning to do to stay competitive in todays job market. If I would have dismissed the networking side of the business I probably would be unemployeed right now.

Instead I have constant work and my skills are in demand. I have taken and failed my CCIE Voice lab twice. I will take it again in May. You know why I plan on taking it again???? Because it represents the direction of voice communications worldwide. The reality is that things are changing and you will either keep up or be left behind. You choose.

Mike Gibbons

I have to agree with Mike on this! You guys have an opportunity so TAKE IT! When I was in all we had to work on was 1A2. Digital Hybrid Key was brand new and we did have a few ATT Merlins and maybe a system 25 but we never touched them. Once I got out I was lucky and was hired by Siemens because ESPN in Bristol CT had a bunch of 1A2 still and none of their techs wanted to work on it anymore. Ever since then I have never stopped learning.

I hate to say it but VOIP is here to stay! At least I don't have to run cable anymore. Most of my job now is behind a laptop and dealing with Network Admins who don't want me in their network but yet they want it to work. Believe it or not, most of them don't even know what a VLAN is or how to set one up!

Learn Learn LEARN!


Mike, did you serve at Mather AFB in the 2034cs?

Bruce

I was at Langley from 89-94 ----- 1913th CG / 1913CS / 1CS with a rotation thru Saudi in 93
Kunsan 8CS from 94-95
Scott 375CS 95-96

I worked on mostly 1A2 and Executone systems the 1st couple of years and then the ITT 3100. The 3100 seamed like magic compared to the 1A2 days. It really is amazing how far we have progressed since then.

A few skills the average "phone guy" needs today.

A complete understanding of the OSI model- I know it sucks but your troubleshooting skills will greatly benefit from it.
A complete understanding of Lan switching and associated L2 technolgies such as spanning tree and trunking.
A complete understanding of Routing, especially intravlan and wan routing.
A complete understanding of traditional telephony, fxs, fxo, T1-PRI-ISDN
And finally the ability to translate the customers needs into the new technology. Maybe the most difficult skill.

Don't foget that it is application driven know as well. So MS Exchange, SMTP, LDAP, AD and DNS are big players. And finally security



Mike Gibbons