Hello fellow FS's

[FSC Brian Boyd]

Hey there. Just recieved my access to the forums and checking in on the FS boards.

Brian

[FSC Jayare Parker (Ret)]

Welcome Aboard Brian,
If you need anything just ask, someone will help you with whatever you need here. Check out all the forums, there is some good info in almost every one. I'm on here almost every day checking things out. I work nights so I'm usually here during the day.

Jayare

[FSC Brian Boyd]

Thanks for the welcome Jayare. I have already started skimming through some of the forums.

I see your in Kodiak (Club manager?). I'm thinking of trying to get up there for my last tour after I'm done here. I believe there are a couple FSC billets that should be opening in '08.

Brian

[FSC Jayare Parker (Ret)]

Hey Brian,
Yep, my billet will be comming open in '08. I got here in '03 and just got a 2 year extension that will take me to '08. I am a club manager at the Golden Anchor Sports Pub. We did a complete remodel of the place the spring & summer of '03 and turned it into a sports bar. A real nice place with lots of autographed sports memoribilia. (bats, jerseys, pictures) The Golden Anchor has 2 FSC's and the Pizza Parlor has a FSC and a FS1 as managers. The other billet opening will be the Pizza Parlor managers job. I think the Galley COTR job will be open next year in '07. There are 4 FSC billets here at the ISC Kodiak.

FSC Jeff Stumpf is another FSC here in Kodiak that is fairly active on this board and he is the manager of the Pizza Parlor.

Jayare

[LT Arthur Nelson (MKC) (Ret)]

My, how things change. I admit it's been many of years [actually about 15] since my last visit to the club in Kodiak. Even back then it was a pretty nice joint, but mostly just juke-box music and foosball.
But then again, I also remember when the EM club at Yorktown used to have strippers perform in the club!

[FSC Jayare Parker (Ret)]

We have 2 dart boards, air hockey, foosball, shuffleboard and a pool table. (all of which are free to play) Cable tv on 2 tv's and satalite on 8 tv's. We have 6 kegs of beer on tap at all times.

Jayare

[FSC Brian Boyd]

Wow strippers in Yorktown! :D Those must have been the days.

The club sounds nice Jayare. I was there a few times between 01-03 during port calls on the RUSH, but never did visit the Golden Anchor. I was always at the nice gym you have on base.

Well, I already have my wife sold on Kodiak and she will have her Nursing degree by the time I transfer. I look at all the money I can save if I can get up there before retiring and relocating to wherever we decide to settle. My next tour will be my last either way so she can start into her career.

[FSC Jeff Stumpf]

Brian,
I have to tell you this strait you do not want this job here in Kodiak. I love being home with the family every night but don't like the job. We are here to make everyone happy and as you know you can't please everyone. I thought it would be a good job but I would much rather be back on a ship or running a galley some where. I have learned one thing I never want to own my own restaurant or be the manager. Way to many headaches. The Anchor is a good job but you do the cooking and cleaning ect... except for the big functions. They are busy throughout the year and extremly busy during the hollidays. I just wanted to give you all the facts before you decide. Other then that the bosses are great. The benifits are good too. Welcome aboard and hope this helps.


PS. I am not disgruntaled just disillusioned.

[FSC Jayare Parker (Ret)]

Well what Jeff said is pretty much true.

I'm not complaining or anything really. I love doing these special events the most. I just wish we had enough people to help do all the work. Most people don't want to work just 1 to 3 nights a month so they won't fill out an application. We do get busier than that one legged man in a butt kicking contest once in a while. We do a bunch of special functions all throughout the year and that keeps us busy during some of the times we wish we had some time off. (weddings, change of commands, going away parties, holiday parties, prom, graduations, just to name a few) I have 12 years of sea time and I too often wish I was back underway and on a boat, I swear I had more time off when I was on a boat sometimes. It does take a special person to survive in some of these MWR billets.

We have Bingo every Thursday night downstairs in the Banquet Room from Sept to April and it seems like every week we set up long tables for Bingo on Thursday then have to tear it all down and set up round tables for some function on Friday or Saturday. We only have 1 full time employee and only have 3 bartenders and 3 waitstaff, a dishwasher and a civilian cook and they are basicly all on call. They can't work over 8 hours or they are on OT plus they are working around their other full time jobs so sometimes they are not always available. We end up working quite a few 16-18 hour days.

Here's a typical Friday night function for 200 people. They'll want in at 0800 to start decorating the room while your still setting up tables & chairs. Food needs to be preped for cooking, tables need tableclothes, napkins, silverware, water glasses, salt & pepper, food line needs set up, Prime Rib needs to go in the oven about 1300, they'll be asking you all day "how do you dial out on this phone" or ask for something they should have brought with them like tape, stapler, staples, ladders, extention cords etc...bar opens 1700 for drinks, serve food from 1830-2000, we'll have to buss the tables quickly so they can get to the dancing & partying, wash the dishes, (200 of everything) dinner plates, salad plates, dessert plates, water glasses, salad fork, dinner fork, dessert fork, spoons, dinner/steak knife, butter knife, lots of red wine glasses, white wine glasses, shot glasses, mixed drink glasses, champaine glasses, beer glasses. Then of course no one can throw away their empty beer bottles or bring back the shot glasses when they are on their way back up to the bar to order more. Most will take off and go home right after the meal then the ones that stay will want to party till 0200 in the morning. We restock the glasses, ice, Beer, alcohol, or wine every 20 minutes or so for the bartenders. Did I mention the downstairs bar is only about 8x12 foot big and there are 2 bartenders in there and you have to get in there to restock for them. Everybody tries to cash a $100.00 bill for a $3.00 drink then the bar tenders are asking for more change because they are all out of $1, $5 & $10 bills.

During December we will do this same routine every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

So, as you can see these jobs are not the most desirable jobs around, which is why nobody was asking for my job this summer and is one of the reasons I got a 2 year extension here.

Jayare

[FSC Brian Boyd]

Wow, that sure does shed alot of light on the manager job there. I would never have guessed it being that hectic. Not sure if I would like the manager job after reading that! :eek:

As far as the pizza parlor, I would have thought that would be a neat gig but reading Jeff's post makes me wonder. Maybe you guys are trying to persuade me not to try so you can keep those billets longer. :p Just kiddin.

Anyhow, I still have a whole year and a half before I find out and submit my dream sheet for 08'. Alot can change then and new jobs may interest me more.

[FSC Jayare Parker (Ret)]

Welcome Aboard Ken Johnson.

Jayare

[BMCS Burt Ford]

Welcome to theBoard Brian! Can you blow a Boatswain's Pipe? That would get you to kodiak! :D

[FSC Jayare Parker (Ret)]

Man, It's been quiet in here for almost 2 months now. What's been going on in the FS world? I know what you've been doing Jeff, just seeing what the rest of th FS's are up to.

Jayare

[FSC Jayare Parker (Ret)]

Another month has gone by. Any thing going on?

Jayare

[FSC Jeff Stumpf]

NO except I go on 44 days leave on Monday. Life is good. As long as I get a crack at a goat that is.. :D

[FSC Jayare Parker (Ret)]

Maybe you'll get yourself some good Lamb Chops.
Good Luck Jeff!!!

Jayare

[FSC Chris Stewart]

Hello Fellow FS's
I am new here and just gained access to the forums and checking in on the FS boards.

[BMCS Burt Ford]

Dang, anybody can get here!

Welcome to the boards Chris!

[FSC Chris Stewart]

Senior,

They went deep for me. Thanks for telling me about the site. Great way to network.

Chris