Ok, I am pissed at Europeans

by Jeffersonian Democrat Sat May 16th, 2009 at 04:29:18 PM EST

I am really pissed at age discrimination not only from university grants to....

earlier this week I called Marseilles. Really, I did. The economic situation puts us all at risk, so I tried to find a job.

I am now over 3 years too old. This month I am 43

Christ, I have 18 years in the US military with extensive military and combat experience in Latin America as a Special Forces Weapons Sergeant and later a Naval Intelligence officer, with decrees and fluency in Russian, German and English as a mother language. And I asked only to enlist...

...and the fucking French Foreign Legion will not give me the time of day! Because I am too old over 40.

I just had to gripe because of job situation

Ok, I am pissed at Europeans | 16 comments (16 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

OK, maybe I'm just pissed (4.00 / 2)

that I cannot compete for my white kepi

"Schiller sprach zu Goethe, Steck in dem Arsch die Flöte! Goethe sagte zu Schiller, Mein Arsch ist kein Triller!"

by Jeffersonian Democrat (rzg6f@virginia.edu) on Sat May 16th, 2009 at 04:36:07 PM EST

heh (4.00 / 3)

40 is unusually high. Most public sector jobs in France are only open to people 35yo or less.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Sat May 16th, 2009 at 04:42:48 PM EST

Dammit, I tell you sir (4.00 / 2)

I can still hump a ruck sack and carry a rifle.....

::sigh::

obviously I don't have the experience to convince the Foreign Legion

"Schiller sprach zu Goethe, Steck in dem Arsch die Flöte! Goethe sagte zu Schiller, Mein Arsch ist kein Triller!"

by Jeffersonian Democrat (rzg6f@virginia.edu) on Sat May 16th, 2009 at 04:53:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Dammit, I tell you sir (none / 1)

I've just read a book on the Yom Kippur War, and the oldest guy in Nathan Shunaris reserve para unit was... 41.

Well... you could always add a fake age to the fake name when signing up. ;)

Peak oil is not an energy crisis. It is a liquid fuel crisis.

by Starvid on Sat May 16th, 2009 at 05:18:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Dammit, I tell you sir (none / 1)

Of course, the Rhodesian mercs hanging around are still in great demand, and they are 10 years your senior. Better go find'em.

Peak oil is not an energy crisis. It is a liquid fuel crisis.

by Starvid on Sat May 16th, 2009 at 05:19:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

For personal moral reasons (4.00 / 2)

I never submitted my resume to Blackwater. The Foreign Legion was always different to me, at least they have French army officers.

It's funny that you bring up Rhodiasians while we had a medic in Panama who was ex-Selous Scouts and came to the US and joined us....

I don't think it is appropriate to go further into that...

not because I don't want to, but only because I am not sure what I can say

"Schiller sprach zu Goethe, Steck in dem Arsch die Flöte! Goethe sagte zu Schiller, Mein Arsch ist kein Triller!"

by Jeffersonian Democrat (rzg6f@virginia.edu) on Sat May 16th, 2009 at 05:39:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: For personal moral reasons (none / 1)

Yeah, I guess there is actually a mile-wide difference between the Foreign Legion and Blackwater, at least for you who unlike the Rhodesians have a home to go back to.

Without any considerations to the political complications of the conflict, it was quite remarkable, and most so the Selous Scouts.

Well, the SAS and RLI got all the glory while the Selous actually did the most impressive (=insane) infiltration stuff (given that it was a mixed unit), not to say that to look down on the efforts of the SAS and RLI. The Selous Scouts inflicted 68 % of all enemy casualties in the 1973-1980 period, in spite of numbering just 1500 men. Not strange that they're still looked after.

Ex-members of Rhodesian SAS C squadron in Iraq.

Though I've always found Grey's Scouts the most fascinating. A real and succesful cavalry unit started as late as 1975, how weird isn't that? Observe the cavalry shock with FN FAL's at 1:50.

Also weird is the massive use of DC-3 Dakotas as late as 1980. And the immense number of combat drops for the soldiers of the RLI, sometimes several in a single day.

:: ::

Sorry about the threadjacking, it's just that I'm reading up on the Yom Kippur war and the Rhodesian bush war at the moment.

Peak oil is not an energy crisis. It is a liquid fuel crisis.

by Starvid on Sat May 16th, 2009 at 06:10:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

If the picture doesn't load. (none / 1)

http://bp2.blogger.com/_I39gilKF3zE/R8g7UGaMdYI/AAAAAAAAAZs/Z3kTSYyR-Fw/s1600-h/irak.jpg

Peak oil is not an energy crisis. It is a liquid fuel crisis.

by Starvid on Sat May 16th, 2009 at 06:17:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: For personal moral reasons (4.00 / 2)

The DC-3 was a fine aircraft that was still in use in Vietnam in the 70s as AC-47 "Puff" the Magic Dragon. I understand it could fly on one engine and glide fairly well with none. I flew quite a few miles on the C-47 military version during the 60s and seem to recall losing an engine once without dire consequences.

I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears

by Gringo (stargazing camel at aoldotcom) on Sun May 17th, 2009 at 09:30:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: heh (none / 1)

35 years old? What's the reasoning behind this?

"It Can't Be Just About Us"
--Frank Schnittger, ETian Extraordinaire

by papicek (papi_cek_at_hotmail_dot_com) on Sun May 17th, 2009 at 01:04:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ok, I am pissed at Europeans (4.00 / 2)

JeffDem, I thought you were in grad school or some such? No longer?

by Mnemosyne on Sun May 17th, 2009 at 12:46:45 PM EST

Re: Ok, I am pissed at Europeans (4.00 / 2)

I'm still in grad school, just getting scared about what comes after...

and depressed about aging, one year older and considering hair dye for the greys....

ugh

"Schiller sprach zu Goethe, Steck in dem Arsch die Flöte! Goethe sagte zu Schiller, Mein Arsch ist kein Triller!"

by Jeffersonian Democrat (rzg6f@virginia.edu) on Sun May 17th, 2009 at 03:07:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ok, I am pissed at Europeans (none / 1)

Hang in there. Remember that 40 is the new 20! Or so I hear tell.

by Mnemosyne on Sun May 17th, 2009 at 07:42:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ok, I am pissed at Europeans (none / 1)

Believe me there's plenty of work out there for someone with your background and age. You just need to have a few contacts in the right places or stumble upon the right opportunity. Job hunting is one of the most difficult things most people ever have to do. At your age, and with your experience, many prospective employers are not looking to fill a position you'd qualify for with a new recruit though. Government job positions and some private sector ones are often based on seniority, so older men and women with no years in the organization/government/company are frozen out. Look to the private sector and aim somewhere in the middle.

I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears

by Gringo (stargazing camel at aoldotcom) on Sun May 17th, 2009 at 09:12:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Europe is ageist (4.00 / 3)

I'll soon be 35, at which point unemployment becomes a chronic condition if contracted.

The brainless should not be in banking. — Willem Buitler

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon May 18th, 2009 at 05:47:25 PM EST

Re: Europe is ageist (4.00 / 2)

Solution: Move to America-->Apply for job you are eminently qualified for-->Suffer age discrimination-->Sue-->Profit.

by asdf on Thu May 21st, 2009 at 09:59:46 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Ok, I am pissed at Europeans | 16 comments (16 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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Ok, I am pissed at Europeans

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