Even though I’m a “double digit midget” things at Eighth Army Headquarters continue apace.
I led my team in providing some much needed training to our senior leaders in civilian personnel issues. For many in the officer cadre, working with civilians with the various rules and regulations associated with that workforce is a mystery that can be frustrating. Hopefully we managed to ease their minds some.
Today I also attended the Command Staff briefing to our 3-Star Commanding General. I did take note of the fact that on all the calendar slides the dates after mid-May lost all significance to me. I guess maybe I do have some symptoms of short timer-itis after all.
Oh, and I was asked to provide a copy of my bio…hmm. I’ve got a hunch what that is for, but I’ll let it be a surprise. For your reading enjoyment:
JOHN M. McCRAREY
Director, Human Resource Management
HQ 8th U.S. Army, Pyeongtaek, Republic of Korea
Mr. McCrarey began his career in federal service with the United States Postal Service in 1976 at Anaheim, California as a Letter Carrier. In his twenty-four years with the Postal Service he held positions of increasing responsibility in Prescott, Arizona; Fort Smith, Arkansas; Columbia, South Carolina; and Arlington, Virginia. His key assignments included Safety Manager, Labor Relations Specialist, Director, Human Resources, and Manager, Labor Relations. In 2001, Mr. McCrarey accepted a labor relations position with the United States Department of Education in Washington, DC. He joined the Army team in Korea in January 2005 as Chief, Labor and Performance Management and assumed responsibilities as Deputy Director in December 2007 and Director in June 2009. Mr. McCrarey retired from government service on 31 December 2010 but agreed to return to duty in the Directorate of Human Resources Management in June 2015, and accepted promotion to his former position as Director in September 2016.
Mr. McCrarey earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management from Southern Wesleyan University and did graduate studies at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia.. He is a graduate of the USPS Advanced Leadership Program and the Excellence in Government Fellows Program. Mr. McCrarey is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources Management (SPHR).
You know, it occurs to me that my job is the best part of my life these days. Paradoxically, that is also the most compelling reason to retire again and find a meaningful life outside of work. We’ll see soon enough. In 58 days.
On this morning’s walk into the office I noticed these words of wisdom:
I’ll take that as a sign.
And on my afternoon walk I discovered more evidence that things here in Pyeongtaek are just a little bit off:
Every tenth Sunday?
All that walking has it’s rewards… 5,000 miles with the FitBit, apparently the equivalent of walking Africa end-to-end.
On the Facebook front, I got this reminder of something I posted 8 years ago today:
As I’ve been looking back at some old photographs I find myself wondering if I really enjoyed those moments as much as I should have way back then. You know, it is very easy as we live each day to focus on what’s ahead or behind us or whatever trouble we have on our mind. But really, there is so much to appreciate right in front of our nose and sometimes we miss that.
It seems I was a lot smarter then than I am now, don’t you think?
And it was only four years ago that I made the news:
“Man with wildly erratic darts endangers hotel guests” is how I recall the headline.
True enough. EspeciallyBut only if they stay by your side through thick and thin.
I’m wide open to whatever comes next in life. Open heart and open mind. Bring it on!
“True enough. Especially if they stay by your side through thick and thin.”
I’d change the “Especially” to a “But only.” Heh.
Good point. I stand corrected. And so does the post!
My apologies—I didn’t mean that as a correction to you. I was merely talking about my somewhat cynical perspective on the matter of women. Sorry.
No No! I got that, I just meant your version was better and more accurate! I also thought crossing out “basically” really emphasizes the “but only”.
In other words, I like the way you think!
Cheers!
So we’re square, then.
This sudden spate of mutual politeness calls to mind an old joke that my mother heard at work and brought home to the family:
The politest man in the world managed to find the politest woman in the world. The two fell in love, got married, and in short order, the wife was pregnant. After a few months, the wife had her first sonogram, and the doctor reported, “Congratulations! You’ve got twin boys!” The couple were delighted, and they eagerly anticipated the arrival of their two kids.
But something strange happened. The due date for the birth came and went, and there was no sign of the mother’s ever going into labor. Days became weeks; weeks became months; months became years. Nothing.
Even the most polite couple in the world couldn’t wait forever, so the two finally broke down, went to the hospital, and demanded a full examination to determine what was going on.
The doctors put the mother under a scanner, flipped on the audio and video, and saw two ancient, wrinkled babies inside the mother, each with a snow-white beard, and each endlessly prompting the other with, “After you!” “No, after you!”
Haha! Well, listen you old so and so, we will definitely not take it that far!
Lots of experience you had quit a experience is moving up to top. Question you might know answer to with your background ; how does this McCabe fbi head lose his pension if fired days before retire??
Samson, it is all about having years of service and age. It seems fucked up to me to try and deny an earned pension. Maybe not as fucked up as engaging in partisan politics instead of doing your job. But, yeah.