Coming Of Age Experience

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Last week I interviewed my father Jim Skidmore about some important coming of age experiences he has had. It starts on the first day of summer, As all of the previous high school seniors run free getting ready for college or enjoying their summer, Jim packs his bag for basic training. This would be the start of the things that would shape him the most and as he said, “Everything I needed to learn about life, I learned in the military.”
Jim had always wanted to travel but, as a senior in highschool he decided that “I wanted to get out of tiffin and see the world” so, knowing he wasn't interested in college he joined the military. After signing up for the Air Force he was sent to take a test to insure he was intelligent enough to

work on planes as well as make munitions. Once he had passed the test which, he claimed he did with “Flying colors” he was sent to basic training which, he said “Was the hardest thing I have ever done seconded only by football two a days” and, once he had finished basic training he was shipped to Germany. In Germany he was given his objective build ammunition and help local populace if necessary and, a part of helping the populace was getting to know them first. Allowed to do this how they saw fit, along with the extremely low drinking age in Germany, Jim decided that was where he would start. “ I learned that all people are different but all people are essentially the same one on one” Jim quickly found out that the people there were very happy to have soldiers near by if not for the extra income then for the companionship.
Jim left Germany a little less than two years later as he was promoted to a military base in Turkey. “It was very different you could tell it was an unstable area. People set carts up on the roads children offered to clean your shoes for nickels it took a bit to get used to” but, Jim enjoyed his time there and learned a lot “I learned it is a very small but diverse world and as I made more friends I understood further that all people really are the same one on one.” Jim lived in turkey for another two years before he was promoted again except this time he decided to resign. “I just had seen a good portion of what I had wanted to see.”
Once back in the United States Jim settled back in with his parents while searching for a job. In the meantime Jim met Jenna Sager and soon after they got married and had a child Jimmy Skidmore. Jim had been working at Fort Ball pizza but, Jenna’s father Jeff had been able to get him a good job at American Standard and he worked there for about five years until he was laid off. “I couldn't get a good job that paid anywhere near what American Standard did without a college degree so I used my G.I Bill and applied to Terra” (A G.I bill is money the government gives veterans for college) He was accepted to Terra and spent the next two years getting his Associate's degree in Industrial Electricity. “It seemed like the most useful major as we live in an area with lots of industry plus, it would pay well as soon as I got my degree.” Jim then got a job at Norplas in Toledo, Ohio and is still employed there to this day.
This is as far as Jim’s story goes to date and, it’s been one filled with twists and turns but, Jim’s glad it has turned out the way it has. “I still believe that I learned the most about life in the military and firmly believe it shaped me into who I am.”