Hello Everyone. New to the site and forums, just want to introduce myself.
I grew up in a small farm community in east central Illinois. I loved being outdoors and camping in general. In my teens, I gained an interest in muscle cars and owned one until the age of 19.
At the age of 17 I joined the U.S. Army reserves as an X-ray specialist. Underwent Basic training at Fort Bliss Texas in the summer of 1985 on the split option training program. After returning home and completing high school, I reported to Fort Sam Houston Texas in June of 1986 and completed the X-ray specialist program in January of 1987. After kicking around back home for a few months working a crappy minimum wage job, I decided to enlist in the Regular Army. In June of 1987 I was sent to Fort Leonard Wood Missouri for two weeks until I received my orders for my duty assignment.
I arrived in Hawaii in June of 1987, and was assigned to the 25th Medical Battalion 25th Infantry Division(L). I served in Hawaii for 6 year, and participated in several deployments throughout the Pacific Rim to include Korea, Japan, and several excercises on the Big Island of Hawaii.
After Hawaii, I served in several other locations around the world, Including Fort Knox Kentucky, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 1st Support Battalion Sinai Egypt, Lyster Army Hospital Fort Rucker Alabama, and a brief temporary duty to Germany while at Walter Reed. My career culminated with a 2 year assignment as a Radiation Physics and EMT Basic(Basic Medical Orientation) Instructor at the Army Medical Department and School at Fort Sam Houston at the end of which I retired from the Army.
Toward the end of my Army career I married and we had two wonderful children. I have a Son who is 11 years old , and a Daughter that is 10 years old. Although divorced now, their Mother and I have a good relationship, and are friends. Sometimes things just don't work out, and in my opinion, there is no need for conflict, especially when children are involved.
After retiring I have worked as a Cat Scan technologist at a Level 1 trauma center, and for the last 8 year as an MRI technologist here in Clearwater. I have also rekindled my interest in the outdoors in the last 2-3 years, wanting to get out and disconnect from everyday life. I currently enjoy getting out, backpacking and hammock camping. The hammock camping lead me to sleep full time in a hammock, even at home, for the last 18 months or so.
Having followed Overland Bound on YT for the last year or so, I decided to get involved in Overlanding and combine it with my backpacking/hammocking interests. I am in the process of buying a 2002 Toyota 4Runner SR5 Sport that has a partial build already performed. I plan on finishing up the build in the next few months, and going on a few outings to get familiar with some of the processes, and details of overlanding. I look forward to participating on the forums, and hopefully to meet some of the members in the Florida area.
Cheers,
Scott
