HARD AT WORK

I can't really reveal very much of my job, considering what I do. It's not like I'm some kind of special agent or anything, but I do work for the government as a contractor employee for Lockheed Martin Energy Systems. We work in a nuclear weapons facility, in Oak Ridge Tennessee, on what they call the Special Response Team. The S.R.T.'s are the elite guard force for the Department Of Energy. It is common knowledge that the S.R.T. is something similar to a S.W.A.T. team, just a different name, but with similar functions. Keeping the actual job vague, I'll only talk about some of the great training that we receive.

You'll see on the page a "stack up" during training as we're on our way in to the live fire house. The live fire house is made from tires that are stacked up on one another and then filled with sand. These sand-filled tires will absorb all round that may possibily miss the bullet traps that the targets are stapled to. You'll see some of these "cartoon type" targets in some of the pictures.

Big Jerry, a lean, mean, fighting machine, is showing off his perfectly executed targets in one of the pictures. He looks like a proud father next to them, doesn't he?

The live fire house simulates a real building with doors, hallways and separate rooms. The object of the entry is to secure the area from unwanted individuals such as terrorists or activists. This practice could be used for guarding executives, removing terrorists form commercial structures and, as we do, secure nuclear weapons facilities. I wouldn't want to look up and see these folks coming through a door after me! Training is fun most of the time. As you can see, even the trainers get a little wacky from time to time.

We also have other guard groups that have other functions throughout the plant. These other groups provide access control to the different areas and patrol the grounds for unwanted visitors. They also have a vital role in the protection of this country's most sensitive materials and equipment. These folks do their fair share of work and are greatly appreciated by all the S.R.T. These position don't require as much physical training as we do, giving the guard force a place to go in later years of employment.

I spend my time working on my normal job, plus my fair share of over time. I also like working as an auxiliary officer for the Campbell County Sheriff's Department, here in Tennessee. It's totally voluntary, no pay, but I enjoy the work for the most part. You'll see pictures of my boots and hat like I wear at work and the same that I wear for the Sheriff's Department. Don't ask why I took pictures of my boots. I just thought it would be a cool idea. One of my friends will be making a more detailed web page showing our training techniques in the future. When he does, I'll leave a link to his site. I'm sure you will like it!

Check out some of the links on the page and as always, Email me for whatever reason. Questions, comments, hate mail, whatever. Mail me anyway, I can take it!