Montana Conservation Corps - Tools for Living. Experience for life.

So you want to know what it’s like to be a member of the Veterans Green Corps?

Well, lets start with the basics. stuff everything you need for ten days into a backpack, grab your tent, sleeping bag and other miscellaneous items required for living in the mountains of the great outdoors, in any weather condition be it snow, rain, wind, heat, cold, day or night and be able to eat what is in front of you(no matter how much or how little)be willing to swing a tool all day long and to run a chainsaw for hours at a time and sometimes having to carry all that gear(gas, oil, food, water, tools, daypack, medical kits, chainsaws and all your PPE gear)for feet to yards to miles at a time across back fire roads or up and over a variety of hills and slopes of varying terrain…be willing to work in the rain or the cold or the sun burning heat all the while attracting as many mosquitoes, bees, flies, spiders and even snakes.  Sometimes getting bit by as many as you can in as many places as possible all the while getting generally filthy as you possibly can, and whatever you do..Don’t Bathe.  Also be prepared to fall down..alot. Bang yourself up on rocks, roots, trees , sticks and in the brush getting scraped up.  All the while moving stuff you see during the day like brush, tree branches, entire trees, rocks, logs picking them up and moving them around.  Keep this up for the entire ten day hitch, and if you think your having a good time, you may just make it as a Vet Crew Member.  And if your genuinely having the time of your life and want more of it, someone just may want to hire you. Hey, no one said it was going to be easy. 

HOWEVER>>>the perks of the job are unmatched.  Simple things like getting to see some of the most beautiful natural scenery you will ever see.  Traveling to spots that only you and your crew get to see and be at. Getting to meet the locals of the towns you travel thru as you move from job site to job site.  The satisfaction that you will get from completing each new job assignment.  The wildlife that you will get to see up close (is that a moose outside my tent ?! ) and for me personally, the best perk of all was getting to meet the guys of my crew, developing a brotherhood, working together building trust (man to my left, man to my right kind of trust) and friendships which i still have to this day.. ya, at times it was tuff, and it got ruff and and it even hurt once and awhile.  At times you would feel frustrated and annoyed by those around you, but it was those same ones around you that help you thru it, give you a hand up when you need it.  Friends and new friendships…and nicknames, OMG everyone will get a nickname!  like it or not.  LOL.  well, if your not scared off by now, then your probably right for the job.  Enjoy and have fun, because you will and it is.

- Mike Lopez, a.k.a. Gramps - 2011 Veteran Green Corps Member

• Read the full post
• 1 Comments
• Montana