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Jack Farnlacher Jobs Summary -- User-Selected Expansions
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Current Business Activities:
2004 September - Present -– Retail Sales Clerk
Trader Joe’s Company, Easton store, Columbus, Ohio. Duties:
Part-Time crew members do order-writing, check-out lanes (cash
register), bagging, stocking shelves, and customer service.P - Store management needed a way to bring together employees in this new store.
A - Management asked me to produce a bi-weekly newsletter; I recruited other employees to be co-editors and editted their work into a one-page, two-sided newsletter.
R - For more than twelve months, employees have enjoyed a newsletter about themselves, have worked better as a team, and have received important information from others in the store.
P - Management saw that employees were not accurately handling money at checkout registers.
A - Each employee was required to count their cash drawer before and after their shift.
R - My consistent accuracy is well known to management, so they frequently do not ask me to count-out.
P - Other employees failed to maintain two highly-visible sections in the store -- energy bars and vitamins, together totalling about 250 product SKUs.
A - I have successfully maintained both sections for months, ordering products as needed in this just-in-time environment.
R - Both sections look great and are maintained to management's satisfaction.
2004 February - Present -- Substitute Teaching
I have an Ohio long-term substitute teacher
license and have taught for eight different school districts in
Franklin County.P - With no formal classroom teaching experience, I needed to learn to be an effective substitute teacher.
A - I learned to interact with students of different ages, maintain order and complete assigned material, as well as use disciplinary resources available in each school.
R - I have successfully completed many days of teaching and met or exceeded the expectations of the schools where I have served.
P - My goals were to be a full-time substitute teacher and to learn skills I could apply to my nonprofit startup project (The Home Network Center).
A - I have taught for Canal Winchester, Columbus Public, Franklin County Educational Service Center, Groveport Madison, Hamilton Local, New Albany-Plain Local, South-Western City Schools, and Westerville City Schools.
R - From February to the end of the 2003-2004 school year, I taught 92% of all available teaching days and met most of my financial obligations. I have learned a lot about students of today. I have gained a better understanding of techniques that will be useful for my nonprofit.
P - Near the end of the 2003-2004 school year, a strings instrumental music teacher scheduled a two-week absence to be with his family upin the delivery of their third child. His wife delivered prematurely, so he left school without being ready for his sub. I was responsible for string ensembles in one high school, one middle school, and four elementary schools. Oh yes -- my music background is with brass, not strings.
A - I applied Wood Badge principles (from Boy Scout adult leader training). In each section, I encouraged one or more students to lead their group, rehearsing those pieces that needed work. I taught myself how to tune violins and cellos. At the high school, I turned the class over to the concert master after attendance was taken. She did a wonderful job--leading and delegating responsibility.
R - Shortly after my two weeks ended, all of the students gave their end-of-school-year concert. Before the concert began, the music teacher explained to the audience that usually, when a teacher is out for two weeks, teaching programs like his usually lose ground and go backward. Not this time, he said. He then conducted a wonderful concert. If he had known I was there, he later wrote to me, he would have recognized me to the audience.
2000 February - Present -- Educational nonprofit startup project
The Home Network Center (THNC), Columbus, Ohio. THNC is a
nonprofit startup corporation. THNC will educate people about
technologies used in the home and will safeguard the public good.
It will create a better environment for the development of home
networking and its relationship with humanity.P - I was under-employed and was unable to find better employment.
A - In my mind, I created an educational nonprofit called The Home Network Center (THNC). I wrote down my ideas about THNC, developed needed documentation, and learned what was needed to create a nonprofit organization.
R - My nonprofit is incorporated in Ohio and recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) organization. I have created all necessary documentation including Bylaws and a 48-page employee handbook. My board of directors is formed and awaits funding before reconvening.
P - After my nonprofit was formed and had received its 501(c)(3) status, how could I help it to be successful? I was struggling with a lot of unknowns and personal issues, including... my marriage was failing; I had limited experience teaching younger children; and I had limited experience in retailing. What was I to do?
A - I divorced my first wife in an honorable way - without destroying her life. I became a substitute teacher and taught in many schools at all grade levels. I have worked for 19 months in a retail grocery environment, greatly increasing my previous retail exposure. And, an unexpected positive development, I met a wonderful woman who has become a very positive, supportive part of my life. We are approaching the first anniversary of our wedding.
R - My nonprofit is now in a wonderful situation and has a much better chance of success. I still need to find funding and there are many other hurdles ahead. The personal barriers that faced me three years ago have been triumphantly oversome.
1974 March - Present -- Self-Employed
The Jack Of All Trades Company, Columbus, Ohio. I
have been involved with home construction and remodeling, clock
and tower clock repair; website construction; business start-ups
(The Home Network Center, PanCarb of Ohio, and others); inventor;
product development of home networking systems, genealogy
research, security systems design, and more.P - In 1974, I needed a business entity from which to purchase supplies and to represent myself as a business.
A - The name I chose for my various business activities - since my nickname is Jack and I am involved in many trades - I am literally "The Jack Of All Trades".
R - I have completed many projects, established credit for my business, and opened several commercial accounts.
2003 April - 2003 August -- Apartment Maintenance Technician
Dragoo & Associates, Inc., Columbus, OH. Professionally managed
town home apartment communities. Performed punch-out work on
apartments during summer surge period.P - Without supervision, I was to perform all repairs needed to return each town home to rentable condition. I was assigned one apartment at a time and expected to complete the work myself.
A - I analyzed the repair work to be done; pulled needed parts; performed repairs to plumbing, electrical, ceiling fan, floor tile, doors, door frames, garage doors, re-screened windows and doors. Installed new blinds, mantels, sinks, faucets, wastes, disposers, ceiling fans, receptacles, GFCI devices, and re-pinned lock cylinders, as needed. I recorded my work and time on schedule sheets.
R - As part of the maintenance team, we completed all necessary work during the available summer months, before the busy autumn rental season.
2001 December - 2003 April -- Retail Sales Clerk
Campbell Supply, Inc., Marion, Ohio. Hardware store (hardware,
farm, industrial, belts, fasteners) and U-Haul dealer. Do It
Best (HWI) hardware store; full retail sales experience;
stocking shelves, cash register operations, create special
orders for customers; design, set-up, and restock displays;
serve at parts counter, parts look-up in manuals and with
micro-fiche; set-up mowers and other mechanical devices as
needed.P - In a small hardware store, I was expected to work without support when alone in the store or when other employees were busy.
A - I learned all aspects of the business needed to perform hardware sales transactions, provide customer service, and provide full U-Haul services for customers including local and one-way reservations and rentals in multiple U-Haul POS environments.
R - I could work independently, without supervision and without relying on the owner or other employees.
P - When the owner was on vacation or out of the store, I was responsible for store operation.
A - In addition to regular duties, I took inventory, performed Telxon reordering, opened and closed the store, counted and prepared each day's receipts, and delivered checks and cash to the bank's night depository.
R - Store operations continued without interruption while the owner was away.
2001 May - 2001 June –- LAN/WAN Cable Installer
M Telecommunications Inc., Westerville, OH. This was a new
telecommunications section of M Engineering, Inc., mechanical,
electrical, industrial, and structural engineers.P - In this new business startup, a small group of workers had been recruited from other companies to install data cable, but none had the same level of training.
A - I applied my experience to each assignment and helped complete each project using industry standard techniques.
R - I helped others complete their assigned work at an appropriate skill-level. When projects were completed and no additional contracts were available, I sought work elsewhere.
1999 January - 2001 December -- Telecommunications Data Technician
MicroCom.Net, Inc. (a.k.a. Micro Consultants), Marion, Ohio 43302.
Install, terminate, and repair data networks. Experience with
Category 5 UTP, Fiber Optic, and Coaxial cable.P - Experienced workers would complete assigned work but would not report back to their supervisor for new assignments.
A - After each assigned task, I returned immediately to ask "What's next?".
R - I quickly earned a reputation as a reliable, conscientious worker.
P - When more experienced workers were busy on other sites, no one was available to terminate cables at hubs and router panels.
A - I volunteered and learned these skills.
R - I became part of the top level of workers, capable of terminating all types of cable.
P - A surge of work overwhelmed office staff. Since the State of Ohio required that each SchoolNet project be accompanied by correct documentation, reports showing cable locations and labeling had to be produced.
A - I volunteered, learned the protocols, and used my own computer to do this work.
R - I completed almost half of all reports done by this company.
P - This small company had technical needs but no employee qualified to do them.
A - I learned enough Access, VBA, and SQL to create a basic database search tool; I also created a second generation website for the company.
R - The website stayed active and online for several years. The database tool was not powerful enough to meet the expectations of management and was never used.
P - On a difficult assignment at a resort hotel, other workers became frustrated over work conditions and asked to be reassigned.
A - I was subsequently assigned to the project, because I had the analytical skills needed to maintain records of the work as it progressed and the patience to successfully interact with the owner-builder and his construction crew.
R - I helped complete all telephone, data, and music system cabling work before an EPA work stoppage seriously postponed plans to open the resort.
- Automotive Plant Associate with Olsten for Honda of America Mfg., Inc., Marysville, OH, eight months;
- Programmer with Adia/Adecco for Data Resource Management, Inc., Galion, OH, five months;
- Security Officer with Wackenhut for Whirlpool Mfg., Inc., Marion, OH, four months;
- Office Manager with Manpower for Web Plastics, Marion, OH, six weeks.
1996 August - 1998 November -- temporary employments
After the eight years with The Supreme Court of Ohio, I tried to
find meaningful employment with another major user of computers.
My did not have the skills companies wanted. While I waited for
opportunities, I worked at temporary jobs. Here are the most
significant of those experiences:
P - As an automobile plant associate for Honda, I needed to work in a large factory environment and learn the required skills.
A - I worked one month in the e-coat paint department and about seven months in the plastic department, trimming polyethelene bumpers for Accords.
R - I performed work at the same level as regular employees and matched or exceeded that level of quality. I completed the defined temporary associate work program of 1,468 work hours without unexcused absence or tardiness and received a letter of commendation.
P - As a programmer for Data Resource Management, I worked as a programmer on various projects.
A - In this small company, there was no place for me to work and no suitable computer for me to use.
R - To do their work, I purchased my own computer and worked at home, making weekly trips to their office to turn in work and receive new assignments.
P - As a security officer for Wackenhut, I needed to know all 49 fire stops throughout the factory and to walk the prescribed route, as well as knowing emergency procedures and reporting techniques.
A - I memorized the route performed duties as required, and walked the route in reverse order for fun.
R - This night job gave me plenty of time to think, organize my thoughts, and develop my ideas about inventions and business ideas. Here, I had time to develop and focus my ideas for The Home Network Center.
P - As an office manager for Web Plastics, I helped prepare this Marion company for its move to Cleveland.
A - I started just answering the phone and quickly acquired other responsibilities.
R - Soon, I was doing everything their previous office manager had done, including working in the plant. I did all this until the plant closed.
1988 March - 1996 February -- Systems Librarian and Programmer
The Supreme Court of Ohio Law Library, Columbus, Ohio. Largest
state supreme court law library in America. I was the principle,
technical computer systems person in the Law Library and was
personally responsible for creating the computer environment.
I created and maintained mainframe and PC network capabilities
where none existed before. I created a performance standard for
this new computer installation. He installed hardware and software,
trained library staff, interfaced between library computer
equipment, library staff, and library patrons. I provided ongoing
support and created a dependable environment for the supreme court
justices, their staff, law firms, the general public, and library staff.P - A large research law library needed to computerize its daily operations.
A - I completed all phases of the technical work of the project -- from start to finish.
R - I created a successful transition from the manual card file environment to an interactive computer system used by library patrons and staff. This project required eight years to complete.
P - My supervisors at the law library were intelligent people, but they chose not to learn about the computers they had asked me to install. For most of the eight years, my immediate supervisor regularly told me: "I don't know what you're doing; therefore, I'm not going to support you!"
A - I believed in the value of my work. I felt an ethical responsibility to users of the law library. I overcame the supervisors' negativity and performed my work anyway. I tried on numerous occasions to offer explanations of the work being done.
R - I stuck with the project and completed all of it, successfully, without their approval or encouragement.
P - A manual card catalog had been shown to be inadequate for research needs of the Supreme Court.
A - I created mainframe and PC network capabilities where none existed before.
R - Better quality decisions, decreased research time, and fewer errors by the Court.
P - No one in the Supreme Court or with the State of Ohio had ever created the required environment to run the NOTIS application package.
A - I learned everything necessary to install and maintain all aspects of hardware and software support for the mainframe computer and PCs.
R - The quality of my work created a dependable, comprehensive computer environment.
P - No one in the Ohio Supreme Court had never used State of Ohio mainframe computers.
A - I created and developed working, professional liaisons with specialists in all areas of the Ohio Data Network.
R - I fostered long-term support for the Supreme Court and the resources for solving problems that affected the NOTIS environment.
P - Terminals were needed throughout law library for staff and patrons.
A - I managed the project, produced mechanical drawings, and created liaison with building staff technicians -- for the installation of electrical outlets and data cables.
R - I successfully monitored workers' progress and the proper installation of electrical and data terminals.
P - Attorneys, judges, and the public needed online access to library holdings.
A - I specified and monitored the creation of a dialup access service to the NOTIS software and to the law library holdings.
R - Users of the law library now had extended hours to access information in the database, saving undetermined amounts of time and money for patrons, especially for those living outside of the Columbus metropolitan area.
1987 November - 1988 March -- Analyst-Programmer
Under contract to PMI / Hobart Corp., Troy, OH.
Kitchen equipment manufacturer for commercial and consumer
markets.P - Hobart's engineering design software was inefficient and difficult to use.
A - I wrote pre-processor screen software for simpler, more reliable data entry.
R - Design engineers and technicians knew - just from using this software - what its design limitations were. They enjoyed faster turnaround, reduced input errors, and greater confidence in the design process.
1987 March - 1987 August -- Senior Systems Analyst
New business startup: defense subcontractor for development of
classified Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI - "Star Wars") project
contract work.P - A new, defense subcontractor startup business needed a finished Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence (C3I) battle simulation product able to be demonstrated to SDI contractors by a fixed deadline.
A - I used project management techniques to develop close working relationships with mission-critical staff specialists and reduced to a minimum the time interval between submitted theory and functional, operational code.
R - I produced over 10,000 lines of code in less than five months and created a finished, software product that clearly demonstrated C3I strategies.
P - This new company had very limited resources. It needed to demonstrate mainframe computer techniques on an affordable microcomputer (PC).
A - I used my knowledge of scaling to ensure that the product would work in both computer environments.
R - The finished product successfully demonstrated C3I mainframe concepts.
1984 May - 1985 June -- Under contract to Pancarb of Ohio, Inc.
The Jack Of All Trades Co., Marion, OH. New business start-up:
services for an auto parts manufacturing business.P - A new startup company needed administrative and technical support.
A - I served as acting president and engineering support technician.
R - The inventor concentrated more fully on product development and performance issues.
1983 August - 1984 April -- Senior Programmer Analyst
F & P Engineers, Inc., Columbus, Ohio. Industrial grain handling systems:
consulting, design, and engineering. P - Production CAE and CAD costs were very high for complicated, low-volume drawings.
A - I designed and created a new CAD system for generating these drawings.
R - CAD drawings were created faster and more cheaply than before.
1983 June - 1983 August -- Computer Seminar Instructor
Under contract to Marion City Schools, Marion, Ohio.
Middle schools began using Apple Computer products as part of their curriculum.P - Middle-school teachers were intimidated by their new computers.
A - I developed a course that assumed nothing about their knowledge of computers. Each lesson (exercise) built upon previous lessons. I presented the material and taught it so that teachers worked in pairs and moved at their own speed.
R - The one-day seminar was such a great success that I was asked to do it again, this time for secretaries and principals. I was even considered for a new technical support position with Marion City Schools.
1982 November - 1983 June -- Security Systems Designer and Installer
Self-employed, Jack Of All Trades Co., Marion, Ohio. Customized
systems and services for customers.P - My customer's home was burglarized while they were on vacation. I was asked to install a high-technology residential burglar and fire alarm system.
A - Since the system was not available commercially, I designed and built one to meet the customer's specifications. I then installed all of the system components in their home.
R - My customer was very happy with their new system. Its ease of use, convenience, and maximum security brought great confidence to them.
1982 August - 1982 November -- Family Genealogical Researcher
Self-employed, Jack Of All Trades Co., Marion, Ohio. Professional
research services.P - I was out-of-work and unable to find professional employment. I decided to use whatever time was available to discover my family's genealogical origins and try to find other living relatives.
A - I performed full-time research in family and public records, in libraries, and in genealogical databases.
R - I initiated this research project and was joined by my father and later by our cousin Richard. From 1982 to the present, our combined efforts have researched 2,321 individuals from 845 families, who have lived in America, Canada, or Europe, and dating back to 1584. Our work has made an exciting difference in many lives and brought together families once unknown to each other.
1982 June -1982 August -- Programmer-Analyst
Fulfillment Corp., Marion, Ohio. Nationwide magazine fulfillment
services provider.P - Expanding markets had placed heavy demands on old software.
A - I helped to program new software and updated customer accounts.
R - I helped to create a cross-referencing tool for client companies.
I learned a valuable lesson from this company. The company's secret hiring policy was to hire more new employees than were needed to fill available openings. When the probationary period ended, some were dismissed. I had been invited in for four separate interviews by company employees trying to recruit me for the position. Even that did not save me from termination.
1979 March - 1982 May -- Graphics Analyst
Marion Power Shovel, Marion, Ohio. Surface mining equipment
manufacturer: draglines, mining shovels, and drills.P - CAD-CAM operators had used trial and error methods to produce complex parts.
A - I used detailed mathematical analysis and interactive software to help operators quickly generate the same parts.
R - I raised operator efficiency and their overall level of performance. I reduced the level of on-the-job frustration.
P - Engineers had a low level of confidence in technical computer-based solutions.
A - I learned to use Linear Algebra and produced long, involved mathematical proofs of computer-based results. I manually recreated results that the graphics computer had given.
R - I helped create higher levels of confidence in computer processes and renewed a quality relationship with engineers.
1978 February - 1979 February -- Data Processing Manager
Popped Right, Inc., Marion, Ohio. Corn-based snack foods producer
and distributor.P - This rapidly-growing company had outgrown its old computer.
A - I researched computer options and prepared a comparative analysis. I recommended which computer to buy, installed the new computer, and trained employees in its use.
R - The new computer brought greater efficiency to accounting operations and helped facilitate continued corporate growth.
P - Employees at this 35-year old company did not understand the potential of data processing and the role that computers could have in the growth and success of the company.
A - I used every opportunity to encourage employees, including management, to use their computer better and to expect the benefits they would receive.
R - The accounting department became more efficient; employees seemed to have better feelings about their work and the roles the new computer could have.
1974 March - 1978 January -- Systems Analyst
The Fairfield Engineering Company, Marion, Ohio. Industrial conveyor
systems: design, engineering, manufacturing, and erection for
specialized bulk handling environments.P - When I was hired, there was an absence of technical leadership. No standards existed for computer performance.
A - I created an environment for responsible computer processing.
R - As software using my standards began to work better and more dependably, employee's time shifted away from crisis management and back to their respective work tasks.
P - When bad accounting input data caused unexpected results, software would fail in unpredictable and unexpected ways.
A - I added simple recovery procedures to all accounting programs and subroutines. Every simple process was tested before failure could occur and error messages were generated to inform operators.
R - Accounting software ran correctly and predictably. Payroll check printing was completed on schedule. A long-time employee said to me, "After you can to Fairfield, we knew we would get our payroll checks on time!"
P - At this 55-year old company, no one had established standards for quality assurance and for computer programming.
A - I created a standard based on the methods I had used to stabilize existing programs. I wrote a software guidebook describing these standards. It included sections on documentation and programming theory.
R - Other programmers were shown defined, acceptable methods for writing, modifying, and maintaining software.
P - Engineers routinely worked with length measurements in feet, inches, and fractional inches. Their computer programs only accepted real numbers. This required engineers to convert each measurement to a real form before using it as input data.
A - I created a set of pre- and post-processor routines that converted foot, inch, and fractional-inch measurements into real numbers for input and back again for output. I anticipated the advent of computer terminals and direct input by users.
R - Engineers spent their time more productively. Software ran more predictably with fewer errors and faster turnaround. Engineers submitted and received back measurements that they could use immediately.
P - Structural engineers could not perform reliable indeterminate beam loading calculations using existing software programs. These calculations were of critical importance in the design of Fairfield's products.
A - I worked with an accomplished structural engineer and converted his equations into new software. Using foot, inch, and fractional-inch pre- and post-processors along with a crude beam-loading graphics generator, I created a new program for these engineers.
R - Structural engineers made better decisions with a higher level of confidence based on this dependable, easy-to-use program. Along with predictable turn-around, it lowered costs and raised product quality.
P - In this punch-card environment, engineers could only get several computer runs each week. Errors on input forms, ignorance of software limitations, and punch-card errors contributed to a high level of frustration.
A - I created a "free format" methodology to eliminate dependency of data on exact columnar locations on punch cards. I added tests to engineering software, printed error messages that were returned to the engineers, and instituted recovery procedures. My "free form" method anticipated the advent of terminals and the elimination of punch-cards.
R - Production software ran predictably. Engineers could rely on two or more runs every day with dependable turnaround. When errors occurred, users knew what they had done and how to correct problems. Operators were also involved; by reading error messages on print-outs, they could see if problems were caused by key-punch errors, and fix them right away.
P - The outside sales staff needed better methods for accessing and applying cost data from previous jobs. They could not produce accurate estimates for new work.
A - I rewrote an estimate retrieval system, improved its efficiency through better input methods and output reports. I led the team that trained the sales staff to use it properly.
R - Sales staff had full access to past work done by the company. Accurate retrieval software returned more information and justified adding more historical information to the database. Cost of living indices converted old costs into present-day values.
P - Purchasing agents lost time because they could not keep track of vendor addresses, phone number, and other information.
A - I wrote new software that used an adaptable, punch-card database. Old information was tediously converted into the new database format. The software produced a printed, easy-to-read directory.
R - Purchasing department became more efficient with their new directory. This new system also made changes easier to implement.
P - The process of systems analysis and the development of new or revised software was hampered by inadequate or inefficient communication.
A - I established a process of interaction between users and executive management.
R - Such project management produced better software, raised employee productivity, and increased overall efficiency of each project.
P - When users would request new software programs, they would almost always be unhappy with the results.
A - I required each user to document their expectations. This included exact specifications for input and output and examples for both. I wanted to know the exact equations and computational processes that were to be used. I explained that the thought they put into this preparation helped them understand exactly what it was they expected.
R - Users complained about all this work, but they were always pleased when my work matched their expectations. By doing each project this way, I shortened rework time to a minimum, and concentrated more on process corrections and enhancements.
- Drafted into the U.S. Army on 3 June 1970;
- Basic Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, July-August, 1970;
- Student Detachment (AIT), US Army Element School of Music, August-December, 1970;
- As a student, I achieved and maintained "21 Club" status;
- Following graduation, I was reassigned to the permanent party staff, US Army Element of the School. I worked in the personnel office;
- My military occupation - Personnel Specialist (PMOS – 71H20), 18Dec1970 to 2Jun1972;
- Responsible for records of Permanent Party enlisted Army personnel at the School;
- Attained the rank of Specialist Grade Five (SP5 E5) after 19 months of active duty;
- Highest clearance: Confidential — US Army (15Mar71 - 2Jun72; LFC--DSEC, Fort Eustis, VA; Latest SPH: 4Feb72);
- May 1971 - May 1972 -- Worked as Assistant Librarian and Senior Audio Room Attendant at the Base Library, NAVPHIBASE. Duties included checking books in and out, reading the stacks, and maintaining library’s record and tape collection. I shared responsibility for installing record and tape listening room equipment;
- Off-hours: sang in local church choir with other School of Music staff;
- Off-hours: co-founder and member of the civilian Tidewater Bicycle Association;
- Released from active duty on 2 June 1972;
- Honorable Discharge, 2 June 1976, U.S. Army, SP5 E5;
- (As you might expect) I have copies of all supporting documents.
1970 June - 1972 June -- United States Army
After basic and advanced individual training, my permanent duty
station was working in the personnel office of the U.S. Army
Element, School of Music (USAESOM) which is located at the
Naval Amphibious Base (NAVPHIBASE), Little Creek, VA. This
is a joint-service school for advanced individual training of
Navy, Army, and Marine Corps musicians. Such an assignment for
anyone was considered an honor and a responsibility. It meant
serving on a Navy base. We were reminded that the Army only
chose its best people to serve at joint-service schools, where
other branches of the military could see the Army.I was responsible for performing E6-level work, maintaining personnel records for all Army Element enlisted personnel - about 51 people.
For the first time in the history of the US Army, there were not enough Army Musicians to fulfill staffing obligations. This led to opening the School of Music to two-year draftees like me. During basic training, we were asked if we played a musical instrument and were given an audition. I was subsequently assigned to the USAESOM following completion of basic training.
Here is a synopsis of my two years in the Army...
P - As a student, I recognized the opportunity that came with successfully completing my training at the School of Music. However, the technical proficiency - playing the tuba well - that I needed to acquire during the six months of training was daunting. There was a high probability that I would fail.
A - At the School, I quickly qualified for the "21 Club", a highly revered group of students. To remain qualified, each student did at least three, 50-minute practice units every day. This, of course, was in addition to all my classes and other duties.
R - I completed my training and was assigned to the Fifth Army Band at Ft. Sam Houston in Texas. Even though our training had been shortened to four months by the Army, I had succeeded.
P - In December, 1970, Personnel Sergeant Frederick Deets (SFC E7) needed to replace a man in his office. Sgt. Deets knew that about 50 students were graduating and leaving the School at that time. Some students - like me - were two-year draftees and were not bound by a contract for assignment to an Army Band.
A - I know that Sgt. Deets looked at the records of these students. He would have looked at the intelligence and aptitude scores from tests we took before Basic Training. He might have looked to see who was in the "21 Club" and asked others on staff about us.
R - As I was ready to board the bus, on my way to get travel pay to Texas, Sgt. Deets walked up to me and said, "Jack, how would you like to stay here and work in my shop?". Wow - what an honor!
P - While working on staff and to prepare for an eminently-likely visit by Army inspectors, all personnel records needed to be redone in a short period of time.
A - Personnel office staff worked evenings and six-day weeks most of the Summer of 1971.
R - All personnel records were rebuilt and like new, meeting or exceeding Army Regulation standards. The inspection never occurred.
P - As the VietNam conflict began to end, I was subjected to two early-release efforts by the Army. My wife was a teacher with Norfolk Public Schools and could not leave.
A - Due to my exemplary performance at the School, the School of Music staff successfully petitioned (twice) the Army to allow me to stay on-duty until my normal ETS, to avoid hardship caused by early release.
R - I left active duty as my wife was ending her teaching year, and we both returned to Ohio together.
P - I rebuilt and maintained Personal record folders for Warrant officers and other non-commissioned officers (NCOs) who were stationed at the School as advanced course students. Each brought their personal record folders with them. All were in bad condition and incomplete, and all needed to be rebuilt.
A - I created new jackets, forms, and rebuilt their records from the beginning of their Army careers. I worked with each person to collect supporting documents (sometimes from shoe boxes in closets at their civilian homes) and to bring their records into compliance with Army Regulations.
R - When these advanced course students left the School for their new duty stations, each carried their redone and up-to-date permanent records with them.
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Jack Farnlacher 614-288-1524 jack@thnc.org