Probably the most unusual is once walked 5 meters (about 16.5 feet) barefoot over burning coals for a team-building exercise. Probably more unusual/interesting since that occurred while I was working in New Zealand.

SOME OF MY SIGNIFICANT POSTS ON VBN:

See my following posts where I took the lead to implement my 'I believe in the latter half of the "Give a person a fish...Teach a person to fish..." philosophy'. Most of these were initiated to address an issue after I had seen that particular issue come up time and again on VBN (or other similar veteran boards):

11) VA Rationale on Mental Disorders: http://www.vets.yuku.com/topic/29798
12) Rental Income and SS payment eligibility: http://vets.yuku.com/topic/29906
13) Getting your voice heard in government: http://www.vets.yuku.com/topic/30078 (see last two paragraphs of post)
14) How VA handles quality of life issues: http://vets.yuku.com/topic/29978
15) SUGGESTION BOX SERIES - Service-connection: http://vets.yuku.com/topic/30108
16) Employability considerations - http://vets.yuku.com/topic/35607
17) Determining AO presumptive IHD - http://www.vets.yuku.com/topic/36156

15 SECOND MILITARY SYNOPSIS (2/'68 to 9/'80):

Basically U.S. Army Artillery OCS Officer after 91B AIT, brought TPS-25 radar detachment over to Vietnam on a C-141 to II Field Force (unit deployment - commanded as 2LT till radar destroyed) and soon afterward was FO for a Cav Troop (3/4 Cav-25th ID), Asst S3 of the USAPERCEN (Ft Jackson, SC)/Armed Forces Entrance and Examination Station (AFEES) Company Commander at AFEES Ft. Jackson, Artillery 8" Battery Commander in Germany (Bamberg-72nd FA Group/1st AD)/BG Staff - running the RR/EO program in Bamberg, Divarty S4 at Fort Carson, CO (4th ID), others...

BIO:

Here are some of the things I have accomplished in my short life (besides my 12+ years of military experience). Those most applicable to shaping the focus and tone for my posts on VBN are bolded and italicized:

* 25+ years business experience - most in positions of significant responsibility for a Fortune 100 company
* Received national recognition in my field by publishing a manual that was subsequently rated as one of the best manuals of that type in the U.S. by the leading national publication in my field
* Received national recognition in my field by becoming one of three consultant "Pro's to Know" in the U.S. as determined by one of the leading national trade publications in my field
* Selected by The Conference Board to be a speaker (two separate speeches spoken) at a national conference in my field
* Selected to speak, and spoke, at a Regional conference in my field on futurist issues
* Managed the solutions for a $3+ billion dollar customer for the Fortune 100 company where I worked
* Held positions of leadership at 11 different foreign locations in Asia, Europe, South/Central America and North America while at a Fortune 100 company
* Have had two patents pending as the primary Inventor at the Patent Office
* Posted a free column called 'The Government Corner' on one of the first "forum boards" for the Internet (a Prodigy "forum" - the Prodigy service was the first to initiate forum type boards, called Online Communities, on the nascent Internet in the early '90's). In this column I gave specific requested advice on how to deal with any of the 30,000+ U.S. government agencies extant at that time to solve questions posed by the requestors. This column was also picked up by the 'Consultant Network Newsletter' and published as one of the columns within that national subscription service
* As an outgrowth of the success of 'The Government Corner', started compilation of individual state Government Resource Guides circa 1992 (for both Federal and State resources in each individual guide). Was approached through my marketing provider by a "Book of Lists" publisher to determine the publishing of those guides through them. For various reasons, that business partnership, and my continuation on completion of all 50 Government Resource Guides, never came to fruition
* Although the previous two bullets show a strength in Information Research, I also have a medical-related background gained through my completion of 91B AIT and over 5 years experience implementing and account management for Patient Care systems at 34 hospitals throughout the U.S. and Canada (1) - one of those was a successful implementation and subsequent highly satisfactory service/account management (as determined by the local VA leadership) for the VAMC at Big Spring, TX for Patient Care Admission/Discharge, Lab, Pharmacy, Order Entry, Hospital Financials and other clinic related and administrative ancillary systems. At the height of this account management for these 34 hospitals, had 150+ personnel working for me (Dallas-based and hospital-local) to service these hospital accounts/implement new medical-related systems
* Over 7 years experience in writing, interpreting, administering and dispute resolution for business contracts.
* Was an active member or held prominent positions in regional organizations in my field and was nominated for President (unopposed) of one of those organizations but my disabilities ended up finally making me unable to accept that position and having to drop out of all such organizations
* Was invited to be on the Board of Directors for a large US-based private corporation but my disabilities were a major factor that prevented me from pursuing that invitation
* et al.

Finally had to give it all up near the height of my career after my disabilities got the better of me at the tender age of 57. Wish I could still do it, but realistically, that is not going to happen.