From the Pentagon to life in a van

Philadelphia Inquirer ^ | 5 January 2014 | Julie Zauzmer

[LSUfan]

After a 30-year military career in which he earned three graduate degrees, rose to the rank of colonel, and served as an aide to Pentagon brass, Robert Freniere can guess what people might say when they learn he's unemployed and lives out of his van:

Why doesn't this guy get a job as a janitor?

Freniere answers his own question: "Well, I've tried that."

[Lou L]

I was in the military, and met many servicemen with a very entitlement-based mentality

I don't disagree. I too, was in the military. One example that always stood out to me was when guys refused to purchase a uniform item if it wasn't covered in their annual uniform allowance. These are guys that wouldn't buy an inspection-ready tee shirt out of their own money. Inevitably, they saw their uniform allowance as "free money," and would use most of it for some discretionary purchase.

[kcvl]

"As of January 2012, more than 60,000 veterans were homeless, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Reducing that number has been a priority for the Obama administration"

What BS!

Meet the author of this garbage...

Julie Zauzmer

Julie Zauzmer
@JulieZauzmer

Reporter @WashingtonPost | Author of Conning Harvard (@GlobePequot) | Otherwise known as Zippy the Clown

Washington, DC · pinterest.com/balloonsbyzippy

[Temujinshordes]

His choice. My advice for him? Get out of the DC area.

[kcvl]

Julie M. Zauzmer addresses fellow classmates as a Harvard Orator on Class Day, May 29, 2013.

Julie Zauzmer is a senior at Harvard University concentrating in English.

While reporting for the Harvard Crimson, she began covering the story of Adam Wheeler, a student who faked his way into Harvard and won numerous prizes through clever forgery and fraud. Out of this came her nonfiction book, Conning Harvard(Lyons Press, 2012).

As an undergraduate, she has enjoyed journalism internships with both the Philadelphia Inquirer and the International Herald Tribune. Last year, she served as the managing editor of The Crimson. For her senior project, she is working on a novel about the War of the Austrian Succession.

[ScottinVA]

The tuition for his son probably is hammering him. That’s why he needs to have the ex help out or tell the kid.. “sorry, son.. hard times.”

I completely agree about the job market for contractors with TS/SCIF clearances. There are plenty of positions open for people with his background, especially if he’s geographically flexible.

Like I mentioned in another comment, there’s more to this story we’re not seeing.

[ScottinVA]

Thank you Pat Schroeder.

Boy, is THAT ever the truth. I have to give up part of my retirement to my ex because of that witch.

[Grampa Dave]

“I mentioned in another comment, there’s more to this story we’re not seeing.”

Scott, so many of us are having the same reaction like your comment above.

Maybe he flunked some polygraphs or his credit rating would make him a high risk in a TS/SCIF civilian job.

[Rebelbase]

Some people claim that there’s a woman to blame....

[TurboZamboni]

If they were in college when the divorce started, there’s probably a court order demanding he pay whatever it costs to “maintain their standard of living”.

This may be alimony and not child support. Child support often ends when the kid(s) turn 18 or are done with high school.

[Kommodor]

A question about your comment - if such faint ‘praise’ is a career killer for the fellow, what would constitute a career enhancer? You speak like someone who has ... knowledge.

I’m curious, because I’d honestly like to know what sorts of language, especially (ahem) in things like resumes enhance or detract from an individual’s esteem in the eyes of TPTB.

Regards,

[SgtHooper]

HAHAHA, yes, and sad laugh here, but that is prolly the only way to lose everything.

[SgtHooper]

Quite silly actually. If he is that stupid to live the way he does while paying for juniors college, he deserves it! MAKE THEM GET A LOAN! And that they’d allow him to live like that, is selfish! No sympathy here.

[LibLieSlayer]

It is sad but in today’s America... it is true.

[Alex Murphy]

From the Pentagon to life in a van

I take it he hasn't considered becoming a motivational speaker? 77 posts later, and I still get to be the first to complete the sentence:

Living in a van, down by the river

[Kommodor]

Thanks for your response. I appreciate the insight - in my somewhat recent (thankfully successful) job search I sometimes wondered if I had made some errors on my resume. It appears that I probably did. Unfortunately, in some cases it’s difficult to express details. I’m sure you’ll understand why.