I'm planning on heading back to Lebanon County in late May when my enlistment is up. I'll be joining the Air National Guard in Harrisburg.

I'm originally from Myerstown.


All of this being said, what is the current job and housing market like back home?

In the Air Force I am a Aircraft Crew Chief/ mechanic with a little over ten years experience.

I know a few folks there. My advice?  Move up to pine grove area. Rents cheap,taxes are cheap,houses are cheap. Anything outside of Lebanon is better and cheaper. Its nice living up here. My wife just left the gap to go work at a prison. My bin still works there and in the guard. Lots of folks that live here work there. Plus we have gun clubs and places with land so you can build yourown.

ok, a buddy of mine who is a diesel tech for Swift lives near Ravine

Lebanon isn't that expensive.

OP you looking to buy or rent? I know an arfcommer who is a realtor, I could get you in contact if you are looking to buy.

ultimately I'm looking to buy, however I want to get settled and find a job first

when I get back home I'll be staying with my parents at first

Nothing wrong with having family to stay with while you get set up. Job market is pretty good depending on what you are looking for. Harrisburg, Lancaster, and York have a wide variety of different job markets from heavy industry to tech fields and most anything in between. What kind of work are you looking for?

I'd be open to the following:

maintenance technician
auto mechanic---granted I'll need some more specialized training
diesel mechanic---once again I'd need some more specialized training

in the USAF I was an aircraft mechanic on two different airframes, direct supervisor and rater of five personnel, served a second position as a unit vehicle trainer on general vehicle, aircraft tow vehicles, and deicer trucks. I also have experience ordering/ stock parts, Microsoft word, database systems, maintenance logs, petroleum and other lubricants and their safe clean up, and have experience with Liquid Oxygen

Lebanon is expensive. Rent is high and so are the taxes. Once you cross the Lebanon county line it gets cheaper. The further north you go the less ghetto it is to. Look online at houses for sale and keep a eye out on something that peaks your interest. The market is great if you can lowball and buy quick or wait till a buyer realize either they sell or wait another year and pray the market gets better. You will not find a better time to buy imo.

Also look into jobs at FITG, either state or fed side. Another idea what about working at a prison?  State benefits and retirement.  State prefers military experience over gen pop any day. Contact me maybe I can help you if ya do want more info

Things seem to be opening up a bit (still sort of hit and miss though) as far as fed jobs. Keep an eye on usajobs.gov.

Well maint tech I might have something to help with. My buddy owns a restoration company, kind of like serve pro. He is hiring. Not sure what six months from now will look like, but I'd guess he is always hiring quality employees. Email me if you are interested.

Industrial maintenance as in a factory?  Are you ok with working something other than day shift Monday through Friday?  If so there are opportunities in the area that pay well (30 per hour or so).

Second or third shift is fine. Currently on the flightline here at Minot AFB I work from 1430-2230ish so shift work isn't a problem at all

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Ok gotta ask what company is paying 30 a hour for maintenance?  Not being a jerk but thats great if it is but living out here and working as a mill wright for a company out of e town none paid that for starting employees. Not even union. Plus alot of companies around here are the types that work you up to the benefit date and lay you off. If you are military and will be based outta the gap chances are I or my bin will run into you. Even dept like veterans affairs would hire you. Yes desk job but their 1st candidates they will use is military. The gaps directory wants vets filling every job they can before looking at others. Plus there are jobs opened on the fed side in your field.  We are from a big city and the best thing we ever did was move here. The schools are the best imo and back home I would have had to pay for the level of education my children receive. Taxes here are very low and we own 10 acres.  Plus we get a tax break with the casino. Which does make a difference. And since we are looked at as a farm lol the taxes are even lower. Even if you do not have kids later you might and these things will matter.  We have been here for 7years now and when we go home we cant wait to get back to P.G!

I didn't mean to imply that new hires start at around $30.  There should some type of a training and or probationary period before you would reach top rate.  I would look at Hershey Foods, M&M Mars, Kellogg's, Hershey Park.  I have a good friend who is a maintenance supervisor and I could ask his opinion of where the best places to apply/work would be.

Again as a millwright /machinist jobs simply do not pay that much. Yes you can make that with over time but not on 40hrs. Back in Philly you can still find jobs at that rate with the union but even here they have pushed the old guys out who topped out long ago. Its cheaper in their eyes (big biz) to bring in companies like Grienier to handle the repair work. Trust me alot of us wish days of 30 an hr were still around but they are not. Blue collar work in private sector does not pay well in central pa. White collar jobs do....

Talked with my friend who supervises maintenance at a factory in central PA.  Day shift forklift operators at his plant are paid 25/hour.  Back shifts get more.  Day shift maintenance is a little over 29/hour.  Back shifts get more.  Private sector.

Look at the companies I mentioned and add the railroad.  According to my friend maintenance jobs are available in the area and the pay is good.