reno,
regarding the journeyman following the work:
this is true. unfrotunately, it's more true today than in the past. From an employees point of few, it's hard to feel loyalty to a contractor who you don't think treats you right.
from a contractors point of view, it's hard to spend thousands of $ on training and education on an employee who you think is going to leave you at any moment.
I think today, the best thing a good field mechanic can do it take their destiny into their own hands. Learn everything you can, anyway you can. Make yourself valuable to any potential employer. Be able to backup your resume. Know your worth and prove it.
We are a labor industry. It's very difficult for us to actually prove our ability before we start working for them. There are too many variables to test prior. So the contractor has to go on faith that the mechanic is competent. Educate yourself and really control your own destiny.
good luck
