Thomas Salka, or TJ, as most folks know him, started life in the Florida Panhandle. After graduating in 2005, he decided to join the Army in 2007, where he served as a Chinook helicopter crew chief. While in the Army, TJ took some time to vacation in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While in Iraq, as is often the case, TJ realized just how unstable the world really can become given the right circumstances. Following that time overseas, TJ spent as much of his free time as possible learning about tactics and individual weapons systems outside of what would be considered the normal scope of work for an aviation MOS.
After buying his first shotgun, he really caught the gun modification bug, which led down the expensive rabbit hole any firearms aficionado knows too well, ultimately leading to his employment with TFirearms. To this day, TJ still uses that same old, crusty Mossberg Maverick 88 as a test mule for different Mossberg 500 parts. TJ has since built a number of clone rifles based on weapons he used while in the service. As his skills grew and progressed, he started building out pistols while continuing to tinker with shotguns. He has most recently devolved into the dirty Cosmoline-drenched world of AKs.
In 2012, TJ officially left military service and found himself back in the civilian world. With a strong desire to serve and be of value to his community, TJ used his GI benefits to become certified as an EMT and attend his local firefighter academy. After graduating, he worked as an EMT for two years in the Florida Panhandle. Realizing life as a single father would require a less hectic work schedule, TJ applied to work in the Air Force aviation world and ended up in Altus as part of the A-Team, working to keep the base up in the air while spending as much time with his son as possible.
TJ works part-time with TFirearms as a general gunsmith and is apprenticing with Dustin to help cover down on holster manufacturing for the shop.
