A Hitch of Work or Service

Alex in Bishop, California, works with an environmental nonprofit that partners with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service. When his team goes out into the field for several days on assignment, they refer to that stretch of time as a hitch. The word hitch has several meanings, all having to do with “fastening on” to something, whether it’s a door hitch or getting hitched to someone. A person can also serve a hitch in the military, which means they’re “fastened” to a period of service, and in Alex’s case, the same word refers to a temporary assignment away from the office. This is part of a complete episode.