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Veteran roll call

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Mister 4x4 said:
I was an IT/Communications Operator in the Air Force from Oct 1986 to Oct 1996.

I was supposed to get a guaranteed job as an Engineering Apprentice (architectural drafting/surveying/Civil Engineering) as I was Nationally Ranked (3rd) in the 1986 VICA Skill Olympics... but failed a color vision test, so No-Go on my dream job. After Tech School at Keesler AFB, MS, I was assigned to the 1877 Comm Sq at Holloman AFB, NM (Alamogordo). After 2.5 years of 'fun' in the Bass CommCenter there sending messages between bases on Vietnam-Era equipment, I was assigned to Izmir, Turkey (Aug '89-Nov '90) and LOVED it there! I finally passed a color vision test and put in my cross-training package, but the a freeze on cross-training hit... along with some orders to Ghedi Torre AB (Vicenza-ish), Italy - which I took and re-enlisted (a week before the freeze lifted - talk about getting a sign that I just wasn't supposed to be happy with my career). Desert Shield hit and I volunteered, but was turned down because I already had orders to Ghedi, so I left Izmir for mid-PCS leave. While on leave, got the call my orders to Ghedi were canceled and I was being diverted to Goodfellow AFB, TX (San Angelo) - yay. Got here in Jan '91, they got my stuff to me just 10 months later, I got married in Mar '92, and 'we' decided I wasn't having fun anymore so I got out in '96 and took a contractor position doing IT maintenance and administration - wandered the world aimlessly as a contractor for 11 years then took a FedGov Air Force Civilian position in 2007 as the IT Security Manager for the Training Group. In 2020, the Chief of Special Security retired due to complications from COVID and I was selected to replace him, which was a promotion and I'm looking forward to retiring (period) in Jan 2030.

Here's a picture of a walking tree that shamelessly gets trotted out every November for free meals at Chili's.
View attachment 216658

There's just something special about always being on the weight management program because I didn't fit the [then] mold of super-skinny Airman. Being 6'5", it's also kind of fun looking down at short officers with Napoleon complexes - LOL!
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Thanks for serving... here's a pic of part of my own tree during my last overseas assignment (Osan AB, Korea 91-92)... I lived for a year in the Osan Hotel, right outside the main gate.

313.webp
 
My wife made it to Osan Mar '95-'96, lived in the dorms and worked at the KAKOIC [sp]. She hated every minute of it, as I'm sure most [happily] married women who got stuck there on short tours did.

Love the jungle boots - I got a pair 'issued' by one of my pals in Logistics. Very comfy, as long as they didn't get wet. My footwear of choice were Jump Boots with full Honor Guard shine and web laced after I got bored with the ladder lace. I realized the importance of a good shine job when I had to go slogging through an ankle-deep puddle to fetch the Commander's building keys one day after a storm - he'd been dropped off after an all-call by a fellow Commander at the front door (sandbagged because the parking lot was higher than the building's front door) but left his building keys in his car. I went out and got them and he felt bad because my boots had looked so awesome. I told him not to worry about it, since my feet and socks were plenty dry thanks to the shine. I had 'em cleaned up in no time the next morning and he was so impressed that he started paying more attention to his boots as well. The Shirt just laughed when he heard an Airman 'fixed' the Boss's perspective on shoe shines (of all things), since he was all about it after that.

They still look inspection-ready on the top shelf of my closet, and are probably the only uniform item I could fit into these days. LOL!!

I miss BDUs. The new OCPs are pretty cool because of all the storage pockets and heavy-duty plastic zip-up front, but there's too much Velcro (to be tactically quiet), and the tan suede boots, while comfortable, are NOT waterproof and look like crap after about a month. I have a pair of the Corcoran Mach 4 new-gen boots in black, and they're almost like wearing sneakers, but I still prefer the good ol' Jumpers.
 
I didn't think to do this before. I served in the Army from 2006-2013. I started off as infantry and then reclassified to Explosive Ordnance Disposal and deployed to Afghanistan from 2010-2011. Due to medical reasons, I was medically retired in 2013.
 
ferrebee88 said:
I didn't think to do this before. I served in the Army from 2006-2013. I started off as infantry and then reclassified to Explosive Ordnance Disposal and deployed to Afghanistan from 2010-2011. Due to medical reasons, I was medically retired in 2013.
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Thank you for your service!
 
USAF ‘97-‘17…Aircraft Maintenance (Hydraulics, FCC)…
 
Thanks for serving

My one (6-year) stint on the flight line was with the old AWACS platform... although I was maintaining the on-board computer systems (not flight controls) in the back of the aircraft.

Which aircraft did you work on?
 
9x19 said:
Thanks for serving

My one (6-year) stint on the flight line was with the old AWACS platform... although I was maintaining the on-board computer systems (not flight controls) in the back of the aircraft.

Which aircraft did you work on?
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Thank you for your service…
…I worked KC-135’s and C-130’s…
 
It appears I haven't done this one yet.
In 2004, right out of High School I joined The Marine Corps. I was 17 when I went into Recruit Training, and I made my dad cut my long hair the night before I went down to MCRD San Diego. He was so pissed. I was a stoner type kid and just wanted a challenge. I had 2 friends that were also going in, which I believe I got the rank of PFC (E2) for one of em. I served about 5 years and bounced around to a couple Battalions due to MOS changes. I started as a 7212 LAAD Gunner (Stinger Missles) and ended up in a Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion as an 0311. Good times! There are some things still with me today that I will never forget. They say the change is forever, isn't that the truth.
 

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