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.
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!
I got that song stuck in my head.