Griz. Yes I’m very aware of the AAV sundown.
I started out as an M60a1 RISE mechanic 2141/45 at 1st Tank Bn then got a hot fill to Guantanamo Bay Cuba for a year. Then to Barstow. Then got sent to Tank Turret Course. To be a 2146. I worked on one Cupola before getting PCS from Barstow to Camp Pendleton. I was in Ordnance Maint Co, we had one M60. Pretty much everything worked except the manual elevation / depression. That’s a test question, it’s caused by a bad shuttle valve. I looked at the shuttle valve and found that the hole was blocked by a blank. I put on a shuttle valve and it worked!! I then cemented my proficiency as a turret mech. Shortly after that I was “chosen” to be an LAV mech. I lucked out and got a “hot” fill to the LAV Maint course, where I graduated with a 99.9% gpa (I missed one test question).
I was in five different units in five years. (Not counting schools).
After pinning on WO and graduating #1 in the OrdO Course, I moved from FSSG (where I Fumbled, Stumbled, Shat and Gtfoododge). I lucked out and scored a billet at the LAV operators course. Then spent 4.5 years in 3rd AABn. Then bounced all over Camp Pendleton for a total of 20 years. ( homestead much?). After a “hardship” tour at Camp Fuji, I was transferred back to Pendleton and assigned as the Regimental Ordnance Officer.
I was up for promotion to CWO5, and once I lucked out again, and got selected, I was transferred to the AAV school house until I retired in 2008.
