I don’t think he had much choice. Without saying so I think they have a lot of of young airmen that don’t know what to do withemselves up in the cold so they moved a whole crew of experienced nco’s, they all had been deployed overseas, a bunch of them deployed more then once including my boy, and a good number of them had been deployed together overseas, up there. A group of them were asked to test for technical Sargent before they left so I took that as a little realignment up in North Dakota. So they are all gorging themselves on one more craw dad feast and a few daqueries from Louisiana’s famous drive through daqueri shops before they make the trip up north, lol.
Minot, Loring Maine, and a few of the other deep freeze bases along the Canadian border have always had staffing problems. Back when SAC was still in existence, they got around to rotating just about everybody through those places before the Air Force wide musical chair department got to them. Since dedicated command structures like SAC, TAC, ADC, etc. got phased out, a lot of intra-command transfers stopped. In general, things just don't get done in the military the way we did it 40 years ago. Some people think that's a good thing! Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
Barksdale, ugh. Spent 9 months there in '95 before I transitioned back to civilian life. I was at the base transportation detachment that brought in the trains of vehicles and equipment for readiness center training. We also did a lot of the heavy forklifting on the base. Got to clean up a pretty good derailment not far from the base too. But Sleazeville left a lot to be desired. The best part about the area was the Air Force people (I was Army) and a lot of the people we met off base. I think the Army went there as punishment. The food was fantastic.
Fort Drum, NY was similar but the opposite end of the weather spectrum also. -24 degree wind chill at the range. Kinda hard to shoot when you're dressed like the Michelin man. Maybe I should have stopped requesting hometown, CA each time I left Europe?
"I always win." Working mainly alone I do not let my trucks win a war. Maybe a battle here and there but never the war.
July, 1980-July, 1984. As everyone does, I started off at Lackland AFB for Basic Training. Then I was off to Keesler AFB in Biloxi, MS for 6 months of 32781 Avionics Navigation School. Then three months at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma City for E-3A AWACS schooling before shipping out to Keflavik, Iceland for a year. Not much in the way of NAV systems to repair there so everyone was a crew chief, marshaling specialist, lavatory cleanout guy, etc. I went from Iceland to the Mojave Desert at Edwards AFB where there was plenty of NAV systems work on lots of different aircraft. Spent my last two years there working on T-38’s, F-4’s, T-37’s, KC/RC/EC-135’s, B-52’s, A-10’s, HH-1H helicopters, UH-1N Huey’s plus a bunch of transient aircraft. That place kept us hopping! It was really tough when it was really hot but I made some of the best friends and had some of the best times of my life at Edwards!!
We used to claim that B-52's had two navigators for "reading and writing capability!" Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
Good to see so many Air Force folks enjoying the same hobby and sharing some old memories. I couldn't seem to keep a job, so I held several AFSCs - I was also a heating/ac specialist in the ANG for a little while until my poor color vision about got me electrocuted. Every day I am thankful for my service time, it provided me opportunities I never would have had if I had taken a different route. 1975 - 1976 - Admin Specialist at Davis-Montham AFB, Az 1977 -1978 - Admin Specialist at Fairchild AFB, WA 1978 - 1981 - Manpower Management at Fairchild AFB, WA 1981 - 1984 - Training NCO Air National Guard at Fairchild AFB, WA --- BREAK --- 1987 - 1988 - OTS and Intel School 1988 - 1992 - Intelligence Officer at Elmendorf AFB, AK 1992 - 1995 - Professor of Mgmnt, USAF Academy, CO 1995 - 1996 - Intelligence Officer at Peterson AFB, CO --Early Retirement
My son sent me a text message this morning in case I was wondering how autumn was going at Minot AFB. The accompanying photo needed no additional explanation, snow on the ground, lol. I told him it was still in the 80 degree range at home. He took it pretty well, lol.
Mike, reminds me of when I left Texas early Dec. and in the low 80's only to get off the plane at K.I. Sawyer AFB in Mi. and the temp 15 below zero....and I still had on my summer blues!! (Worst winter on record, 1966, until a few years ago) That base was shut down a few years ago as well. Seen enough snow to last me a lifetime.
Jan. 1967-1970. Basic at Ft Campbell, Ky then AIT at Ft Knox Ky, then OCS at Benning school for boys, told them to shove it after 18 weeks. Sent Viet Nam Dec. 1968. Stationed at Bearcat firebase. Then sent to the DMZ mid-year at Wonder beach at Quan tre City. Home from there and finished out my enlistment at Redstone Arsenal Huntsville, Al. Mustered out as an E-5 specialist. Mostly in Headquarters my whole enlistment.
Ron, The Computer Greek I love therefore I am. 1954 3100 Chevy truck In the Gallery 2017 Buick Encore See more pix 1960 MGA Roadster Sold 7/18/2017
Ron! What does your post have to do with the U S Air Force? You Groundpounders just trying to mess with us fly boys? Just wondering.
Martin '62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress) '47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project) ‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily) ‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence) “I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one! Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop! USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
Martin, there's a term USAF pilots use for well-equipped and trained ground troops- - - - - -"Target!" LOL! Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
" . . . there's a term USAF pilots use for well-equipped and trained ground troops- - - - - -"Target!" "
Yep
What are the survival odds, both ways, between a pilot/jet/plane and a Surface-to-Air equipped ground troup (with little need for education or training)?
They do not even need to be able to read the instructions on the weapon? Jump out of your hole/cave/hovel, and point, and pull the trigger?
I was on a permissive TAD trip to Washington D.C. to run the 1982 Marine Corps Marathon. There were about 20 of us from Camp Pendleton who were running in formation. We flew cross country in a C5. A very impressive aircraft I might add. We got into ? Dover maybe ? It's been a while, but the Air Force put us up for the night in a nice barracks and fed us in a superb chow hall. I was always somewhat jealous of the perks that the Air Force has.
Another quality post. Real Trucks Rattle HELP! The Paranoids are after me!
The absolute best chow hall I ever ate in was at Kadena AFB on Okinawa. We generally ate pretty good on the Rosey (USS FDR) but Kadena AFB beat it out by a nose. LOL.
One of my BIL's nephew was an AF PJ, he was one squared away airman.
Gained 15 pounds while stationed at Kadena. Midnight chow was very satisfying.
Martin '62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress) '47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project) ‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily) ‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence) “I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one! Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop! USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
My oldest son is currently stationed in South Korea. Some of the pictures that he sent of the food he was eating off base looked pretty gross to me. :ohwell:
John
Martin. My brother was stationed at Kadena, not sure what year but in enlisted on the Air Force in 1961 and served 23 years. His granddaughter is in the AF in Florida, she has been deployed once to the middle east.
Ron, The Computer Greek I love therefore I am. 1954 3100 Chevy truck In the Gallery 2017 Buick Encore See more pix 1960 MGA Roadster Sold 7/18/2017
Interesting 18 months excluding the 90 day TDY to Suwan AFB, ROK for the big flare up over the spy boat.
Martin '62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress) '47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project) ‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily) ‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence) “I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one! Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop! USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
75-79 Plattsburgh,NY. KC-135 and FB-111 flight control mechanic. Was on Giant Voice Team in, I think 78. We won the Fairchild trophy, bombing competition. Base is closed now.
Martin, I read this, this is the place for veterans -- ALL veterans -- to check-in and stand tall with your brothers. And thought I would be welcome, guess not.
Ron, The Computer Greek I love therefore I am. 1954 3100 Chevy truck In the Gallery 2017 Buick Encore See more pix 1960 MGA Roadster Sold 7/18/2017
Not sure what you are referring to. Never mind, I found it. Just military humor. Nothing personal. Us fly boys get picked on by the swabbys (sp), ground pounders, grunts all the time so I give back when I can. You are welcome any time.
Martin '62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress) '47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project) ‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily) ‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence) “I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one! Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop! USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
My brother put in 23 years in the AF muster out as an E-8 first Sgt. and another 25 at Wright Patterson AFB as did his wife. His granddaughter is an E6 soon to be posted to Washington and has had one deployment.
Ron, The Computer Greek I love therefore I am. 1954 3100 Chevy truck In the Gallery 2017 Buick Encore See more pix 1960 MGA Roadster Sold 7/18/2017
Interesting video. I didn't see it, but there is/was a very low production aircraft stored there. it had a huge bulge on it. My father worked on that model.
Another quality post. Real Trucks Rattle HELP! The Paranoids are after me!
So if you all don’t mind, I want to beam just a little bit. My oldest son is a heavy maintenance crew chief for our B-52 bomber fleet. Hanging around dad with alll this old iron I guess made him a natural to work on the buff. He was stationed at barksdale Air Force base is Shrevesport LA for 6 years and is currently stationed at Minot Air Force base in Minot, ND. He has been awarded Air Force maintenance professional of the year, and deployed overseas three different times.
He called me today to tell me he was promoted to technical sergeant! It made my day.
The photo with the crew is in the desert in Qatar. They had just finished changing out a broken landing gear. He told me it was over 100 degrees while they were doing the work.
Congrats to your son, Dragsix! Holy moly, jacking the BUFF must be quit an operation in itself!
~ John
"We are not now that strength which in old days Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are"
1948 International Farmall Super A 1949 Chevrolet 3804 In the Legacy Gallery | In the Gallery Forum 1973 IH 1310 Dump 2001 International/AmTran RE3000 "Skoolie" 2014 Ford E-350 4x4 (Quigley)
John, he tells me there is a whole science to jacking that plane and while they have a lot of institutional experience because of how long the Air Force has been flying that plane, there were still new challenges to doing the work on an open airfield in the Middle East desert. Not having served in the military myself (dad served twice), I find what our service people do on a daily basis to be fascinating. I can’t imagine the prep work required to do some of what they do to that plane.
