How many "Vets" do we have here
- Newbie
- Posts: 14
- Joined: 14 Feb 2008, 05:11
Okay, I'll play...
1977 - Basic at Lackland, Tech School at Sheppard
Sheppard was trying a new program called "Hasty Chief." 4 weeeks and you were a T-37 or T-38 crew chief. The program didn't last.
1977-1981 - Williams AFB, AZ
Crewed T-37s plus a little expediting.
1981-1983 - Hill AFB, UT
34th and 16th AMUs. F-16A/B Block 1, 5, 10 including 78-0001, 78-0024, 78-0106, 79-0429. Came to Hill on the old Base of Preference program. They said the BOP program would get me at least 2 years, it was 2 years to the day.
1983-1984 - Kunsan AB, ROK
80th AMU. Started out as an assistant flight chief, then PACAF decided that if TAC could have TSgt crew chiefs, they could too. There I sat with a brand-new line number so I was given the wing CC's jet, 81-0708. Expedited a little, marked my short calendar every day. Must have pissed someone off, my next assignment was:
1984-1992 - Cannon AFB, NM
524th AMU, AGS squadron staff. F-111D 68-0103, 68-0106, 68-0166. Didn't enjoy backing up in the technology arena, hated the place, but it was a good place to raise the kids while the wife went to school. Crewed jets, expedited, got moved to AGS squadron staff (I was the training NCO at the start of Rivet Workforce), moved to MAT after AGS went away.
We won the cold war, I had an AFSC that locked me onto a disappearing airframe, and had to choose between voluntarily retraining or letting the AF pick an AFSC for me, so I wound up becoming a noner. Back to Sheppard for 3 months of school, then
1992-1993 - Travis AFB, CA
David Grant Medical Center. Student status doing more academics plus clinical (hands-on-patients) training as a Cardiopulmonary Lab tech. Wasn't the line, but better than driving a snow plow or shuffling paper.
1993-1999 - Sheppard AFB, TX
82d Medical Group. Jeez, can't I ever be gone from this place? Ran the Cardiopulmonary Lab at the Sheppard AFB hospital. The thing they don't tell you about a hospital job is that it's warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and half the squadron's nice and curvy. At least there were Tweets and Talons in the pattern all day so I knew the AF was still all about flying. Had a friend over at the 80th who let me hear the language when I needed it.
1999-2001 - Lackland AFB, TX
Flight Superintendent of the Pulmonary Flight at Wilford Hall Medical Center. Lots of impressive-sounding things to put on a resume, interesting things going on all around me, but as a SMSgt no hands-on for me. Stayed the minimum 2 years and
2001-now - Retired
Got a job doing respiratory therapy at the hospital in Vail, Colorado. Oxygen and respiratory treatments for the rich and famous. I won't get rich, but I won't starve either. I do miss the flight line, though.
TDYs that I'll admit:
Reese
Luke
Buckley
Misawa
Clark (A lay a day...)
Suwon
Osan
Kadena
Nellis
Keesler
Wright-Patterson
I'd tell ya more but I'd soon start lying...
1977 - Basic at Lackland, Tech School at Sheppard
Sheppard was trying a new program called "Hasty Chief." 4 weeeks and you were a T-37 or T-38 crew chief. The program didn't last.
1977-1981 - Williams AFB, AZ
Crewed T-37s plus a little expediting.
1981-1983 - Hill AFB, UT
34th and 16th AMUs. F-16A/B Block 1, 5, 10 including 78-0001, 78-0024, 78-0106, 79-0429. Came to Hill on the old Base of Preference program. They said the BOP program would get me at least 2 years, it was 2 years to the day.
1983-1984 - Kunsan AB, ROK
80th AMU. Started out as an assistant flight chief, then PACAF decided that if TAC could have TSgt crew chiefs, they could too. There I sat with a brand-new line number so I was given the wing CC's jet, 81-0708. Expedited a little, marked my short calendar every day. Must have pissed someone off, my next assignment was:
1984-1992 - Cannon AFB, NM
524th AMU, AGS squadron staff. F-111D 68-0103, 68-0106, 68-0166. Didn't enjoy backing up in the technology arena, hated the place, but it was a good place to raise the kids while the wife went to school. Crewed jets, expedited, got moved to AGS squadron staff (I was the training NCO at the start of Rivet Workforce), moved to MAT after AGS went away.
We won the cold war, I had an AFSC that locked me onto a disappearing airframe, and had to choose between voluntarily retraining or letting the AF pick an AFSC for me, so I wound up becoming a noner. Back to Sheppard for 3 months of school, then
1992-1993 - Travis AFB, CA
David Grant Medical Center. Student status doing more academics plus clinical (hands-on-patients) training as a Cardiopulmonary Lab tech. Wasn't the line, but better than driving a snow plow or shuffling paper.
1993-1999 - Sheppard AFB, TX
82d Medical Group. Jeez, can't I ever be gone from this place? Ran the Cardiopulmonary Lab at the Sheppard AFB hospital. The thing they don't tell you about a hospital job is that it's warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and half the squadron's nice and curvy. At least there were Tweets and Talons in the pattern all day so I knew the AF was still all about flying. Had a friend over at the 80th who let me hear the language when I needed it.
1999-2001 - Lackland AFB, TX
Flight Superintendent of the Pulmonary Flight at Wilford Hall Medical Center. Lots of impressive-sounding things to put on a resume, interesting things going on all around me, but as a SMSgt no hands-on for me. Stayed the minimum 2 years and
2001-now - Retired
Got a job doing respiratory therapy at the hospital in Vail, Colorado. Oxygen and respiratory treatments for the rich and famous. I won't get rich, but I won't starve either. I do miss the flight line, though.
TDYs that I'll admit:
Reese
Luke
Buckley
Misawa
Clark (A lay a day...)
Suwon
Osan
Kadena
Nellis
Keesler
Wright-Patterson
I'd tell ya more but I'd soon start lying...
- Newbie
- Posts: 5
- Joined: 11 Mar 2008, 13:45
What a great bunch of experience, and experiences, out there!
I was fortunate enough to stay in the cockpit my entire career.
T-38's at Vance '86-'89 and Randolph '89-'91
F-16's at Luke '91-'92 (314 TFS), Misawa '92-'95 (13 FS), Kunsan '95-'96 (35 FS), Luke '96-'99 (310 FS), Hill '99-'01 (4 FS), Egypt '02 (PV IV at Gianaclis), and back to Hill '03-'05 (421 FS)
I never met a TDY I didn't like...although some were definitely more fun than others! Spending time on the coast right after 9/11 wasn't that much fun. And the desert time wasn't nearly as much fun as the Flags in Vegas, Alaska and Canada. The TDY's all over Japan were pretty cool - as well as Combat Hammer and Archer. The Curacao TDY living in a hotel on an island in the Caribbean for that AEF rotation just wasn't that tough a duty! And then there's Singapore...!
Now I work in the F-16 SPO and coach my kid's sports teams and catch up on all that family time!
It was great overall!
I was fortunate enough to stay in the cockpit my entire career.
T-38's at Vance '86-'89 and Randolph '89-'91
F-16's at Luke '91-'92 (314 TFS), Misawa '92-'95 (13 FS), Kunsan '95-'96 (35 FS), Luke '96-'99 (310 FS), Hill '99-'01 (4 FS), Egypt '02 (PV IV at Gianaclis), and back to Hill '03-'05 (421 FS)
I never met a TDY I didn't like...although some were definitely more fun than others! Spending time on the coast right after 9/11 wasn't that much fun. And the desert time wasn't nearly as much fun as the Flags in Vegas, Alaska and Canada. The TDY's all over Japan were pretty cool - as well as Combat Hammer and Archer. The Curacao TDY living in a hotel on an island in the Caribbean for that AEF rotation just wasn't that tough a duty! And then there's Singapore...!
Now I work in the F-16 SPO and coach my kid's sports teams and catch up on all that family time!
It was great overall!
- Forum Veteran
- Posts: 596
- Joined: 25 Feb 2007, 22:15
79 - 81 Pease AFB workin FB-wonder lemons ADCC 68-0246
81 - 83 Kadena AB workin T.A. (lil time on lotsa different airframes, luv da Phantoms)
83 - 86 Luke AFB. 310TH DCC 78-0082 (B model) First ride was in her
86 - 90 Hahn AB 496TH DCC 84-1317 (called her "Classy Chasis")
90 _92 Nellis AFB 64Th Aggressors DCC 86-0250(aka "The Other Woman")
Basically you could say I'm a veteran of the "COLD WAR" I never heard a shot fired in anger. Kinda glad I can say that.
81 - 83 Kadena AB workin T.A. (lil time on lotsa different airframes, luv da Phantoms)
83 - 86 Luke AFB. 310TH DCC 78-0082 (B model) First ride was in her
86 - 90 Hahn AB 496TH DCC 84-1317 (called her "Classy Chasis")
90 _92 Nellis AFB 64Th Aggressors DCC 86-0250(aka "The Other Woman")
Basically you could say I'm a veteran of the "COLD WAR" I never heard a shot fired in anger. Kinda glad I can say that.
If you're in a fair fight, Your tactics suck !!
- Forum Veteran
- Posts: 665
- Joined: 11 Jul 2007, 17:13
72 Basic at Lackland then Denver Co. for 462 school.
73-76 32TFS Soesterberg NL (HD from AD)
76-78 Fokker A/C building the first F-16's for the NL Air force
86-89 Pratt Whitney WPB Fl building F-100 series engines.
Joined the Reserves 1989 (Full time ART)
89-2003 USAFR Homestead (Deployed three times)
Joined ANG 2003
2003-Now ANG SC
2003-Now Shaw AFB as contractor.
Best TDY Nellis; For two weeks after that I'm to broke or owe to much in taxes and need to leave.
73-76 32TFS Soesterberg NL (HD from AD)
76-78 Fokker A/C building the first F-16's for the NL Air force
86-89 Pratt Whitney WPB Fl building F-100 series engines.
Joined the Reserves 1989 (Full time ART)
89-2003 USAFR Homestead (Deployed three times)
Joined ANG 2003
2003-Now ANG SC
2003-Now Shaw AFB as contractor.
Best TDY Nellis; For two weeks after that I'm to broke or owe to much in taxes and need to leave.
- Elite 1K
- Posts: 1420
- Joined: 07 Nov 2008, 22:15
- Location: USA
I guess I'll jot mine down:
8+ years US Army (SGT) MOS 68X, 68Y, 15Y Apache Avionics, Electrical, Armament Systems Technician
1999-2000: Basic at Fort Jackson, SC, Tech School (AIT) at Fort Eustis, VA (AH-64A)
2000-2001: 1st BN - 4th AVN REGT, 4th ID, Fort Hood TX
2001-2002: 6th Sqdrn 6th US Cav, 21st CAV BDE, Fort Hood, TX (transition to AH-64D)
2002-2003: Same unit, but relocated to Illsheim, Germany with D model Apaches
2003-2004 (combat tour): Deployed from Germany to Kuwait and participated in initial invasion of Iraq (OIF 1) - combat
2004-2005: Germany
2005-2006: 1st BN - 227th Attack Recon BN, 1st CAV DIV, Fort Hood, TX
2006-2007 (combat tour): Iraq - again (stop-lossed
)
2008: Separated - went to college for electrical engineering ( UT Dallas )
I can't be the only Army guy who has posted on here, can I?
8+ years US Army (SGT) MOS 68X, 68Y, 15Y Apache Avionics, Electrical, Armament Systems Technician
1999-2000: Basic at Fort Jackson, SC, Tech School (AIT) at Fort Eustis, VA (AH-64A)
2000-2001: 1st BN - 4th AVN REGT, 4th ID, Fort Hood TX
2001-2002: 6th Sqdrn 6th US Cav, 21st CAV BDE, Fort Hood, TX (transition to AH-64D)
2002-2003: Same unit, but relocated to Illsheim, Germany with D model Apaches
2003-2004 (combat tour): Deployed from Germany to Kuwait and participated in initial invasion of Iraq (OIF 1) - combat
2004-2005: Germany
2005-2006: 1st BN - 227th Attack Recon BN, 1st CAV DIV, Fort Hood, TX
2006-2007 (combat tour): Iraq - again (stop-lossed
)
2008: Separated - went to college for electrical engineering ( UT Dallas )
I can't be the only Army guy who has posted on here, can I?
- Newbie
- Posts: 19
- Joined: 26 May 2010, 19:45
- Location: Tulsa OK
75-77-Mtn Home ID 366 FMS Environmental Shop F-111Fs
77-79-RAF Lakenheath 48 FMS Environmental Ahop F-111Fs Operation Creek Swing-Ready Switch replacing F-4s with F-111's at Lakenheath
79-80 Tech School- Hill UT 16TFTS/MOT & E F-16 Crew Chief (Black Radomes Baby!)
80-82 Bitburg AB 22 TFS- Staff Poisition Engine Management Branch
82-83 Hahn AB Staff Engine Management
83-89 Nellis AFB (Home Of The Fighter Crew Chief) 421 OT & E
474th TFW 429 TFS Black Falcons Crew Chief
89-92 23 AMU Expediter QA Weight & Balance FCF Part of 3552 FS in Desert Storm
92-93 Holloman AFB NM (Land Of Entrapment) 9 FS
93-95 Luke AFB Asst Flight Chief 62nd FS Spike
Tha-a-a-a-a-att's all Folks
77-79-RAF Lakenheath 48 FMS Environmental Ahop F-111Fs Operation Creek Swing-Ready Switch replacing F-4s with F-111's at Lakenheath
79-80 Tech School- Hill UT 16TFTS/MOT & E F-16 Crew Chief (Black Radomes Baby!)
80-82 Bitburg AB 22 TFS- Staff Poisition Engine Management Branch
82-83 Hahn AB Staff Engine Management
83-89 Nellis AFB (Home Of The Fighter Crew Chief) 421 OT & E
474th TFW 429 TFS Black Falcons Crew Chief
89-92 23 AMU Expediter QA Weight & Balance FCF Part of 3552 FS in Desert Storm
92-93 Holloman AFB NM (Land Of Entrapment) 9 FS
93-95 Luke AFB Asst Flight Chief 62nd FS Spike
Tha-a-a-a-a-att's all Folks
- Elite 1K
- Posts: 1420
- Joined: 07 Nov 2008, 22:15
- Location: USA
kori.
Going active or reserves?
Going active or reserves?
- Newbie
- Posts: 12
- Joined: 09 Jun 2008, 03:33
Joni (Wilson,Sawyer)here, Aircraft Electrician, Started working F-4's in 78 @ Hill, then.. I got to work the F-16's!!!
78 to 82 16 TFTS Black radomes!!!!
82 to 83 35th, Kunsan, What a blast!
83 to 91 311th, Luke- same ones I worked on @ Hill.
91 to 94 18th, Eielson Block 40's
94 to 96 Altus AFB, C-5's and C141's
96 to present- Civilian, Working C-17'S They are cool! But not like a viper!!!
78 to 82 16 TFTS Black radomes!!!!
82 to 83 35th, Kunsan, What a blast!
83 to 91 311th, Luke- same ones I worked on @ Hill.
91 to 94 18th, Eielson Block 40's
94 to 96 Altus AFB, C-5's and C141's
96 to present- Civilian, Working C-17'S They are cool! But not like a viper!!!
- Newbie
- Posts: 4
- Joined: 09 Feb 2005, 10:53
- Location: Utah
..There I was!!.. Knuckledragging all the way.. 
1984-1989, 363d TFW/33d AMU (83-1143, 83-1153, 84-1281) with the requsite TDY's to Nellis, Luke, Cold Lake, Tyndall.. all the party spots!!
1990, 8th TFW PANTONS!! (86-0208, 86-0293)
1991-1994, 2952d/649th CLSS (a little bit of everything!!) Living ABDR, Lots of TDY time to guard and reserve bases..
Then, given the choice of Sheppard or the street.. Took the street, decided to shift gears and get a job with Southwest Airlines, especially after a chief told me that airlines don't hire fighter guys. Decided to prove him wrong.
The next day got hired by McDonnell Douglas on the MD-80/90 program squashing rivets, good pay but making lots of donuts!! Ventured into general aviation working on Beech 99's and Navahos for a freight outfit, all the while calling every week to get hired by Southwest. Finally made that happen in 96, where I stayed for 14 years, over ten in management mostly as a fleet manager and avionics engineer..
Took an early retirement in 2009, and fell into the FAA here in Salt Lake working with SkyWest Airlines.. After all that, the best is still yet to come!
1984-1989, 363d TFW/33d AMU (83-1143, 83-1153, 84-1281) with the requsite TDY's to Nellis, Luke, Cold Lake, Tyndall.. all the party spots!!
1990, 8th TFW PANTONS!! (86-0208, 86-0293)
1991-1994, 2952d/649th CLSS (a little bit of everything!!) Living ABDR, Lots of TDY time to guard and reserve bases..
Then, given the choice of Sheppard or the street.. Took the street, decided to shift gears and get a job with Southwest Airlines, especially after a chief told me that airlines don't hire fighter guys. Decided to prove him wrong.
The next day got hired by McDonnell Douglas on the MD-80/90 program squashing rivets, good pay but making lots of donuts!! Ventured into general aviation working on Beech 99's and Navahos for a freight outfit, all the while calling every week to get hired by Southwest. Finally made that happen in 96, where I stayed for 14 years, over ten in management mostly as a fleet manager and avionics engineer..
Took an early retirement in 2009, and fell into the FAA here in Salt Lake working with SkyWest Airlines.. After all that, the best is still yet to come!
-
- Elite 1K
- Posts: 1189
- Joined: 02 Feb 2008, 20:43
- Location: Macomb, Michigan
I was an Army draftee in July 1966. Trained as a Combat Engineer and served in Vietnam with the 70th Combat Engineer Battalion at a place called AnKhe in the Central Highlands with the 1st Air Cavalry Division. Was in Vietnam all of 1967. Appreciated all the close air support we got from you fighter jocks!!!!!!!!
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