Posted: Mar 17, 2010 9:15 am
andyx1205 wrote:1) What were/are the details of your service? Location? Specifics?
25 years, US Air Force. Retired at the rank of Senior Master Sergeant. Held two career fields: Ground Radio Maintenance, and Comms-Computer Systems Control. Postings, in order: Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota; Camp Red Cloud, Republic of Korea; F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming; Osan AB, Republic of Korea; Andrews AFB, Maryland; Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, Belgium; Laughlin AFB, Texas; Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii; and finally another posting at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, Belgium.
andyx1205 wrote:2) Why did you serve/are you serving?
I was a cook in smalltown Wisconsin. That's just fine for an 18 year old kid, but there isn't much of a future in it. Prior experience with Civil Air Patrol a few years earlier gave me exposure to the USAF. I got the job I wanted and, because I initially enlisted for the full six year commitment for active duty instead of four years active duty and two years reserves, I got promoted to the grade of E-3 immediately on completing basic training. There were benefits at the time.
andyx1205 wrote:3) In retrospect, would you do it again? Or, for how much longer are you planning to serve?
Probably not the way I did it. I should have looked harder into getting the USAF to pay for my college degree, then serving as an officer instead of enlisting. That may not have been likely, given my average academic performance in high school (I simply didn't give a shit about grades). But, I should've looked at it closer.
andyx1205 wrote:4) Have you had any memorable experiences, and if yes, would you mind sharing them?
Tons and tons. Fun with nuclear weapons, fun with tactical weapons, some very good friends made. Hell, I could fill a book with anecdotes.
andyx1205 wrote:5) Has your service resulted in any sort of trauma or permanent damage?
None. I have no service related complaints. I didn't bother to get a Veteran's Administration physical exam when I retired. There was absolutely nothing in my medical records beyond routine checkups. I have a couple ex-wives that probably wouldn't have happened except for military service, which is not an uncommon complaint. But, they weren't issued to me, so technically not the fault of the military.