I am an Air Force civilian working with the Air Force Reserve at Grissom ARB IN.  I transferred from the Navy Reserve to the Air Force Reserve at Grissom ARB Indiana, back  in 1993, and became a full-time Air Reserve Technician (ART) Officer. I also met my wife in Indiana. We were married in 1994. We now have two sons, (now young adults). I returned to Indiana again in 2009, this was after tours at Tinker AFB Oklahoma, Randolph AFB Texas, and Langley AFB Virginia. While at Langley, I deployed for 5 months to HQ EUCOM, Patch Barracks, Germany. During my second Grissom tour, I deployed for 6 months to HQ CENTCOM, MacDill AFB, Florida. I was promoted to Colonel/O-6/GS-13 in the Air Force Reserve. As an O-6, I completed tours as the Mission Support Group Commander for the Air Force Reserve C-17 units at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington and at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. I retired from the Air Force Reserve as an ART Officer with 41 years of military service, but still work full-time as an Air Force civilian.
Best Moment
Enlisted in the Navy on Jan 29 1979, two days after my 18th birthday. My Mom would not sign for me as a 17 year old. I wanted to enlist earlier. I was ready to go in the Navy. I used to go to the Recruiters office a lot and watch recruiting films, get posters, stickers, etc. I looked at all the services. My first interest was the Coast Guard, then I had thoughts about the Seabees. For a while, I looked at the Army National Guard and was going to do that plus be in Army ROTC at North Georgia College. However, I was in the Sea Cadets and that steered me towards the Navy. I knew I wanted to be an Aircrewman and for the longest time wanted to be an AW. However, one of the recruiters said, "When you get out of the Navy, are you going to be able to get a job with Delta Airlines as an AW". With that, I decided to become an AT and then volunteered for Aircrew duty when I got to "A" School, and the rest is history.
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Worst Moment
Not really a worst moment, but I will never forget the long day on July 6 1979 when I headed off to Boot Camp. My Dad dropped me off that morning with the Recruiter. I then was taken to the AFEES station in Atlanta and we spent all day there; we then headed off to the Atlanta airport and I went on my first flight on a commercial jetliner. We spent a long evening at the Orlando airport before the bus finally came and got us to take us to Boot Camp. I remember we got there in the wee hours of the morning and started in-processing after what was an already long day. I also remember we were issued shaving kits the first night. This was the late 1970s and some of the guys had to shave off their beards with Bic razors that night. I was glad I wasn't in that boat.
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Chain of Command
Recruiter: BM2 Mike Pike, Navy Recruiting Station, Marietta GA.
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Other Memories
I was a senior in high school and also in the Navy Sea Cadet program. I was originally suppossed to go to Boot Camp in September. However, my recruiter had an opening in the 3 X 6 Program, which meant I could go to Boot Camp in July. I had just graduated high school in June when I got the call and was working at Williams Bros. Lumber Co. I was ready to go and did not want to wait until September, so I changed my contract so I could go to Boot Camp earlier. The 3 X 6 program was a good decision as I had a two-year reserve obligation and went directly into the Reserve when I got off active duty to attend college.
Other Comments:
Between my Navy and Air Force service, I had 41 total years of military service, of which 17 years were on active duty status. I was promoted to Col in the Air Force Reserve in 2014 and retired in 2020.
Best Friends John Shaw (Bunk Mate) Richard Lanzendorf Russell Oaks Dennis Wight Ivan Pierce
Best Moment USO dance, Rock Concert in the Gym, got to dance with some of the WAVES, going to Disney World after graduation, My Mom and Dad coming to my graduation
Worst Moment Spent Work Week in the Hospital due to cellulitis in left ankle (loose boondockers), but was able to rejoin company, did not get set back
Instructors CPO Holland BM1 Premo
Other Memories First day: Spending all day processing at the AFEES station in Atlanta, my very first flight on a jet from Atlanta to Orlando, waiting on the bus at the Orlando airport, Arriving in the middle of the night wondering what the hell I was doing there. Late 1970s, uniforms were in transition: Had the utility uniform (gas station attendant), salt and peppers, combo cover, boot camp picture was in the Coat and Tie uniform (I bought crackerjacks after Boot Camp when I got to "A" school at Millington/Memphis)