Basic, Tech School, or other training storys? (Read 3,602 times)

When we stepped off the bus at Lackland we had a E-3 or E-4, dont remember but he was barking and yelling orders and I thought to myself What the hell am I doing here. This was around 1 or 2 A.M. Marched to the chow hall and we had crap on a shingle.But you know it wasn't too bad. We ate in about 10 min. and then marched to the barracks. We found our beds and he said we could sleep in today. Well he was back around 5 A.M. yelling get up you blankety blanks were starting this day right now.. That was my first day at Lackland.. Feb. 67

Following is another small story out of my book. Covers my basic training expereances. After growing up on a dairy farm - basic was almost a walk in the park for me.
My barracks was an old WWII building. No airconditioning. We had screens in the windows for that. It gets very damn hot at Lackland AFB in July and August. :cry

The photos did not copy so I inserted them with ImageShack. Just click on the photos to enlarge.

Enjoy





Basic Training

I departed home for U.S. Air Force Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base, TX on July 7, 1971. The jet took off from Albany Airport, and I flew most of the day, changed planes once, but I don’t recall where that took place at. I do remember that was my first jet aircraft flight. A blue military bus picked us up at the airport and took us to Lackland Air Force Base.

It was, I guess around 11:00 PM or midnight, when we arrived, and then it all got pretty wild after that. A Technical Instructor (TI) got on the bus and started yelling, “Get off, get off!” so we all bailed off the bus. We processed in and then were taken to our barracks about 4:00AM and instructed to get some rest. It sure didn’t take me long to fall asleep like everyone else. Then at about 5:30AM the lights came on and the TI’s were yelling again, “Get up, Get up, Get up!”

I was thinking to myself, “Damn, didn’t I just fall asleep?” Well we marched to the chow hall for breakfast and then it was shots, uniform fitting, haircuts (or should I say head shaving), and many briefings. It was a very long day and we were glad to hit the beds that evening.

When we were awakened the next morning by the TI’s, two beds were discovered empty. Two new recruits in just one day decided that this was not the life for them.
I was raised on a dairy farm and was used to rising early to milk cows and working late. The farm had me accustomed to hard work and long walks. Military Basic training was easy for me, but we had many city kids that were not used to this activity and they were constantly complaining.

One day it was my turn for barracks security patrol. This extra duty required the selected recruit to remain in the secured barracks for security and fire protection and prevention. You had rules of security to remember and a barracks building access list to follow. Any person not on that list was not authorized access into the barracks. As I stood guard at the door Captian Shepley walked down the squadron walkway and turned up our sidewalk, my heart started to pound.

He came up to the door and started banging on the door and demanded entrance. I checked the access list and guess what? I was shocked, not to find his name on it. He kept banging on the door yelling for me to open it. I informed him that his name was not on the access list and I was not authorized to allow him access.
His banging paused, and he said, “Please let me in I have to check on something?”
I repeated myself and told him he was not on the list so he was not authorized access today.
He banged a few more times then asked me, “Do you know who I am?”
I replied, “Yes Sir”
He snapped back, “Who the hell am I?”
I quickly responded, “Sir, you are the squadron commander, Sir”
He kept at me, “Yes I am your squadron Commander, so open this damn door!”

Again I refused and he changed his tactics. He started quizzing me on my security procedures. These were procedures that you were to have memorized and failure to recall any of the ten of them would get you demerits. Each time he asked me the specific numbered procedure I recited it perfectly. After about five or six minutes he banged on the door again and yelled, “Open this damn door so I can get in my barracks on offical business”. Once again I refused to open the door and he departed the area.

This was an old WWII barracks without air-conditioning near the end of July and with the hot tempatures and the stress of the Captian’s attack I was soaked in sweat. My only thought was, “games, just stupid games.”
When the flight returned the TI asked me if I had let the Captain in, and I said, “Sir, NO Sir.” The TI was pleased.



Old Barracks, Lackland AFB, TX Photo: G.H. Price

During the first few weeks of training we were scheduled to attend numerous training briefings and classes. I do recall a few of them. One long class was given by the Staff Judge Advocates Office where we were instructed on the Uniform Code Of Military Justice (UCMJ). This is the military law and we were briefed on many of the don’ts from writing bad checks to assaults, along with the punishments. Military law is far more wide ranging and has higher conviction rates. Two medical personnel came and gave us instructions on first aid, and lots of information on how not to contract sexual transmitted diseases (STD’s). They even showed us visual aids, and those pictures scared the heck out of most of us. We had security briefings and a briefing on the local San Antonio area. You name it, we got briefed on it, or given a class on it.

Mail Call was always a fun and exciting time. The last thing you wanted was the TI or Drill Instructor (DI) to get something on you to make you stand out.
We were maybe 1/4 the way through basic training when mail call came one day. Our TI sat on a stool and we sat around on the floor as he read the names on the envelopes and tossed them at us when we said here.

My name was called and the TI just looked at the envelope or card, don't remember which it was. Then he looked up and said, “Where are you?” "Sir, here, sir" was my reply. He said "This is trouble - from the selective service, you’ve been drafted and the Marines want you!" The TI then told me to pack. He called out a few more names and someone else also got a draft notice and the TI told him to pack also. In about 5 more minutes the mail call was over and we continued packing.
The TI then said, “total barracks inspection in 10 minutes.” He then told me and the other guy packing, “Stop packing – I’ve decided to keep you both.” What a relief! There was no way that I or the other airman could unpack and get our lockers set up for inspection in only 10 minutes and the TI knew this.
But by this time training and teamwork had been drilled into us and the whole flight pitched in and helped us unpack and set up our personal lockers and footlockers.
There was never a dull moment in basic.

Our TI loved Texas Twisters and greatly enjoyed giving them. A Texas Twister was caused and done to a recruit when a recruit would leave his foot locker unlocked or unsecured. If the TI found a footlocker unlocked, he’d take the cap off the shaving cream can. He’d then put an object onto the top of the shaving cream’s button valve and close the foot lockers lid, the weight of the lid would empty the shaving cream all over the inside of the recruits foot locker.

One recruit had left his foot locker unsecured for the 3rd time. He was only two beds away from me. When we entered the barracks I noticed the bug screen removed from one of the windows and wondered why. We all lined up at our bunks and the TI came in and went right to the recruit that for the 3rd time failed to secure his locker. The TI yelled and yelled, and I felt bad for the recruit, but I was glad it was not me. The TI then picked up that foot locker and carried it over to the window and chucked it out the window, and we were on the 2nd floor.

I was thinking to myself, “Wow, sure glad that is over”. Next thing I heard was the TI say, “Thanks to this recruit, all of you on this floor will pick up you foot lockers on your shoulder and carry them down stairs and run around the barracks 3 times then back up stairs and be ready for inspection in 10 minutes.”

When we got back upstairs tired and bruised the screen was back in the window and our TI’s were gone. I knew we only had 10 minutes and they would return. I heard one fellow recruit laugh and say, “I bet the TI’s are having a cold soda now and laughing.” I felt he was likely right about that.

Then came the day when we got our first trip to the rifle range. The rifle range was between Lackland AFB and Kelley AFB, quite a long distance march. The fist day was dry fire where we learned about the M-16 weapon. Learn how to dismantle it, clear it, clean it, and reassemble it. After all that, we did dry fire exercises. That is where you learn breath control and trigger squeezing. That afternoon we marched all the way back. The next day it was again the long march back to the rifle range and we got to do it all again. This time we got to shoot live ammo and smell the gun powder in the air. Reminds me of the line in the movie, “I Love The Smell Of Napalm In The Morning.” Just switch Napalm with Gun Powder.

I did pretty well on the rifle range. After all, I’d spent years hunting woodchucks on our farms with a 22 rifle. Hunted whitetail deer with a Winchester rifle, and wild turkey with a shotgun. I was almost born with a weapon in my hands.

Sometime between the Weapons Training and the Confidence Course we had our Training Flight picture taken. I’m in the center just above the Instructor’s hat.




3702 Basic Military Training Flight 1971 U.S.Air Force Photo

During our last week in basic training it was the obstacle course, commonly referred to as the Confidence Course. You had to complete it within a specific time frame to graduate from basic training. As I approached this water obstacle that you swung across on a rope a TI was standing in the way to stop me. “All I could think was, “Damn, this idiot’s going to delay me and cost me lost time.” Before I came to a complete stop from my running the TI spoke out loudly, “Run around - water moccasin was spotted in the pond!” My reply was, “Gladly Sir.” Not one recruit in our flight failed the obstacle course.

Now was the time were were marched to a building were we met with Career Training Officers. When my turn came I was sent into a room with a Major. To a young recruit like myself an Air Force Major was almost like a God. I spoke up and said, “Airman Basic Price reporting as ordered, Sir!” The Major snapped back,“Take a seat Airman.”

The Major seemed to know more about me than I knew about myself, or remembered.
The major started off with, “I see you played football in high school, you were on your school’s swim team, and worked on the family farm, is that correct?” I quickly answered, “Sir, yes Sir!” The Major spoke again and said, “You are very active and physically fit.” I got the jump on him and replied again, “Sir, yes Sir.” I could tell he was not pleased with my fast answer as he leaned forward and looked into my eyes. He then remarked, “You scored high on your enlistment tests also, is that correct?” I knew my scores we good but I could not recall how good, so I replied, “Sir, I think so, Sir.” At this point the major stood up, looked down at me and said, “Airman, I’m not interested in what you think, I interested in what you know!” He went on and remarked, “Your record reflects that you scored very high with the M-16.” I remembered my TI saying that I’d came close to receiving a marksmanship ribbon. So I replied, “Yes Sir.”

The Major paced back and forth behind his desk for a few seconds then sat back down. He looked and me and said, “I see you parent has signed for you to enlist early. That your recruiter guaranteed you a job in the Aircraft Maintenance Career Field as a Jet Engine Mechanic. Again I answered, “Yes Sir.”

He went on and talked about the Air Force needed Pararescue Personnel. That I’d get a good valuable education and training in emergency medical care, extensive survival training, and attend parachute training, I’d also get plenty of training and practice with military weapons. This sounded very exciting to me so we talked more. The Major wanted to know if I had questions, and I did. I learned that most pararescue men were sent to the jungles of South East Asia. When I was a kid I stepped on a rock and out crawled a rattlesnaker on our farm. From then on I was deathly afraid of snakes. South East Asia had lots of snakes and so I declined the offer in pararescue.

The Major did his best to push me into pararescure training, I guess because of my high school sports and test scores, but I continued to declined. I don’t know what made me speak up, but I suggested, that if the Air Force was not going to let me be a Jet Engine Mechanic, as my recruiter guaranteed, then I should be given a permanent deferment from being drafted.

The major leaned back in his chair and just looked at me for a short period of time. I kept my mouth shut waiting for him to say something. He glanced back down at my records and then said, “Jet Engine School it is, Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois.” My response was relief and my reply to the Major was, “Sir, Thank-you Sir!” The Major quickly replied, “Dismissed Airman, send in the next one!” I quickly responded, “Yes Sir” and got out of that office. I advised the next Airman it was his turn to go in.

Finely it came, Graduation Day! This was a very special day to me. I’d left high school after the eleventh grade and went into the Air Force. I was sick of school and wanted to get started on a career and an adventure. It all worked out well for me as two years later I finished my high school education and got my diploma.

It was hot on the parade grounds Graduation day as we marched around. As we stood at parade rest and listened to a speech by some general we had two airman pass out. After all the pomp and ceremonies were over it was pass time. We all got passes for good old San Antonio.

Our flight only suffered one embarrassment. Two of our young airman hooked up with two young girls who had a vehicle. They drove out of town and promised the airman a good time. As the report went, the girls were in a convertible and after they stopped on a lonely dirt road the guys got out of the back seat and stood behind the car. The girls told them to remove their shirts and toss them in the back seat to prevent them from getting dirty, and to turn around and close their eyes until they were told they could open them. When they were told to open their eyes and turn around the girls had removed their shirts and bras. The sight of the two girls and naked breasts in the moonlight had them hooked. The girls then told the airman if they wanted the remainder of a good time, to remove their uniform pants and toss them in the back seat also preventing them from getting dirty. Of course the airmen did as they were told and the girls sped off with the airmen’s uniforms, wallets, including their military ID’s. Our TI had to go in the wee hours of the morning to the San Antonio Police Department to pick up the two airmen. They became a laughing stock until we all departed Lackland Air Force Base for our respective Technical Training Schools.

No story at the moment, but signing in as a 3706 alum

This is a chapter from my life story that I am writing for my kids.
Jim
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I was attending school in Napa, CA, and doing fairly well. However, I was bored and didn't really want to stay in school. I talked to my family and the vice-principal about going in to the military. They all thought it might be a good idea and Mom said she would sign the papers to allow me to enlist at age seventeen.

I went to the court house in downtown Napa and talked to the Navy recruiter. I thought it would be great to be at sea. However, he told me I would have to get my teeth fixed before the Navy would accept me. I went next door to the Air Force recruiter and told him what the Navy said. He looked at my teeth and said they didn't look that bad to him and that the Air Force had dentists to take care of the problems. I was hoping to get in to Air-Sea Rescue and be on small boats or rescue planes. He made an appointment for me to go to the main recruiting station in San Francisco, at Van Ness and Market, for testing.

After I took the test it was time for a physical exam. I passed both and was told to report on 31 January 1952 to be sworn in to the Air Force. That left me several days to get things taken care of in Napa and to get the items they told me I would need for the trip to basic training.

I went to the school and let them know I was enlisting and they told me to stop by the office to withdraw from school after I had officially enlisted. It was no big deal to them. In those days it was quite common for men to drop out of school after 16 to go to work. So going in to the military was a normal event for the school.

In those days you didn't have to have a high school diploma to enlist. Didn't even need a GED. You just had to be physically fit and pass the entrance tests. Girls very often dropped out when they were sixteen to get married or go to work. There was no stigma to not having completed high school and very few jobs required a high school diploma. Even fewer required college, mostly medical, law, science and teaching. Of course, at that time the average high school graduate probably knew as much, if not more, than the average college graduate to-day.

So, with the papers signed, the hand raised to swear allegiance to our Republic and it's Constitution, I began a journey that would last me the rest of my life. I was, and still am, a part of the United States Air Force.

I was to report to the 4th and Townsend Streets railroad station on the evening of 4 February 1952. Mom went with me and to say goodbye. I told her that I would plan to stay in for twenty-years and she laughed and said I would change my mind. Wrong! The train I, and other recruits, took was the Southern Pacific Owl, the night train from San Francisco to Los Angeles. I got to meet some of the guys I would be with in basic training when we got to the train. I don't remember who was there to get us on the train, but think there was at least one officer and an NCO. The train got us to Los Angeles Union Station the morning of the 5th. Then it was on to the east bound train. We took the Southern Pacific Sunset Limited. We were in a Pullman car for the trip. As I recall we were all in one car. There was an NCO with us to make sure we got to meals on time and that no one decided to get off the train and skip out. We did make stops, but usually we had to stay on the train. The Sunset Limited went from LA to New Orleans with stops in Phoenix, Tuscon, El Paso, San Antonio and Houston. Our stop was San Antonio. It was an uneventful ride across 1400 miles of the Southwest. A Pullman car filled with new Air Force recruits having fun while headed to who new what, when we got to San Antonio.

All of our meals were paid for and the food on the trains was always good. We did have a military menu, but it was really good food. Southern Pacific, like most railroads at the time, prided themselves on their food and the service in their dining cars. White table linens, crystal glasses, real china and silver cutlery was the norm and the waiters and others did a bang up job of making sure our plates were full and our glasses and cups were never empty.

Some of the guys had never traveled by train, or even out of their home towns, so the meals on the train and the Pullman berths were a real treat for them. Having spent many nights on trains and eating meals in dining cars, it was no big deal to me.

However, this trip was one that was very different, and very special. It would take me from being a school boy to being a member of the Air Force and to my new life.

Our train pulled in to San Antonio the morning of 7 February 1952. The news paper headlines were that King George the Sixth of England had died the day before and that Elizabeth was now the queen. Buses were there to take us to Lackland Air Force Base. We got to the base and were taken to a long row of tents in the midst of a field of dirt and mud. There were duck walks, board sidewalks, going from each tent and down the middle of the area between the tents. The tents were twelve-man pyramid tents with an oil stove in the middle of each tent on a metal plate. There were bunk beds and we had to make them for the first time, with supervision by a corporal, and get them right the first time.

We began our training that morning by learning the rudiments of marching as we went to the chow hall for lunch. Then it was more of the same that afternoon. In the evening we were free to do whatever we wanted, as long as we didn't leave the area. There were a couple of lights in the tent, so we could read and write our first letters home. That was a requirement we all had to do.

The next day it was off for a complete physical and more testing. Then it was more training on how to march, salute, etc., to make us adequate in military procedures. The next day we were marched to a warehouse and moving through the building in a long line getting our supplies. The first thing we got was a duffel bag to put the rest in. We were issued all of our uniforms, dress and fatigue, underwear, towels and wash cloths, laundry bags, dress shoes, two pairs of boots, dress caps and fatigue caps. We also got a shaving kit with toothbrush, tooth powder, razor, shaving soap, comb and a sewing kit. All that was "neatly" folded and put in our duffel bags. Then it was back to the tents to learn how to hang, fold and store everything.

At that time the fatigues were one-piece and had a belt sewn on with a stamped metal buckle. Some of the guys were issued brown dress uniforms. The only difference was the Air Force lapel pins. There were also some who were issued rough surfaced, tan brogans. Those guys had to use sandpaper to take off the rough and then smooth them in order to dye them black and polish them. I was fortunate, in that I was issued dress blues and black brogans. Still had to polish them to a glossy shine.

Every day at Lackland was a series of classes on all the things we were supposed to know, including going over the Airman's Handbook. Seeing it was raining a lot, we were mostly inside listening to lectures and finding out what the Air Force was all about. In th evenings, after getting back from the chow hall, it was studying the Airman's Handbook and getting to know one another. We were all from California, but from all over the state.
Only a few had known each other before enlisting.

After ten days at Lackland all eighty of us were marched, carrying our duffel bags, to a parking lot and got on buses to take us to Wichita Falls, Texas and Shepherd Air Force Base for the rest of basic training.

The Korean War was still going strong and we were all excited about what would happen after we got through basic, but first we had to make that hurdle.

Thus began my twenty year journey as a member to the United States Air Force. I was a bit past two months beyond my seventeenth birthday. I had a long journey ahead.

:god_bless_usa

hey jim,, that is an outstanding story... to join so young...i know another guy that joined at 17... he was an aerial porter who was in viet nam in the early '60's , and he had a few interesting tales to tell...

:god_bless_usa

It appears that Rev Jim and Bullhunter have become our resident authors. Great work guys, keep those chapters coming!

Pat P.

that sounds like it could be a scene in the "godfather I"

Jim, That was many many years ago. I don't think I ever gave it much thought. I only got to really know Vince as he came up to our farm and hunted with us often. I never had much contact with the older men at the lodge. The older men at the lodge always went out and sat in the woods and waited for the deer. Vince enjoyed our type of deer hunting more. We would put out standers around a section of forest and a couple of us would walk through the forest and try and push the deer out. Vince also might have needed to keep his knee moving also in the cold weather.
I do recall some of the older guys did have some deep accents when they spoke and I'm sure back in New Jersey they were a different type of person.
Out in the hills and forests of Pennsylvania they were very nice guys.



My best guess is about two more months of work and then I'll send out my first book proposal to the publisher that expressed an interest in it.

These are great stories and I hope you don't mind a "young snot" adding his two cents worth.
I graduated from high school in '67 but worked for two years before going in. I did register for the draft when I turned 18. I went from the Selective Service office right to the Air Force recruiter. I was scheduled for the ASVAB and the physical. I then took the rest of the summer off, since I knew it would be the last one ever.
I started working steady for a living by September and worked for two years. I told the recruiter that I wanted to wait for my draft notice. Vietnam was going on strong so, at the time, I was in no hurry to go.
In August of '69, I was working as a truck driver and was enjoying myself. I came home one day and in my mail was a letter that began "Greetings". The Army finally decided it was my turn. I called the AF recruiter and he said he didn't have a spot for me right then but he would put me in the Delayed Enlistment Program. That kept the Army away but only for 120 days. 90 days later, I got a postcard from the AF saying I was to report to the induction center in a week. I called my boss and told him the news. I had kept him informed of my situation so he was ready at any time for this.
November 7, 1969. I was to report to the induction center at 0610. Why at that exact time, I had no clue. My dad dropped me off at that ungodly hour on his way to work. We said our good-byes and I went inside. There were about a hundred other guys there as well so I didn't feel alone. I reported in and was sent to the Air Force room. I was called by a sergeant to follow him. We went to one of the physical exam rooms where my blood pressure was taken. It was borderline high during one of my previous visits so they wanted to make sure it was OK. It was again borderline high. We both figured it was the stress of the situation that caused this. The medic asked me how badly I wanted to go. I told him I was ready to go so he had me lie down on a bed in the corner and relax. Later my blood pressure was fine and he signed off on it. We both knew that was my last chance to change my mind. I didn't care, I was ready for some excitement and adventure.
I got some excitement a short time later when we were all taken into the main assembly room and every other inductee was there. A Marine Corps sergeant in dress blues all spiffied up and impressive looking came in and told us how tough they were and all the rest of their story. When he finished talking, he had us all stand up. He started counting us off one, two, one, two. When he was done, he told all the twos to sit down. I was a two. He directed all the ones to follow him. I heard later that they were all drafted into the Marines. The Army and Marines were the only two branches drafting. I was that close to becoming one of "The Few, The Proud, The Expendable".
The rest of the day was long and boring. At lunch time, someone came in and gave us a lunch voucher. We would board a bus to the YMCA for lunch. I don't know if that was supposed to get us ready for military food but it was the worst food I had ever eaten. I wondered if this was what they were serving to Y members. The YMCA wasn't like it is today with nice facilities. It was mostly a place for young men who needed a cheap place to live.
Then we went back to continued boredom. Around 1400, we were told we would be boarding a plane at 1630. Shortly after that, we got on a bus for the airport. We scrambled for a phone when we got there to let our parents, friends, girlfriends, or whoever, know we were at the airport and would be leaving at 4:30 pm for San Antonio, Texas. We were all at the gate and family and friends started showing up. We all got our final hugs and kisses and off we went into the wild blue yonder.
We boarded a civilian version of a T-29 and flew from Milwaukee to Chicago. O'Hare airport was the biggest scariest airport I had ever seen and during the rest of my time in the AF, I did everything I could to avoid going through Chicago again. I had absolutely no idea where I was supposed to go next but I stayed with a few other guys and we all started running for the next gate. We finally got on a plane for San Antonio.
When we got to San Antonio, We again were running around like chicken with our heads cut off. Nobody knew where to go next. Finally we saw an AF sergeant who directed us to a big room where we again waited for what seemed like forever. I guess they had to wait for everybody from all over the country to show up before the busses came for us.
The bus took us to Lackland and the first place we went was to a chow hall. It was called "Hell's Kitchen" by the NCO who was on the bus with us. He gave us precise instructions how we were to go in and get something to eat and where to "form up" after eating. He gave us 15 minutes to go in, eat, and meet outside. An hour and a half later, the busses showed up to take us to our flight areas.
The next 10 minutes changed my life forever. We got to our stop and the biggest, meanest looking black man with a Smokey Bear hat was waiting for us to get off the bus. All I remember seeing of him were the whites of his eyes and he was shouting and cussing us out for making him be up at this ungodly hour. This was about 0130. Like it was all our fault.
We were in the "new dorms" with the pad underneath the barracks. It was nice when it rained, which it seemed to do a lot. I was on the top floor so there were a lot of steps that we could never seem to climb fast enough. The next couple hours were spent filling out some papers that were required to be filled out immediately and getting instructions about things we had never heard of before. I remember there was a post card to write to our folks that we made it and were OK. We were allowed to go to sleep around 0430. The TI was there three hours later to begin our Air Force careers.
I wasn't very religious up to this point, but I found myself praying for strength to get me through all these new challenges. I learned that if I went to church on Sunday, it was like a reprieve. It also seemed to help make things a little easier.
I also learned not to volunteer. The TI came in one day and asked if anyone knew how to drive a truck. I did, but I wasn't going to volunteer for anything. A few guys raised their hands. They followed the TI out the door and were gone the rest of the day. They said they were picking up garbage all day. Judging from the way they smelled, we had no reason to doubt them.
We didn't have to volunteer for much of anything else because our TI volunteered for us. We pulled KP duty four times in the weeks we were there including Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Those were the longest days I ever spent working in my life.
Graduation was the best part of basic training for me. I rode an AF bus to Sheppard AFB to become a mechanic on jet aircraft, one and two engines. The next five years were great and I never should have left the AF. I'm not really sure why I did.
6 years later, I found myself in the AF Reserve. I went to tech school to be a Combat Arms Instructor. School was at Lackland AFB. It was interesting to be there again but this time I was a Ssgt. I made sure that every time an AB held the door open for me or did something out of respect and fear, I thanked him or her for the courtesy. I remembered very well what it was like for me.
Believe it or not, I'm not writing a book. Maybe I should. What do you think?