biendhoa
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Post by biendhoa on Sept 2, 2010 7:54:33 GMT 9
Sept,1 1976: retired from the USAF. My gosh its been 34 years today. time flys when your having fun. :rofl
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Bullhunter
Global Moderator 
318th FIS Jet Shop 1975-78
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Post by Bullhunter on Sept 2, 2010 11:17:23 GMT 9
I retired from the USAF August 31st 1995. A full 15 years ago.
Hunted and fished for about 8 months then had to get a job.
Got a position at Sears for a few months the a service managers job at a local home appliance store.
In 2006 lost my job and couldn't find another.
Life has been great ever since.
I hated working in the civilian work. Nothing but backstabbers and customers that complained.
But that is another story for maybe a new thread.
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MOW
Administrator 
Owner/Operator
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Post by MOW on Sept 2, 2010 11:27:55 GMT 9
Retired USAF 31 Aug 1998, 26 years 3 months worth of "A great way of life". Took 90 days terminal leave during which time my current DOD org created the new Director of Asia Operations position in which I just happened to be hired into... :2thumbsup geez you think they created it for me? :rofl I'll never tell :tailed-devil
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Post by Jeff Shannon on Sept 2, 2010 22:52:16 GMT 9
I retired from the USAF 1 Mar 1999.
Worked at a Job Corps for 7 years with "under privileged Youth" 16-24 years old.
Moved to Missouri in 2006 and now work at Jack Henry and associates, we develop software used in credit unions and banks.
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biendhoa
F-106 Expert
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Post by biendhoa on Sept 3, 2010 1:30:31 GMT 9
Had 25 yrs to the day when I retired from the AF. Went to work in the weilding supply field and retired from airgas inc as operation manager florida division in may 1995. :2thumbsup
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Post by Jim on Sept 3, 2010 2:54:56 GMT 9
Retired at Williams AFB, Az 1 Dec 1977 after 25 yrs 4 months and 15 days......... After they pulled me away from noise generating equip, I was Fabrication branch Supt. ( fancy name for branch chief), I finished my career being QC chief and teaching in the base NCO academy..... Gave up my line number for chief and the PC bullshit, said goodby and headed for the main gate.... After retiring I worked as a sales clerk and purchasing agent for a nearby lumber yard, which was sold a couple of years later and I became retail sales manager............It was bought by a family chain and it began to be bullshit, just like the last bit of my AF career with PC and crybabies...... Quit after the general manager lied to me about my salary..... Began delivering and setting up manufactured housing (use to call them house trailers or mobile homes)......... Quit that after 5 years, moved to Payson, learned about wood stoves, chimneys, gas fireplaces etc and began my own business with borrowed equip and 300.00 in my pocket.............. Worked 8-10 hours a day till fall and then it would be 6-7 days a week...............Did that for 10 years and sold my business to the local ACE hardware store and went to work for them (with a 3 year contract) and was the stove store manager and tech trainer for 9 years and 11 months and finally had enough and retired............... Being retired is so damned hard, we have to take at least 4 vacations a year.... :drunk
The Old Sarge
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Post by pat perry on Sept 3, 2010 4:59:44 GMT 9
"Retired early" as E-5 SSgt at Travis AFB 31 Aug 1969 after tour at Naha AFB Okinawa. Only lasted 3yr 9 mo 19 da after I enlisted. Loved the USAF but there were too many of us and they were giving early outs. Was in Corrosion Control 53550 and Mechanical Accessories 42251.
Spent next 30 years at Xerox Corp. Was being paid a lot and they were giving early outs. Last 28 years was a service manager.
Retired for 10 years now and still working MAO - pro bono. Does it ever end? Hope not! I don't want another early out!
Pat P.
:us_flag
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delawhere
F-106 Qualified
Instrument Shop 1974-1977
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Post by delawhere on Sept 3, 2010 5:34:08 GMT 9
Retired from USAF 31 Dec 1987 on a friday and started working for Atlantic Aviation on Tuesday as an aircraft instrument repairman working on corporate aircraft.Must say my Air Force training sure paid off for me.I had to learn the entire Avionics field and enjoyed working corporate jets.They were bought out by Dassault Falcon Jet which manufactured and repaired corporate jets.Worked corporate jets for 20 years and then retired. Don't miss it abit,been retired for 2 and a half years and been traveling the world ever since. Retirement is great and life is good.
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lauren044
F-106 Qualified
Bubblechaser
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Post by lauren044 on Sept 3, 2010 8:57:14 GMT 9
Enlisted 4 September 1968, and retired 1 November 1988 - 20 years, 1 month, 26 day's. Was a Pneudraulic Repairman (423X4) got a "T" added to it and was a Master Instructor on the F-4C/D/E - F-16 A/B. Finished out my last few years at Minot AFB working B-52H - KC-135A. Taught in a techincal college while on terminal leave, worked in a steel mill till it downsized, aluminum mill till it down sized and ended up working in a prison teacching basic house wiring to inmates. Medically retired from the state in 2007 and started SS last December. Now fully retired and loving it, every day is Friday............... :  :green-beer :patriotic-flagwaver :god_bless_usa :  |
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Jim Scanlon (deceased)
Senior Staff
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Commander South Texas outpost of the County Sligo Squadron
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Sept 3, 2010 9:51:09 GMT 9
The Summer of 1971 was a time of unrest in our country.
I was stationed at Mt. Home, Idaho. I was working in Maintenance Control as Senior Controller.
My squadron was an RF-4C outfit.
Political correctness was running amok, and the base was being infiltrated by Anti Viet Nam War protesters. Some were members of the Air Force.
I had had it.
The training NCO came to see me one day and told me I was scheduled to take the test for MSgt. If I passed the test, I would go in number one from our squadron.
I thanked him, and told him I was retiring.
Our squadron got transferred to Shaw. The CO came and talked to me about the transfer. I told him I might have to go, but would be useless to him. I had 75 days leave coming. There would be 30 days travel and clearing in, going to Shaw. Another 30 days to process out for retirement. I would ask for permissive TDY to be able to sell my house in Boise, and another 30 days for house hunting around Shaw.
The CO laughed the whole time I was talking. He told me I obviously had thought things out.
Then he told me I was going to be transferred to the Base Housing Office and become the Inn Keeper at the Gowen Hotel. That was a barracks that troops could stay in while in Boise.
I retired on 1 February 1972. Twenty years and one day.
I worked at 7-11, Skaggs Drug, tried to sell insurance for two companies. Nothing was hacking it. So, after a year of acting like a kid just out of high school, De told me to do what I had been wanting to do. Go to school and become a history teacher.
I went to Boise State for two years.
During that time I felt led to go in to some form of ministry.
So, we moved to Portland, Oregon, and I attended Multnomah School of the Bible. When I graduated from Bible School, we were accepted by Village Missions.
I spent the next 24 ½ years as a missionary pastor in rural and small town churches in several states.
We retired from Village Missions on 1 September 2003 and moved to New Braunfels,Texas.
Like The Old Sarge, we are so busy being retired, we have to take numerous vacations to keep us refreshed.
Being on this Forum is another way to keep my mind tuned up.
This is my One Thousandth Post, so I have been keeping the old gray cells working.
Jim Too
:god_bless_usa
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Post by lugnuts55 on Sept 4, 2010 1:36:18 GMT 9
This is an interesting subject and I'm glad to read about you all. I didn't retire from the Air Force like I wanted to. I made it to 17 years almost exactly before I had to leave the reserve.
I served 5 years and 26 days on active duty. I took a COT from Korat Thailand to RAF Bentwaters/Woodbridge. I had to extend for 13 months to take the assignment. I had been wanting to see England since I was a youngster. And since I requested the assignment, I gladly extended. When I was getting short, the fat boy program was started and gaining speed every day. I was on the borderline with my weight. I had scored high enough on the SKT portion of the WAPS test and was getting pro-pay, an extra $30 a month. I failed a weigh-in and they revoked the pro-pay. I was on very good terms with the commander and he called me into his office one time when I was in the orderly room for other business. He pretty much told me to get out while I still have a good record. If I got the weight off, I could come back in. I separated on 2 Dec 74.
I was married six years later and my wife put us on a diet. I lost 40 pounds and was able to join the AF Reserve. Instead of being an aircraft mechanic, i.e. crew chief, I took a slot in Combat Arms Training and Maintenance. I loved guns and felt it was something I could teach with not too much trouble. I went to tech school at Lackland and graduated as Distinguished Honor Grad as well as Outstanding Student Instructor.
I was allowed to keep my separation rank of Ssgt when I joined and worked my way up to the rank of SMSgt. Timing was right for me as I was moving up. I was the Superintendent of the CATM unit.
My wife had become very sick and was diagnosed as having Bi-Polar depression. It was a huge challenge for me to maintain things at home and run the unit at the base. I also became depressed and after 12 years in the reserve, I asked to leave. I was in my final hitch and had to leave it.
I was an automobile technician/mechanic for a local Chevy dealership and was doing ok until business was slowing down. I had been applying for jobs and I got a call from the director of the central garage for Milwaukee County. I would be paid hourly and only have to work 40 hours a week. I took the job. It was a much slower pace there and I told my co-workers that I felt like I was semi-retired.
I had been having trouble with my knees with Arthritis in both of them. Also my back was giving me problems while I was still in the AF on active duty. The day came when I could no longer do the work I was assigned. I had a hard time climbing into trucks and could not kneel down to get under them. I told the boss I had to leave. I was there for 6 1/2 years and was fully vested in the pension at 5 years.
When I turned 60 last year, I called Human Resources to see if I would get a pension. Again, the timing was right. I had just become eligible to start receiving it.
Now I can say I am officially retired. I do not work because I was not able to find anything I could do. I make use of my time by volunteering as a Hunter Education instructor and give a couple classes a year. I also am a volunteer guardian for two people who are not able to take care of themselves and no other family members are available. The rest of my time is spent being a house husband and spending time in the garage, which is my man cave during the nice weather.
I am also able to make frequent trips to Iowa to visit my folks and fix things around their house. Dad is now in a nursing home with alzheimer's. I think I was given the bad knees so I could get them replace (by the VA) and be available to help with dad. My back still limits my activities but I do as much as I can.
I joined the reserve in 1980 and left in 1993 when Slick Willie was sworn into office.
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Post by Gene on Sept 4, 2010 1:42:00 GMT 9
my dad joined in jan. of 42, and retired on his 50th birthday in nov. 72... 30 plus years... he enjoyed his retirement until he passed in 05. 8 days short of his 84th birthday...
:us_flag
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Post by Jim on Sept 4, 2010 3:28:31 GMT 9
Lugnuts, we are proud to have had you among us and sorry that you were not able to go all the way............ Sounds like you got a pretty good handle on things...............
Gene, I was one of the fortunate ones, I was taught by TSgts and MSgts from WW2 - guys like your Dad.....Hopefully I passed on what I was taught by that generation........................
:salute :drunk :salute The Old Sarge
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Post by Mark O on Sept 4, 2010 4:19:17 GMT 9
Guys, I just sent my eligibility request in yesterday. Some "retirement technician" at Randolf has to look at my records, and make sure I'm good to go. Literally! I requested September 1st, 2011 as my retirement date. As soon as they get back to me (within 10 days according to AFPC) I'll drop my official request to retire. It'll be appx. 20 years, two-an-a-half months total active federal service, and just shy of 29 years including guard and reserve time.
I'll keep you posted...
Mark
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biendhoa
F-106 Expert
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Post by biendhoa on Sept 4, 2010 4:37:18 GMT 9
My,My, My how things have changed,all i did to retire was go to BPO told them i wanted to retire. I signed some paper work,they sent it to randolph,they in turned twxed back my retirement date i requested and that was it. Cleared the base (sac hq) went on leave ,cameback and signed out the 1st sept 76. Ain`t looked back sense. : : : :2thumbsup |
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Post by pat perry on Sept 4, 2010 5:54:50 GMT 9
Guys, I just sent my eligibility request in yesterday. Some "retirement technician" at Randolf has to look at my records, and make sure I'm good to go. Literally! I requested September 1st, 2011 as my retirement date. As soon as they get back to me (within 10 days according to AFPC) I'll drop my official request to retire. It'll be appx. 20 years, two-an-a-half months total active federal service, and just shy of 29 years including guard and reserve time. I'll keep you posted... Mark Mark, Good on you! 'Bout time you got out of the way and let those young whipper snappers take the reins.  Make sure you have a plan... retirement is something you are not used to and takes a lot of planning. Take advantage of all the VA benefits you can and get some license aviation training so you can score a job if you want to. Life can become suddenly boring after you've been working your arse off for 30 years! So get some hobbies and learn to take naps... it'll take a lot of practice but you are a quick learn as proven by all you have achieved during your waking hours. Being retired is a tough assignment... Thank God there are a bunch of experienced old farts to take on the responsibility! Pat P. |
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Post by pat perry on Sept 4, 2010 6:08:34 GMT 9
Pastor Jim,
Your 1000th post deserves an Exalt.
Congratulations!
Pat p.
:us_flag
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Jim Scanlon (deceased)
Senior Staff
FORUM CHAPLAIN
Commander South Texas outpost of the County Sligo Squadron
Currently: Offline
Posts: 5,075
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Joined: July 2007
Retired: USAF
NBA: Spurs
NFL: Niners
MLB: Giants
NHL: Penguins
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Sept 4, 2010 7:54:35 GMT 9
:us_flag :salute :2thumbsup
That sounds like a really good plan, Mark.
You have plenty of time to plan out your retirement, and what you will do to keep busy in the future.
I'm sure your Commander in Chief will keep you on the straight and narrow. She has become used to your putting beans on the table, and won't let you just fish and watch TV.
Will you be staying in Abilene? If I remember there is the children in school situation, and that might dictate your staying there.
With you retired, it might be easier to meet up with you.
Jim Too
:god_bless_usa
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Post by Jeff Shannon on Sept 4, 2010 17:22:03 GMT 9
Guys, I just sent my eligibility request in yesterday. Some "retirement technician" at Randolf has to look at my records, and make sure I'm good to go. Literally! I requested September 1st, 2011 as my retirement date. As soon as they get back to me (within 10 days according to AFPC) I'll drop my official request to retire. It'll be appx. 20 years, two-an-a-half months total active federal service, and just shy of 29 years including guard and reserve time. I'll keep you posted... Mark Mark, Good on you! 'Bout time you got out of the way and let those young whipper snappers take the reins. Make sure you have a plan... retirement is something you are not used to and takes a lot of planning. Take advantage of all the VA benefits you can and get some license aviation training so you can score a job if you want to. Life can become suddenly boring after you've been working your arse off for 30 years! So get some hobbies and learn to take naps... it'll take a lot of practice but you are a quick learn as proven by all you have achieved during your waking hours. Being retired is a tough assignment... Thank God there are a bunch of experienced old farts to take on the responsibility! Pat P. Your Right Pat ......Mark you need a plan. Yesterday I did nothing...and I didn't finish so I guess I will be doing nothing again today. I may even have a beer while I'm doing nothing.  |
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Post by Mark O on Sept 4, 2010 17:45:25 GMT 9
Thanks guys,
Yea, we'll probably end up staying in Abilene. Since I'm still over here in the desert for another six weeks and change, I haven't really had a good chance to talk to Penny much about what we'll do. We've been there three years now, the oldest kids are out of school, and it would be nice to have the twins stay in one school district until they graduate instead of six like my oldest two did.
By the way, a bunch of guys are dropping their retirement paperwork over here. We've all had multiple deployments and have basically had it. As much as I love the military, my family has done without me for too long. Besides, if I don't leave soon, I will say the wrong thing one to many times! I just need to keep my mouth shut, and retire!
The big question is what I'm going to do! Still have to work!
Mark
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:green-beer :patriotic-flagwaver :god_bless_usa :
