Air Force BMT

[clerick]

So...  Where are you heading now?

Am at Keesler right now, will be here until December or so.

[Grayeagle]

For any of you thinkin of signin up .. serious about makin a go of it ..

..sign up for 6yrs instead of 4, you get rank faster (2 stripes outta basic, 3rd a year from when you enlisted or some such, guaranteed AFSC ..depending on USAF need at the time of course ..and if there is *any* way possible .. finish a 4yr degree and bootstrap yourself into Officer country as fast as you can.

I mean it.
Don't fool around and waste years just bein a line troop or some such.. sure .. it's fun an all ..
..but next thing yanno yer lookin at retirement.
It comes at you fast.
20yrs goes by like you would not beleive.

-Frank aka GE

[LePaul]

Am at Keesler right now, will be here until December or so.

How is it since the hurricaine hit it?

Man, I was there the summer of 1988.  I visited again in 1989 and 1992 while my ANG Unit was at Gulfport.

I really had a great time down there in Biloxi.  Went to Mother Tucker's for dinner one night.  Had a few drinks, got a little looped and called home to tell my folks where I ate.  Got hung up on.  Called back...explained its TUCKER!

[clerick]

It is actully in very good shape since the hurricane.  There are a few things that, once pointed out, you notice.  I'm just not looking forward to the weather...

[AKIron]

Am at Keesler right now, will be here until December or so.

I spent 10 months there for radar school several decades ago. What are you there for?

[clerick]

Air Field Systems.  Is a combination od radio and MET-Nav.  It is the longest tech school they have here...  gonna be here a while.....

[nirvana]

GE, the 6 year plan, as was explained to me when I first got to my unit, is only a recruiting tool.  Sure you get an extra stripe and advance a little faster but you don't get the as many e-enlistment bonuses for your rate (if there are any).  If there aren't any re-enlistment bonuses then you don't have to worry about it.  In the Coast Guard they give you bonuses for the fist 10 years, after that they figure you'll probably be in for 20 anyway so why bother giving you another bonus.  Bonus at 6 years, by the time your second re-enlistment comes around you're already at 10 years.

[AKIron]

Air Field Systems.  Is a combination od radio and MET-Nav.  It is the longest tech school they have here...  gonna be here a while.....

Sounds like they've combined more career fields since I retired in '95. Ground Radio was a separate field but they had already taken the weather radar from the Weather guys and combined them with NAVAIDS to make MET-Nav. Then they took the weather radar, ATC radar, and the AC&W radar and rolled them into one field. With so much of the repair limited to depot level anymore no need to specialize as much as before. That and the systems no longer need constant attention.

Good luck to ya clerick     

[LePaul]

I dont recall the squad name at Keesler but I was in the "Mad Dogs".  Every morning we'd march...and bark.  LOL

I recall going to Mother Tucker's a few times.

That place was soooo frickin hot during summer.  But wow, Biloxi has some serious hot women too   

[Halo46]

Thanks for your service young Airman. 

[clerick]

But wow, Biloxi has some serious hot women too   

They went out of their way to scare the troops into celibacy.  According to the USAF Mississippi has the highest STD rate in the country and the county we are in supposedly has the highest in the state...  IF true it gives new meaning to the word "hot" women..

[rogwar]

Thank you for your service.

Some day when you feel like it tell us the story of boot camp. Still too new right now. Probably has to sink in a little more.

[Grayeagle]

Nirvana: I *did* the 6yr enlistment, sewed on Sgt on the day of a year in service, and had two stripes leavin basic.

Enlistment bonus .. oh ya .. Nixon and the other bean counters made sure it was really worth our while you bet.
If yer in it for the money you are HOSED.

It was a leg up on any who had not and a few resented it primarily because they didn't know of it.

Frankly I didn't have to do some of the roadkill details they stuck the others on strictly due to 'rank'
..being an NCO quicker than most meant I got picked to be lead of most teams for this an that.
It also meant I tested for Staff earlier ..etc .. etc.

You never get time back.

-Frank aka GE (Tsgt under 10 ..tuff to do in ECM but I by-god did it and there were more than a few who were boggled)

[Gunslinger]

it wasnt that bad really.  If i were 18 and still weening from mommy and daddy it would have been hell..

What was your flt#  Squadron?  I probably know your TIs

[clerick]

I was in 331st (hua wolfpack!) Flt 247. Ssgt Weymer was my MTI AND Ssgt White was brother flight's MTI.