tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post6006295937540426486..comments2024-03-28T04:51:43.723-07:00Comments on Chant du Départ: What?OldAFSargehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-70161004226355319912018-08-12T17:19:16.169-07:002018-08-12T17:19:16.169-07:00"The soldier on the ground."
Five thous..."The soldier on the ground."<br /><br />Five thousand plus years of warfare, and it always boils down to that.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-1990881289708491112018-08-12T15:19:16.133-07:002018-08-12T15:19:16.133-07:00Quite an Odyssey, OAFS, and well told. VietNam er...Quite an Odyssey, OAFS, and well told. VietNam era WOFT was a combination of Army OCS and flight school. Pretty "high and tight" 24/7 although things did loosen up some in the later months during Advanced Flight Training. Lots of us "off the street" were more than willing to "play the game" to make it through as the option wasn't very promising. Many senior NCO's who decided to give it a go often didn't care much for the loss of prestige of being a WOC and just went back to their prior duties. TAC Officers were mostly CW2's or O-3's who were sympathetic to our plight as they had previously been there but, despite their fatalistic senses of humor, were very good at making our lives miserable Their goal was to break an individual Candidate and have them quit or eliminate those unable or unwilling to "play the game." Same for the instructors on the flight line side as there was little time then for stragglers. Teamwork, attention to detail, and some ability to learn to fly were paramount to finishing. One lesson that served me well for the next 27 years was that our sole reason to exist was for "the soldier on the ground." Thanks again, AlemasterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-66675207255127415182018-08-11T08:20:04.259-07:002018-08-11T08:20:04.259-07:00Indeed!Indeed!OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-52187696488574241532018-08-11T08:05:23.517-07:002018-08-11T08:05:23.517-07:00Isn't Karma absolutely delicious!!! Would have...Isn't Karma absolutely delicious!!! Would have loved to see her face. Power can be a really obnoxious thing!Valoryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04565837570756318280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-24731220164077616082018-08-11T07:37:51.983-07:002018-08-11T07:37:51.983-07:00Hahaha! That would have been awesome.
The show en...Hahaha! That would have been awesome.<br /><br />The show ended in 1985, I just hadn't seen it yet. Devoured episodes of it after I retired. Big favorite of my parents as well.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-2218337754738051562018-08-11T03:40:17.798-07:002018-08-11T03:40:17.798-07:00Crikey! I'm surprised you didn't tell Ahab...Crikey! I'm surprised you didn't tell Ahab that you were unanimous in your decision to drop but maybe "Are You Being Served" wasn't on back then. HMS Defianthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10024721130102173694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-74491871431732671782018-08-10T20:06:02.016-07:002018-08-10T20:06:02.016-07:00Yes it has. The program appears to have been short...Yes it has. The program appears to have been shortened as well!OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-75447464201416981742018-08-10T19:57:42.513-07:002018-08-10T19:57:42.513-07:00Thanks Unkown and OAFS. Back around 1990 I did my...Thanks Unkown and OAFS. Back around 1990 I did my non active duty AF Reserve training at Kelly. Went to Lackland maybe once. I live near Bandera, Texas now. I looked up OTS on Wikipedia and apparently it has moved to Maxwell AFB.BillBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17593147581583316765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-69211892849676191422018-08-10T15:09:27.397-07:002018-08-10T15:09:27.397-07:00BillB, what Uncle Nown said.
Google Medina Annex ...BillB, what Uncle Nown said.<br /><br />Google Medina Annex Lackland AFB in Google Maps.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-32695747489310498632018-08-10T15:06:40.665-07:002018-08-10T15:06:40.665-07:00Our American officers were a mixed bag, the ones w...Our American officers were a mixed bag, the ones who realized that we were in NATO, and yes you might have a non-American as a boss, worked out well.<br /><br />Those who thought they were still in the US of A, didn't fare all that well.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-1767117885965863842018-08-10T15:04:49.999-07:002018-08-10T15:04:49.999-07:00I turned their eyes to the Sea Service. Why? They ...I turned their eyes to the Sea Service. Why? They all wear glasses, no way they were going to be pilots. Not a pilot, can't run the Air Force, you'll fly a desk.<br /><br />I love my old service. But...<br /><br />For the kids, the Navy was the right choice, the only choice.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-19758280385492392342018-08-10T15:02:48.835-07:002018-08-10T15:02:48.835-07:00I so would have loved to bayonet charge Captain Ba...I so would have loved to bayonet charge Captain Bandit.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-13494193268334561242018-08-10T15:01:53.169-07:002018-08-10T15:01:53.169-07:00😁😁OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-30510718687450648472018-08-10T14:41:37.047-07:002018-08-10T14:41:37.047-07:00Sorry, just inside 1604 to the west of KellySorry, just inside 1604 to the west of KellyAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16429337032157176182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-84756711834328332232018-08-10T14:40:13.378-07:002018-08-10T14:40:13.378-07:00Across 1604 to the west of Kelly.Across 1604 to the west of Kelly.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16429337032157176182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-23841192744292720042018-08-10T14:00:55.526-07:002018-08-10T14:00:55.526-07:00Not all. My first hitch was Regular Army as enlist...Not all. My first hitch was Regular Army as enlisted, then NCO. Got out, finished college and got married before the state uniform idea came along. The combination worked for me. Military lite if you will. I got to keep my hand in, salute the flag in uniform, had opportunities to pass on my experience. No worries about deployment or PCS. Drill was one Saturday a month. Got to raise my kids to adulthood in the same house.<br /><br />"Negative sir, you are not in my chain of command."<br /><br />That struck a chord as well. I was death on that (probably my NCO stripes showing). Nobody fire trucks with my people. Ever. If somebody needs to have something 'splained to them, I'll do it. I made it very clear that if anyone got hassled from outside the chain of command, they were to stand their ground on my orders and refer whomever to me.<br /><br />"Then you will run his ass over. Am I clear!!?"<br /><br />Heh. My buddy (Walt) in state uniform (and later my XO) did some ROTC time in his younger days (later he was Navy enlisted). Seems at some point another platoon attempted something on the order of your Captain Bandit. Walt's platoon was practicing Drill and Ceremonies with their M1 Garands. So, Walt being platoon leader, ordered "Fix--- Bayonets!" and charged. Walt and I are good friends to this day.<br />RHT447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-15240036111008813762018-08-10T13:49:24.085-07:002018-08-10T13:49:24.085-07:00Where is/was Medina Annex? I was an ROTC graduate...Where is/was Medina Annex? I was an ROTC graduate so I got to miss that fun hole. I now live about an hour from Lackland so curiosity is tickling my brain.<br /><br />BillB aka Deck (AF handle, don't ask) BillBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17593147581583316765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-5139324996310313602018-08-10T13:36:38.646-07:002018-08-10T13:36:38.646-07:00Of course you're right in the head. You allow...Of course you're right in the head. You allowed me to join the blog...<br /><br />Okay. Check yourself into the local happy-house ASAP-Pronto!Beanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15293778848879361153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-26866604022387015532018-08-10T12:40:43.846-07:002018-08-10T12:40:43.846-07:00From what I've been told, too many useless off...From what I've been told, too many useless officers have ended up either at NATO or the Pentagon. Sounds like she was custom-tailored for a miserable position.<br /><br />Boy, how different your career might have been if you had been under the flight commander of your sister flight. Fickle Finger of Fate playing Russian Roullette with your life. Bummer.<br />Beanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15293778848879361153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-21351350402401412982018-08-10T12:37:58.214-07:002018-08-10T12:37:58.214-07:00Be interesting to find out the rest of your family...Be interesting to find out the rest of your family's perspectives on this whole thing. Wonder how much it focused the progeny away from the Air Force towards the Navy.<br /><br />(in other words, blatant attempt to get my senior silent sister to open her yap and spill the... beans.)Beanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15293778848879361153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-56711099568276538472018-08-10T12:36:20.917-07:002018-08-10T12:36:20.917-07:00Both, I fear...Both, I fear...OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-44629184944020412492018-08-10T12:35:30.881-07:002018-08-10T12:35:30.881-07:00Or that I am actually not right in the head.
Jury...Or that I am actually not right in the head.<br /><br />Jury's still out on that...OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-17958608840656936652018-08-10T12:34:43.047-07:002018-08-10T12:34:43.047-07:00Oh, I so understand that. The Missus Herself has p...Oh, I so understand that. <i>The Missus Herself</i> has pretty strict dress requirements for me, as in she threw away most of my clothes when we got married and won't let me shop on my own for clothing. Looking back on things, yes, smart move on her part. Smarter on my end for actually listening.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-34912155740955654312018-08-10T12:34:05.472-07:002018-08-10T12:34:05.472-07:00Yes, yes it does. As to reaching non-atmospheric ...Yes, yes it does. As to reaching non-atmospheric flight, I am afraid that that is a no-go. I would never pass the physical. The inspecting medicos might not pass the physical, dying of hysteria and having their arms falling off from pointing while laughing.<br /><br />I'll get up on a horse. I'll grudgingly climb up on the bed to clean the fan, very grudgingly. I will fly in a closed cockpit plane, as long as the pilot isn't an insane anal-sphincter.<br /><br />I am afraid I am eternally earth-bound, so, juvat-SIR, there is no chance that I will ever go flying off the handle into orbit. Hrmph.<br /><br />It's like he's trying to fry my frijoles. How very rude. Must have served as a training officer at one time or another, or... wait, he did serve as a penta-weinie...Beanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15293778848879361153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-32152177834312746422018-08-10T12:26:55.406-07:002018-08-10T12:26:55.406-07:00The way you handle OTS may have been a test of you...The way you handle OTS may have been a test of your fortitude. Sounds like you passed.Beanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15293778848879361153noreply@blogger.com