It was 12 years ago this very night that I entered United States Air Force Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
I was 20 years old and the world at my doorstep. I had graduated EPHS in 1991 and followed that up with CCRI. Not sure where to turn after that (I could not afford URI), I headed off into the wild blue yonder.
Six weeks later, after basic, and I headed to Technical Training School at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi. My career path was that of a 3C0x1, also known as, communications and computer systems operations.
My first duty station was the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
In 1997, I switched over from active duty to the Rhode Island Air National Guard. I have since had the opportunities to serve in Germany, Spain, Saudi Arabia, France, Key West, and many other places.
Today, I am still a proud traditional Guard member and a full time civilian employee of the US Navy at the Navy Station in Newport.
Joining the Air Force a dozen years ago was one of the best decisions of my life.
If you are interested in following this path, check out - AirForce.com, GoANG.com, or for some insider humor check out ChairForce.com
1 comment:
Do I have concerns that a young kid joining the Air Guard may be sent to Iraq? Not really.
The mission of the guard is primarily to the state in which it resides in and is to be employed during states of emergency such as natural or man-made disasters, civil strive or invasion and at the discretion of the governor.
In general, an ANG member's chances of going into Iraq are small.
The Air Guard does serve as a reserve component to the United States Air Force.
The folks that have gone have volunteered many times over and when they do get there almost never leave the protected compound when there.
Even if you get to go to the war, that does not mean that you will even step foot into Iraq.
I tell kids, if you want to see war, don’t join the Air Guard.
Before going to Iraq, one is transferred over into the active duty Air Force. In comparison, the USAF has suffered very little in Iraq compared to the Marines or Army.
Here is a list of Airmen killed in Iraq -
• Airman 1st Class Carl L. Anderson Jr., 21, Georgetown, S.C., Aug. 29, 2004, Iraq
• Capt. Derek Argel, 28, Lompoc, Calif., May 30, 2005, Iraq
• Master Sgt. Steven E. Auchman, 37, Waterloo, N.Y., Nov. 9, 2004, Iraq
• Capt. John J. Boria, 29, Broken Arrow, Okla., Sept. 6, 2004, Qatar
• Tech. Sgt. Bruce E. Brown, 32, Coatopa, Ala., Sept. 4, 2003, Qatar
• Staff Sgt. Casey Crate, 26, Spanaway, Wash., May 30, 2005, Iraq
• Capt. Eric B. Das, 30, Amarillo, Texas, April 7, 2003, Iraq
• Maj. William Downs, 40, Winchester, Va., May 30, 2005, Iraq
• Senior Airman Pedro I. Espaillat Jr., 20, Colombia, Tenn., May 15, 2004, Iraq
• Capt. Jeremy Fresques, 26, Clarkdale, Ariz., May 30, 2005, Iraq
• Staff Sgt. Patrick Lee Griffin Jr., 31, Elgin, S.C., May 13, 2003, Iraq
• Airman 1st Class Antoine J. Holt, 20, of Kennesaw, Ga., April 10, 2004, Iraq
• Airman 1st Class Elizabeth N. Jacobson, 21, Riviera Beach, Fla., Sept. 28, 2005, Iraq
• Sgt. Grzegorz Jakoniuk, 25, Schiller Park, Ill., Nov. 30, 2005, Iraq
• Master Sgt. Jude C. Mariano, 39, Vallejo, Calif., Feb. 10, 2004, Qatar
• Staff Sgt. Brian McElroy, 28, San Antonio, Texas, Jan. 22, 2006, Iraq
• Tech. Sgt. Walter M. Moss Jr., 37, Houston, Texas, Mar. 29, 2006, Iraq
• Tech. Sgt. Jason L. Norton, 32, Miami, Okla., Jan. 22, 2006, Iraq
• Staff Sgt. Dustin W. Peters, 25, El Dorado, Kan., July 11, 2004, Iraq
• Staff Sgt. Ray Rangel, 29, San Antonio, Texas, Feb. 13, 2005, Iraq
• Staff Sgt. Scott D. Sather, 29, Clio, Mich., April 8, 2003, Iraq
• Master Sgt. David A. Scott, 49, Union, Ohio, July 20, 2003, Qatar
• Maj. Gregory Stone, 40, Boise, Idaho, March 25, 2003, Kuwait
• Lance Cpl. Steven A. Valdez, 20, McRea, Ark., Sept. 26, 2005, Afghanistan
• Rick A. Ulbright, 49, Waldorf, Md., Aug. 8, 2004, Iraq (Dept. of the Air Force civilian employee)
• Maj. William R. Watkins III, 37, Danville, Va., April 7, 2003, Iraq
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