Basic Training

My son shipped out to JBSA Lackland last week to start his career in the Air Force.  I'm proud of him but I have also lost my fishing and golfing buddy.  I'm sure some of you out there know where I'm coming from.  And to all of you that have served, THANK YOU!!

Tell him to take advantage of every program that comes his way. I was a rock when I went in, and it took me a few years to get my screwed on straight. Time wasted spending my paycheck on beer and chasing young German women.  I had fun, but I can't help but think I could of paid my way through brew master school for what I spent on some weekends.

David, I know where you are coming from. My son left a couple of years ago this month for BMTS. He’s stationed in Italy and having a great time.


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I worked with a lot of great air force people back when I was employed by Uncle Sam. Tell him to take a tour at Ft. Meade if he ever gets the chance...

Best of luck.  A very small percent of men and women defend this country. Thank you.

Good luck to your son.
The son of my Army buddy i served with in Korea 2ID in85-86 is staying with me for a couple of days to sight see SF before he goes to boot camp with the Navy.
Your son n my buddy’s son will both be proud when they look back years from now in serving their country.

Congratulation!And thank you for serving,  It’s a big step into the next chapter in his life.  I been through Lackland AFB in 1988. After that is just on the job training for the rest of your career. just enjoy,

I am proud of this country and the people who volunteer everyday to defend it.  Of course as a parent, I just want these days at basic to be over so he can start his career.  His job selection is a loadmaster.

Thank you for the support and for those of you who have served, are serving, or are about to, I thank you for your dedication and service. 

Congratulation!And thank you for serving,  It’s a big step into the next chapter in his life.  I been through Lackland AFB in 1988. After that is just on the job training for the rest of your career. just enjoy,

Damn you're young. I went through in Winter '77 and retired in 2003

I went through Lackland in January of '75.  It snowed there that year!  If you had posted before he left, I could have advised him on what job to take while in basic.  Each person is assigned a job; laundry queen, latrine queen, bed aligner, etc.  Laundry queen was best as I had plenty of down time while the washers and dryers were running.  Eventually I became an instructor at a technical school teaching instrument landing systems and tactical air navigation.  Turned out, I enjoyed hollering at Airmen!  Ha! 
Flying is the best.  The smell of JP4 still is a rush for me. 
Oh, tell him, while he's in tech school, to join the drill team.  Drill Team has it's own dorm wing and gets out of all sorts of mundane jobs like lawn mowing, KP duty, etc.  Plus we traveled a lot for tournaments.  We drilled with rifles, so there was that aspect that was pretty cool too.  One honor was that our unit lowered the flag each evening.  We got to have lunch once with POW's that had recently been released from Hanoi.  Very cool. 
If he likes sports, have him check out the base's baseball team.  I played shortstop and got to travel all over East of the Mississippi playing ball. 
Wishing him well and you and yours peace with his decision to volunteer. 
The flight line rocks! 

Congratulation!And thank you for serving,  It’s a big step into the next chapter in his life.  I been through Lackland AFB in 1988. After that is just on the job training for the rest of your career. just enjoy,

Damn you're young. I went through in Winter '77 and retired in 2003

Lol! We were all yong once  Its good to get old the way its sapose to happen...

Thanks for the great advice.  I will write him and let him know.  From what I hear he is lucky to get preassigned as a Loadmaster.  He is definitely into sports and anything involving a team (pitched in high school and was planning on pitching for ASU club D1 until he decided he would rather enlist).  His grandfather was at Lackland in the 50's just after Korea so it is special knowing that my son is walking/marching in my late Father's footsteps.

He is very lucky to get pre assigned as a load master, there are many jobs in the Air Force, good he's promised one he likes. Do you know which air frame, C-5's or C-17's? Either way there's a reasonable chance he'll wind up right back here at Travis, where I was stationed.

Make sure he takes advantage of all the benefits that suite him. A lot of the info is thrown at you at once, and it's hard to keep track/remember what and how. Make sure he spends plenty of time researching those when he gets to his duty station.

Congrats to the both of you!

Tell him not to suck it up when n if he gets injured or get an illness.  Report it and have it documented. He will be glad he did in the future. PM me for why so

He is very lucky to get pre assigned as a load master, there are many jobs in the Air Force, good he's promised one he likes. Do you know which air frame, C-5's or C-17's? Either way there's a reasonable chance he'll wind up right back here at Travis, where I was stationed.

Make sure he takes advantage of all the benefits that suite him. A lot of the info is thrown at you at once, and it's hard to keep track/remember what and how. Make sure he spends plenty of time researching those when he gets to his duty station.

Congrats to the both of you!