Signed up, for the Air Force, with my 2 best Buddies, in April of 1966, on the delayed enlistment, actually left for Amarillo AFB, Tx, on the 19th of August of 1966, served my 6yr enlistment (4yrs active, 2 inactive), started out in wheeled vehicle maint. & about 6 months into my enlistment, about 20 of us, were selected to "volunteer" to cross train into other fields I chose Jet Acft, 1 & 2 Eng, was trained at Sheppard AFB, Wichita, TX, then spent a 2 yr tour, in Northern Japan, crewing an F4C Phantom II & Spent the remainder of my Enlistment, at Hamilton AFB, CA, crewing an F-106 & most of that time, was on Alert Duty, at the end of the runway. Worked for about 2yrs, on the outside & then decided to try for a Dual Status Position, working on the Army Reserve Equipment on the civilian side & as a mechanic, in the Motor Pool, on the Military side. last 2 months then after working for 2 yrs in maintenance, on the onside, I decided to go for a Dual Status position Federal Employee/requiring enlistment in the Army Reserves. I was assigned as a mechanic, in the Motor Pool, in the Reserves & hired on as a WG-08 Federal Employee, working on Power Generation & misc. other equipment. Worked my way up, through the Reserves, to become the Maint Control NCO, in a Direct Support Unit & in my Civilian side of the job, I worked my way up, from a WG-08 Heavy Mobile Equipment Specialist, to a WG-10 Hvy Mobile Equipment Inspector & Retired from both, in 1996, with nearly 30yrs, in each. And, just for the info, my 4 yrs Active Air Force, counted toward my years in service, on the Federal Side. My Dad, was my encouragement. He was drafted in WWII, the Army Reserves started up, shortly after he was released from the Army, after WWII & joined the Army Reserves, right after they started up & he also took the same route, that he encouraged me to, for the security & benefits, to include retirement, from both & put in a total of 42yrs, for retirement purposes. Funny thing is, when I was a Senior in high school, in 1966, there was a day set aside, for the Recruiters to come in and talk to the Seniors. the evening, before they were going to be there, I asked my Dad for his input, on which branch of service I should go for. He looked me straight in the eyes and told me that that was MY decision & he wasn't commenting, because, if he did & I didn't like the choice, afterwards, I would only be able to blame myself, because it was MY decision. LOL! I felt good, with my choice & would do it again. BUT, would most likely stay longer, in the Active Service. Hope I didn't drag that out too much. I KNEW it was MY duty, to serve.
