ouwasp
5/13/2013, 06:45 PM
I entered USAF Basic Training. Yeah, I know, it's not as bad as the jarheads. Or the grunts. Or probably the squids. But it was a shock to the system of the 20 yr old that wondered WTH he'd gotten himself into!
I look back and wonder what became of my friends that I went through basic with? Most of my flight were from the Yankee states back east. They sure did talk strangely... but they assured me that I did as well!
Seems like a lot of our training was directed at defeating The Evil Empire. Nobody cared much about the mooslems back then (except for how Iran had embarrassed us...we figured that was a fluke.)
One thing I'll always remember: In late July of '83 I had finished basic and was about halfway through SP school. Mom and Dad came down to Lackland AFB to visit over the weekend. When it was time for them to leave, I hugged my mom for a long time in the parking lot... and then watched them drive off. I went back to the barracks, and the entry guard opened the door for me. He had been watching our farewell. He told me something that really meant a lot to me: I don't have what you have. I don't have a family that cares for me like that.
Now I have two kids that will turn 20 next month. I like to think I've provided the same kind of home my parents provided me.
Flight 426 BMTS 3709
SPTS 3284 A Flight
I look back and wonder what became of my friends that I went through basic with? Most of my flight were from the Yankee states back east. They sure did talk strangely... but they assured me that I did as well!
Seems like a lot of our training was directed at defeating The Evil Empire. Nobody cared much about the mooslems back then (except for how Iran had embarrassed us...we figured that was a fluke.)
One thing I'll always remember: In late July of '83 I had finished basic and was about halfway through SP school. Mom and Dad came down to Lackland AFB to visit over the weekend. When it was time for them to leave, I hugged my mom for a long time in the parking lot... and then watched them drive off. I went back to the barracks, and the entry guard opened the door for me. He had been watching our farewell. He told me something that really meant a lot to me: I don't have what you have. I don't have a family that cares for me like that.
Now I have two kids that will turn 20 next month. I like to think I've provided the same kind of home my parents provided me.
Flight 426 BMTS 3709
SPTS 3284 A Flight