I Would Love To Be A Kid Today

dav1965

I was in the military and joined when i was 17. My parents had to sign for me to join.

I joined the Air Force but i wanted to be a helicopter mechanic but it would take almost 9 months to get that job. So i told them no so they offered me air traffic controller and i said no because i did not want to be inside all day.

They came back with a tactical aircraft maintenance. So i worked on T-38s and F-16s for 10 years. I loved it.

I would love to work on F-22 or the F-35

Brookwood

I did my stint as a crewchief on F-4's mostly. Did a lot of tech school maintenance on T-38's, F-111's, and T-37's. Was 7 level qualified for all one and two engine fighter jets. Also worked munitions in the Air National Guard on some very cool stuff like old F-100's, and F-104's. Arming up and loading faux bombs on those old birds for practice runs.

I sometimes miss the flight lines and the smell of JP-4. Don't think I'd want to go back though.

CaptFun

Buddy of mine was on the Avionics design team for the F-22, shifted to the F-35 when they stopped production on the 22. Pretty fancy stuff.

SCOUT5

One of my nephews is a helicopter mechanic and is due back in the states from Germany tomorrow. He will be going back to school for air traffic control as it seems the Army has a surplus of mechanics and he has to make a change.

dav1965

When i got out they told us that from now on whatever plane you were working on that would be the only plane you worked on the rest of the time in service.

I got lucky and got a A-10. However i got in a fight with the NCO of the year about 1 year before the assignment and we were going to the same place in Germany a FOB and he went and they assigned me to F-111.

They only had 2 places where the planes were then NM and England.

Everyone i knew that worked F-111s were working 12 hours normally. I decided to get out. Forget about 12 hour days for little pay.

dav1965

I was the only E-4 on base with full red x orders. The only thing i would not sign off was the egress system. I did not know enough to sign off on that.

Most Sergeants had red x orders for engine run purposes. They were limited to intake and exhaust inspection and that was it.

They made me take full red x orders so i could be in charge of 3rd shift. They had two staff sergeants that wanted 3rd but i was forced to take it so i was a level 5 working a level 7 job.

ltcdoty

I'm impressed that they offered you different afsc's and you could turn them down. Back in 1968, they told you what you were going to do and you did it. I was an eighteen year old and went to Chanute AFB for aircraft electrical training. The only guys who got out of that, flunked out.