Off we go, into the . . . .

[Golddollar]

My little step-cousin (6'3" and towers over me) is joining the United States Air Force. We're having a sendoff party for him tomorrow. I'm happy for him because even though I never served, the Air Force is the branch I'm most connected to because of my time in Air Force ROTC. I have to go to the grocery store and buy a couple pounds of fresh mushrooms so I can make a pan of stuffed mushrooms for the party.

 

[44specialfan]

Please pass along my congratulations to the young man and much success in his endeavors on our collective behalf. God's speed and protection to him and all who serve.

 

[Bullet Bob]

At least he's smart enough to go to San Antonio in December, unlike a weak-minded person such as myself who went in on June 30th 1970, so I could fully enjoy marching around in the Texas sun in long-sleeved dark green fatigues. Good times - now

Of course I did have the incentive of getting in before a mandatory invitation to join America's largest military branch arrived.

 

[MSgt G]

Congratulations to him! Take things one day at a time!

 

[crazyphil]

Congratulations to your step cousin. It is a wise decision he has made.
I enlisted shortly after my 17th birthday. 4 extremely interesting years.
1952-1956.
College on the GI Bill. GI home loan. Great care at the Boise VAMC.
Like I said, a wise decision.

 

[Czechvar]

What field is he going into?

 

[lkabug]

Congratulations! Aim High

 

[Rastoff]

Congratulations to him!

I joined in Dec too. While at Lackland, we had the first snow they had seen in at least 10 years. They had us out cleaning off the walkways with dust pans. No snow shovels in Lackland.

 

[TomkinsSP]

Come on and join the Air force.
We're a happy band they say.
We never do a lick of work.
Just fly around all day.

While others work and study hard,
And soon grow old and blind.
You'll take to the air, without a care,
And you will never mind.

Promotions come upon you just as high as you desire.
You're riding on the gravy train,
When you're an Airforce flyer.
But just when you're about to be a General you find,
The engine stops, the wings fall off,
And you will never mind.

You are flying across the ocean,
When you hear the engine spit.
You see the prop come to a stop,
The goshdarn* engine quit.

The ship won't float, you cannot swim,
The shore is miles behind.
You'll be a dish for happy fish,
And you will never mind.

You are flying your F-86 along the Yalu shore,
Loyal to the Air force, but rotten to the core.
You've only got one engine, Jack,
And if that bastage* quits,
It will be a barrel by itself,
'Cause you're the kind that gets...

You'll never mind,
You'll never mind,
Come on and join the Air force,
And you will never mind.

-Korean war era USAF ditty

 

[Funflyer]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fop_0hfiGQ"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fop_0hfiGQ[/ame]

 

[Rastoff]

I forgot to ask, what career field is he going into?

 

[soFlaNative]

Where's Rusty with the USAF gags?
Congrats and Best of Luck to your Cuz.

 

[Rustyt1953]

 

[joeintexas]

Went through Lackland AFB in October 1968, it was still hot. Good luck to him.

 

[Rastoff]

That's not funny at all Rusty1953. Sometimes those chocolate fountains don't work that well.

 

[CH4]

At least he's smart enough to go to San Antonio in December, unlike a weak-minded person such as myself who went in on June 30th 1970, so I could fully enjoy marching around in the Texas sun in long-sleeved dark green fatigues. Good times - now

Of course I did have the incentive of getting in before a mandatory invitation to join America's largest military branch arrived.

Congrats! USAF is the best branch of the armed forces - it's the one all the smart kids choose.

I was fortunate enough to Visit Lackland in December, 1983. I would have given anything for one of those warm field jacket liners, like the one our drill sergeant had. 6 weeks of folding our underwear into 6" squares and eating was real tough stuff!

 

[Golddollar]

What field is he going into?

I don't know, but I'll try to make sure to ask him today and post an answer.

 

[H Richard]

The USAF has hundreds of career fields to get training in. I can only imagine how many now, I had a pretty large choice in 1959. Spent Oct in Lackland, then a short distance up to Shepherd AFB in Wichita Falls, TX for the next 6 months for school. 43250, Jet Engine Mechanic. On planes that are now all in the scrap yard, (B66, T33, F84, KB50J). The Cold War was pretty much an 8 hour a day job.

 

[Rustyt1953]

My intense training at Lackland taught me invaluable skills to prepare me for civilian life such as ironing pleats in a cummerbund and the proper folding of an origami dinner napkin.

Time well spent.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Congrats to him, and my very best wishes.

Tell him not to take basic training (scout camp) as being "the real Air Force." It gets much better after that six weeks.

1972 - 2000. A good life, and it still is.