I spent the first 4 years of my service in the Army and the rest in the Air Force. Often when someone finds out I was in the Army or Air Force I get "You were in the Army/Air Force?, then do you know".....people seem to think all service folks know each other.
Yes, I was in the Air Force. No, I was not a pilot.
- Thread starter JamesArthur60
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COL Jagdog
Member
Yes, it is true that veterans of each branch of the service get asked questions by the rank and file -- given the dumbing down of America, it is refreshing to think that most still know that the Air Force has aircraft (as do the Navy, Marines, Army and Coast Guard), the Navy has ships, the Marines have Marines and Force Recon, the Coast Guard has cutters and rescue helicopters, and the Army has infantrymen and tanks and artillery. Having been assigned to mech infantry units, trained on Bradleys, assigned to an Army aviation unit, qualified on most of the small arms, etc, I usually tell folks when asked that I did a little bit of everything -- range safety officer, OPFOR leader, trainer,
troop commander but as a JAG with an infantry background -- "a soldier always, a lawyer when needed".
troop commander but as a JAG with an infantry background -- "a soldier always, a lawyer when needed".
I never thought all Air Force guys were pilots, thought they were all golfers......
Never met an Air Force person who didn't know how to golf.... and well....
Here I Am, Here I AM.. Air/Sea Rescue (Hueys) and Lousy Golfer...
Alnamvet68
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No, I wasn't in the AF, and yes, I'm a pilot, and yes, a Chief in the Army is not a flying enlisted, and is not a Navy Chief. BTW, the Army has more ships then the Navy.
panthers85
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I've been in the Air Force for over eight years. The pilot stereotype can get annoying. I will say that it had helped from time to time while stationed in Germany (with the ladies)
. They love pilots. I work in CE though (Civil Engineering).
. They love pilots. I work in CE though (Civil Engineering).
foxeye
Member
Spent 10 years in the U S Army, in the 1/4 Cav 1st Div, and also the 11 ACR. I seen there was a better way of life that did not include mud, grease and grime, and usually clean clothes and a warm bed. I transferred over to the USAF and spent 22 years in it before retiring. SOmetimes I wished I stayed in the army. I do throw some foks a curve when they see me with an AF cap on and at another time with an Army cap on. I was the only one I ever saw in the Air Force that also wore the C.I.B. right above my USAF specialty badge. Used to draw a lot of attention in some places. LOL Started my career in early 1967 spent 2 1/2 tours in RVN.
monet61
US Veteran
Ok, I'll bite. Tell me about the Army Fleet.
sipowicz
Member
As much as I love to wear my white lab coat and forehead mirror, I got tired of people asking me if I was a doctor!
USAF385
US Veteran
I often get asked if I'm a pilot in airports when I'm in my blues. Of course, they don't even realize I'm military half the time, they think I'm a commercial pilot. The aircrew wings don't help.
I never got grief from the Army or Marines when I was active.... They all seem to love the 4th SOS and our AC-130U.
Now I'm a C-5 loadmaster. Sometimes I feel like it's the Chair Force.... Well at 30,000 ft.
I never got grief from the Army or Marines when I was active.... They all seem to love the 4th SOS and our AC-130U.
Now I'm a C-5 loadmaster. Sometimes I feel like it's the Chair Force.... Well at 30,000 ft.
Alnamvet68
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OK, let's keep the definitions of ships, boats, tugs, etc out of the picture. The fact is, the US Army has more waterborne vessels then the US Navy.
I was career Air Force............
My response was always..........Yep, I fly a desk!
They are aerodynamically imperfect.
My response was always..........Yep, I fly a desk!
They are aerodynamically imperfect.
Old Seabee
US Veteran
Air Force
Loved there A/C trailers in Vietnam never got in one but went by every day, 65-67 Phu Bia
Loved there A/C trailers in Vietnam never got in one but went by every day, 65-67 Phu Bia
People don't know.......
...how many people it takes to back up that infantryman, pilot or any 'romantic' job.
...how many people it takes to back up that infantryman, pilot or any 'romantic' job.
Hillbilly77
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Was chatting it up with an attractive gal at a bar one time and she pointed to my Navy Vet hat and asked if I was in the Navy!
Then she said her brother was in the navy and asked what ship I was on.
Told her I was mostly an aircrewman on P-3s.(pointing to my wings)
her, (confused look) "P-3?"
me, "That's an airplane".
her, "The Navy has airplanes?"
Me,"Yeahhh!"
her,"But I thought the Navy all ships and the Air Force had all the airplanes?"
It went downhill from there!
So, you were chatting with this young lady for her brains & wit?
Yes I was USAF, not a pilot, but I fixed their jet engines so they could keep flying. Cold war warriors, months of boredom for minutes of excitement.
jlrhiner
US Veteran
So, you were chatting with this young lady for her brains & wit?
Air Force, what did you expect?
The reason I joined the Navy instead of the Air Force is I can swim farther than I can fly!
smithman 10
US Veteran
Only plane I flew in was an airliner
I spent four years in the Air Force and the only aircraft I ever flew on during my time in service were the ones that took me to West Berlin and back home when my time was up.
Spent two years of the four on top of a big hill on the outskirts of West Berlin in a windowless building with a bunch of antennas sticking up in the air - you get the picture.
I was lucky and when folks ask me what I did I tell them I got an all expenses paid two-year European vacation courtesy of Uncle Sam while other young men were dying in Vietnam - that kinda puts it all in perspective.
I spent four years in the Air Force and the only aircraft I ever flew on during my time in service were the ones that took me to West Berlin and back home when my time was up.
Spent two years of the four on top of a big hill on the outskirts of West Berlin in a windowless building with a bunch of antennas sticking up in the air - you get the picture.
I was lucky and when folks ask me what I did I tell them I got an all expenses paid two-year European vacation courtesy of Uncle Sam while other young men were dying in Vietnam - that kinda puts it all in perspective.
feralmerril
Absent Comrade
What would you do in a experiance I had about 12 years ago. I had just retired from lockheed. I was on a trip and stopped in a restraunt. This time I kept my mouth shut. There was a very old man bragging to people about being a test pilot for lockheed. He was telling all in earshot that he did a lot of flying on the SR-71. Now that still holds all world records for speed and altitude. This old boy had the cap and was talking a good game. Trouble was I had worked that program on and off since 1965 as a security guard and was quite sure I knew every test pilot that flew it. I didnt call him out on it as he kind of appeared to be a brilliant old man with maybe getting into alzheimers.
I was in the Air Force and got the stereotypical "pilot" question a few times.
Then went on to a career with the FAA and a much more frequent stereotypical question: "Are you an Air Traffic Controller?"
"No."
Then went on to a career with the FAA and a much more frequent stereotypical question: "Are you an Air Traffic Controller?"
"No."
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