Son's new career path, pretty proud father

[Sigarms]

Talking with my son last night.

He said he was at the mess hall having dinner (he's going through AIT now or whatever the AF calls it) and he heard his first name called out that got his attention. Turns out it was a classmate of his last year in high school (who I know because this other airman was friends with my other son). The other kid went in 2 months before my son, and they have totally different MOS's.

My son seems to know he is blessed. His first duty station tentatively is in South Carolina which means he can grab his own car and drive it back to base when he finally gets leave (and we can get it out of our driveway LOL) and his old high school classmate is going to Korea.

Son was hoping for a first assignment overseas when he first went in, but he's come to the realization that being able to make a 4-5 hour drive home if he wants to on his first assignment isn't that bad of a gig after all LOL

Like I told him, he's out of state and far enough away from us, but he's NOT to far away LOL

 

[Torvy]

Nice! My brother retired out of Shaw AFB, SC. My kids and I went to the ceremony. It wasn't bad. As an AF Brat, I've seen my share of bases.

Did he stay at Lackland for AIT or elsewhere? Can you share his AFSC? (MOS)

It is pretty exciting to see your kids make these steps into adulthood. Sounds like he's pretty squared away. You have every right to be proud.

 

[Hay Dude]

My brother was at Lackland

 

[Torvy]

My brother was at Lackland

Lackland is the USAF's sole location for basic training for enlisted personnel. They all start there.

When dad went in (early days of AF history), there was a problem with housing or something and they shipped his class from Lackland to Sheppard (Wichita Falls, TX) to complete basic training. Oddly enough, my brother's first assignment after the Academy was to Sheppard for his job training (aircraft maintenance officer).

The AFSC training can be at 4 different bases (5 different training wings, 2 of them at Lackland). Both officers and enlisted get this training (in most cases).

 

[JeepHead]

What a great story! I can remember well when I enlisted and all the fear and excitement I had before I left. Then, that turned into straight fear the day I arrived at boot camp lol.

Both of my grandfathers served in the navy, my dad was army, I was navy and so was my son. My son was in a very elite program in the navy and has went on to a very elite state department position because of his military training. at 30, he's living a life I could have only dreamed of.

It certainly makes us proud to see our children succeed. I wish your son all the best!

 

[Sigarms]

Lackland is the USAF's sole location for basic training for enlisted personnel. They all start there.

When dad went in (early days of AF history), there was a problem with housing or something and they shipped his class from Lackland to Sheppard (Wichita Falls, TX) to complete basic training. Oddly enough, my brother's first assignment after the Academy was to Sheppard for his job training (aircraft maintenance officer).

The AFSC training can be at 4 different bases (5 different training wings, 2 of them at Lackland). Both officers and enlisted get this training (in most cases).

Lackland is it for basic after they shut Sampson down (where my father went). Ironically enough, mom went to Lackland around 1953 when my dad went to Sampson in 1952.

The year my dad died, me and the boy took a weeklong trip to the finger lake region to visit that AFB museum. Glad we did.

 

[Sigarms]

Nice! My brother retired out of Shaw AFB, SC. My kids and I went to the ceremony. It wasn't bad. As an AF Brat, I've seen my share of bases.

Did he stay at Lackland for AIT or elsewhere? Can you share his AFSC? (MOS)

It is pretty exciting to see your kids make these steps into adulthood. Sounds like he's pretty squared away. You have every right to be proud.

He's staying at Lackland for AIT.

I don't understand the MOS system in the air force, at least when it comes to my son.

When I enlisted, I knew right off the bat what my MOS was going to be before going in.

I do know my son didn't get his first pick, and the reality is he didn't know what his MOS was going to be until the day after graduation. Do know his old high school classmate is in "Security Forces". Here I always thought is was the "Air Police" LOL

He's in logistics and supply. At first he was kind of bummed because he wanted something mechanical, but the more he learned about what the job entails, he's kind of happy he got it.

Like I told him, do good, give 130%, and it's on the next re up where if he does a good job and wants to stay in, that's when his options should open.

Part of my advice to him was in a letter I sent to him while he was in basic (and he did struggle his first two weeks because although he was skinny, he NEVER worked out even when we suggested he should, and he did get a certificate as being the most improved airman in his flight after graduation)...

 

[Sigarms]

Nice! My brother retired out of Shaw AFB, SC. My kids and I went to the ceremony. It wasn't bad. As an AF Brat, I've seen my share of bases.

Did he stay at Lackland for AIT or elsewhere? Can you share his AFSC? (MOS)

It is pretty exciting to see your kids make these steps into adulthood. Sounds like he's pretty squared away. You have every right to be proud.

My dad spent around 22 or so years in the Air Force so I was kind of used to some bases myself lol

At some point in my fathers career he was SAC, so that’s one reason why am very familiar with the Northeast as a kid growing up.

What I find funny is all those bases we lived on as a family are now closed, and everything has gone down to the south apparently.

I need to look it up, not even sure there is a Strategic Air Command anymore.

 

[civilian]

Sig, that looks like a great letter that others may borrow for passing on to their youngins.

Daughter who went into to Air Force from ROTC, was always involved with space/rockets. She has since been transferred into Space Force. She knows an AF airman that was stationed in Korea and has since been tranferred to Alaska. His family has is/has been with him in both locations. Daughter and family plan on visiting them in Alaska this summer before he leaves. Jon

 

[workinonit]

Where will he be assigned in SC? Shaw?

 

[cdaigle430]

Well, at age 19, he's finally out of the home!!

In all honesty, pretty proud of him as well as all the young people in the pic below.

View attachment 833103


He's done well for himself, started working at age 15, saves and buys what he wants with his own money. Honestly, don't think he's ever asked a buck from me growing up once he had a job. He does have my fathers and I work eithic.

MEP's and the enlistment "process" really seems to have changed from the 80's. Until his ship date (yesterday) he had to keep his recruiter informed if he got married or had any children (a LOT of checking in).

Although I'm proud of him, I'm just as proud as my father. My father lived with us the last 4 years of his life. He and my son were two peas in a pod together when dad was living with us.

When we drove our son down to Charlotte Sunday night, my wife was getting on him because he was taking a small "carry on" bag instead of a small back pack he has used for hiking in the past. She told him that small back pack would work a lot better in a airport than that small bag he was taking. My wife informed me that it hit her that night that the bag our son was taking was the bag that my father had given him.

Needless to say, it's my fathers footsteps that my son wants to follow, not mine, but just as proud.

I had to burry my dad last year, never got to see his grave site as the cemetary was putting him on top of my mother. My one uncle died this year and I went to his funeral in part because he was being burried in the same cemetary as my father and I could visit my parents gravesite.

Below, the man who influenced my son so much telling him stories of the world he saw when he was a younger man during his lifelong committment to the military (removed his name as I don't like posting family info online, I'm old like that).

Both my wife and I agreed that my father was smiling down from Heaven.

View attachment 833104

Thanking your family for their military service. I served Army and Airforce then retired in 2008. My burial plan is to be in a VA cemetery as well.

I also served in the 80s and its comforting to know that folks like your son are on watch now.

 

[Torvy]

My brother was at Lackland

Lackland is the USAF's sole location for basic training for enlisted personnel. They all start there.

When dad went in (early days of AF history), there was a problem with housing or something and they shipped his class from Lackland to Sheppard (Wichita Falls, TX) to complete basic training. Oddly enough, my brother's first assignment after the Academy was to Sheppard for his job training (aircraft maintenance officer).

The AFSC training can be at 4 different bases (5 different training wings, 2 of them at Lackland). Both officers and enlisted get this training (in most cases).

 

[Sigarms]

Where will he be assigned in SC? Shaw?

Yes.

I knew of the base around Charleston years ago as I had a co worker that spent time there in the reserves, but I actually had to look Shaw up, never knew it existed.

Growing up with my dad, all the bases in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York and Ohio have all closed now (although a good friends brother retired out of Wright Patterson).

 

[Torvy]

My dad spent around 22 or so years in the Air Force so I was kind of used to some bases myself lol

At some point in my fathers career he was SAC, so that’s one reason why am very familiar with the Northeast as a kid growing up.

What I find funny is all those bases we lived on as a family are now closed, and everything has gone down to the south apparently.

I need to look it up, not even sure there is a Strategic Air Command anymore.

Our dad's were so alike. Dad retired in '73 after 22 years. He was mostly in MAC. SAC is now just Strategic Command, iirc. He retired out of Travis. It's still there, but he was at March before that (gone). Offutt is the SC HQ, I believe. It was SAC HQ anyway. Until they couldn't drive much, the folks would drive the 3 hours from Sioux Falls to Omaha for groceries and such. We lived further north before that and drove to Grand Forks for shopping.

 

[workinonit]

I live about 30 mins from Shaw. Tell him if he ever misses the farm life he's welcome to come by. I can find something for him to do. LOL.

 

[Gator6x4]

Yes.

I knew of the base around Charleston years ago as I had a co worker that spent time there in the reserves, but I actually had to look Shaw up, never knew it existed.

Growing up with my dad, all the bases in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York and Ohio have all closed now (although a good friends brother retired out of Wright Patterson).

It will probably depend on the Company he is assigned to. Heavy aircraft or light air craft. The Transports operate out of Charleston and the Fighters operates out of Shaw.

 

[Sigarms]

It will probably depend on the Company he is assigned to. Heavy aircraft or light air craft. The Transports operate out of Charleston and the Fighters operates out of Shaw.

As long as he graduates on time, he's going to Shaw.

 

[Sigarms]

Sig, that looks like a great letter that others may borrow for passing on to their youngins.

Daughter who went into to Air Force from ROTC, was always involved with space/rockets. She has since been transferred into Space Force. She knows an AF airman that was stationed in Korea and has since been tranferred to Alaska. His family has is/has been with him in both locations. Daughter and family plan on visiting them in Alaska this summer before he leaves. Jon

Thank you on the letter.

What's interesting as my wife pointed out to me is I'm much better communitcating with my son per my thoughts via the written word than verbally.

Honestly, some of the better conversations I've had with him are via text, go figure. Genearlly I try to think what I write before I send it via text.

 

[Sigarms]

Thanking your family for their military service. I served Army and Airforce then retired in 2008. My burial plan is to be in a VA cemetery as well.

I also served in the 80s and its comforting to know that folks like your son are on watch now.

I had 6 uncles that served in WW2 and Korea. More than a couple of cousins during Vietnam.

It wasn't until my son enlisted that I finally figured out why my dad was so pissed when I told him I enlisted in the Army.

The reality is my son as he's gotten older is more of a "hands on worker" and learns more by doing vs reading. He would agree that studying at college right after high school most likely wouldn't accomplish anything for him.

I do honestly believe that the military is a great option for young people right out of high school. They not only serve their country, but they can learn job skills, learn how to work with people, and more importantly IMO, understand what it's like when the government owns your arse. On top of that, if you decide to get out, you can have any schooling paid by the government. He had a 401K before he went it, but now they're taking out for him on a ROTH IRA which he likes.

I had to laugh when my boy told me he finally understands why I can eat, crap and shower so fast That said, he always ate pretty fast, but God I couldn't believe how much time he could spend in the bathroom when he lived with us taking care of his hair.

 

[ultrarunner]

Several of our best RNs from modest means like the first in family with college were only able through their military service.

Funny thing is many complain about high cost of education but the same path available to our fathers is available today