Back in the day when air was free.

2014-08-28T01:50:05-04:00

What was most favorite or impactful assignment of your career? What was your mood, ideas or experiences that shaped you today as adults?

Mine was Ramstein from 1981-1984. I was a weather Forecaster at Det. 2, 31st Weather Squadron. We had air raid warnings for chemical dirty weapons and potential nuclear attacks from the then USSR.

My favorite times other than work was when I played baseball and softball and other sports as I could. We worked six on and three off shift work and that alone is a drain, especially when deployed or during an exercise, ORI and a Commander's Facility Inspections then called CFI.

We were exempt for more pedestrian like FOD walks but I did them in the FMS squadron. But Ramstein was very cool. We had Volksmarches and I spoke quite a bit of German and lived off base. I loved it and there I was to travel to both London (football) and Paris with a girl. I had her worried the Eiffel Tower was going to fall over. LOL. I am still a loose cannon of sorts but I was a very studious and proficient and I gave leeway to ground troops during BIVACs, Reforger and other things.

I had a NATO top secret security clearance and operated out of and briefed Generals in the Command Post and so forth.

We got to see the Ohio Players. On the outside I became a celebrity on radio on Q-105 and with race tracks (short tracks) and the World of Outlaws and get V.I.P. treatment because of my acumen in weather. Got so much for the military that I am thankful for, but mostly came of age and learned a bit a long the way.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 26 at 2014 11:33 PM

2014-11-26T23:33:25-05:00

Mine would be the last couple years in Okinawa. I had so much fun working with the SF guys as well as doing some of the stuff they did. Plus the fact we had a beach about a mile away from us on base was pretty neat.