For the older folks, where were you in the military when January 1st, 2000 happened?

I was the Pulmonary Case Manager at Landstuhl, so I was glad it was finally done and the sky hadn't fallen in terms of computer systems. We had implemented all the required Y2K patches on the various medical computer programs and systems had been checked, rechecked, verified AD NAUSEUM!!! And, of course, the files were backed up. I also had to have all my current cases on paper. I understand the importance (that data is vital for all our patients) but it isn't magic, it is computer SCIENCE. Once they put in the patches to fix the problems that should have been foreseen when they created the programs, they knew what would happen - nothing - which is what happened. I was just glad all the Chicken Littles could calm down and let us get back to business.

CSM Carl Cunningham For us really older folks, I'd already been retired for almost 6 years and was working as a DoD Civilian. I had been assigned to Stuttgart, Germany since 1997. We'd spent about 2 years listening to everyone in DC tell us how the end of the world was coming, and like SGM Robin Johnson said, we got so tired of hearing about Y2K it wasn't even funny. I supported the EUCOM J6, and he and his staff had worked with all the component commands in the EUCOM theater, and we had little doubt everything in our world was good to go. The only things we were worried about were the satellite systems and all the global systems out of D.C. (although it would have been a blessing if all the phone systems in D.C. had gone down)!

So we made a fest out of it, with German food and a few crates of bier. We waited until midnight our time, then midnight Zulu time, when any satellite problems would have shown up, then kicked off the party while we waited five hours for midnight D.C. time. At 0600 our time, all reports were D.C. was still connected to all our systems, so we all went home to get a few hours rest and came back to work at noon. So much worry over a problem that had been fixed months and months before!

I guess I qualify as an "older folk" CSM Carl Cunningham! On 1 January 2000, the military was already a distant memory as I was assigned to the Retired Reserve on 11 May 1998!