Posted on Apr 2, 2014
SFC James Baber
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Would be an interesting thing to see not only the locations, but a generational perspective on how changes to those locations may be for each and if it even exists anymore. Also have you ever returned to the location either as a duty station or just to see what is was like for memories and changes that may have taken place. I will lead off, Ft McClellan, AL: D10-1983. I did OSUT there so I started in '83 and finished AIT in '84 I went back in 1992 for another school, but haven't been back since it shuttered it's doors to AIT in '99, have been to Leonardwood for few other schools and checked out their facilities, big difference to what we had at McClellan back in the day though. Would love to go back to McClellan today and see what the base looks like and what bldgs. still exist or training areas are there.
Edited >1 y ago
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SSG Jeffrey Spencer
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I did BCT/AIT at Ft. Dix, NJ in 1977.  I went back for a visit a couple years ago and saw my old barracks and the motor pool for MTOC.  What was really cool was an old M35 from MTOC on static display at the base museum.  It is quite possible I drove that truck! 


 


I drove around base and saw various other places I was at such as in-processing, the hospital, theater, graduation hall and the snack bar.  Memories flowed and harkened to when I was just a scared kid becoming a man.

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SSgt Kevin R.
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I was at Lackland AFB from Mar-May2003.  Then on to Keesler AFB from May to Sep2003 for Electronic principals.  Moved to Sheppard AFB for Comm/Nav specific system instruction, until Jun2004.
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SSG Gerhard S.
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I did Basic Training at Ft. Dix NJ in Oct-Dec 1983 and it WAS cold.  I have never returned.  I have, however returned to see what's left of my Active Duty post at Ft. Devens, MA on a few occasions.  There is only a fraction of the post remaining, but my old Barracks is still where I left it, and the former Group HQ is still Directly across the street.  The first time I went back the old WWII Barracks where we had our duty shops were overgrown and unused as 10th Group had moved to Ft. Carson.  The second time I returned, those buildings were totally gone, and much of the base had been razed and rebuilt into office, or industrial spaces.
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SGT Jack Johnson
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Edited >1 y ago
Ft Jackson, SC August - October 1977. COBET (electronics school) Nov-Dec 1977, Redstone Arsenal, AL 27B Missile Maintenance School January 1978 - August 1978. Took medical in 1984 and returned to Huntsville, AL looking for job.
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TSgt John Marshall
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I had the "pleasure" of attending what was called Basic Camp at Ft. Knox
in July/Aug of '83. BC was the first of 2 6-week training cycles held
over 2 summers for ROTC cadets. After leaving New Mexico Military Institute I went to Basic at Lackland AFB in '85 and retired after 20 in '05.
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SFC Siva Williams
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I went to basic at Fort Bliss JUL - SEP 87. It was hotter than Hades there and we were isolated on the side of the Franklin Mountains. There is not a better environment for forging kids into men than training them in the desert. We spent two weeks at McGregor Range in the field. That was two weeks of dodging rattlesnakes, beating scorpions off the pup tent and out of our boots, as well as praying you weren't laying on an ant hill full of 1" TX sized demon fire ants. Temps were 110+ daily and we humped everywhere we went. Those were good times (not). I believe to this day that the Soldiers trained at Bliss were harder than woodpecker lips. They should have never shut basic down at Bliss. I never wanted to return to Bliss but the Army sent me back for permanent party and it took me eight years to get away from the place. I finally left in 1995.
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SFC James Baber
SFC James Baber
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SFC Williams,


I remember the area quite well, when I was at Sill until early '87, we used to convoy down your way twice a year for training, stopover at Cannon AFB enroute to Alamogordo and McGregor ranges when the Lance BNs did their missile firing missions. Besides those lovely fire ants, there was the almost the size of my boot scorpions, the jackelopes (jack rabbits that had racks) or at least they looked like they did from all the mutations to many creatures out there from the chemical exposures from all the missile launches and failures. If I remember correctly we, the US were launching those missile across the border into the Mexican desert and mountains. Loved all those range barracks that gave no protection from the heat, dust, or creatures day or night. 

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SFC Dean Murdock
SFC Dean Murdock
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I too attended Basic Training at FT Bliss July-Sep 87 Class NO. 37-87 It was hotter than Hades and the Senior Drill Sergeant was DS. Rodgers, short guy but very effective. I went back to Bliss for Battle Staff in 2002 and it had completely changed.
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SSG Gerhard S.
SSG Gerhard S.
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Our Pre- deployment training took place at McGregor range, with frequent trips to Ft Bliss for administrative issues. We were there in Dec, Jan and Feb of 2003-2004. 60-70 daytime temps 30-40 nighttime temps.
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SGT Tj West
SGT Tj West
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I attended OSUT at Ft. Benning in 2000.  I sit on the Board of Directors for USARA, so I'm back at Benning usually at least twice a year - but I don't typically hang out on Sand Hill (where ITB is located) while I'm there.  
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TSgt Jeff Smith
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Basic Training at Lackland AFB, TX from 15 May 1982 until 1 July 1982. Was stationed at Kelly AFB, Lackland Annex, TX from April 1991 until April 1993. Not much changed those 10 years. As of 2001, Kelly AFB became part of Lackland AFB. Recently I used Google maps to look at Lackland; a lot of things have changed, but the basic training barracks are still there.
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MAJ Chief, Defense Foreign Liaison
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Fort Sill, Oklahoma
August-October 2001

I really enjoyed my three weeks serving in a peace time military.
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MAJ Chief, Defense Foreign Liaison
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I have not been back there. I'm totally okay with that.
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CMSgt Senior Enlisted Leader
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Sir, you know that being an NCO with your name would have been bad-a$$ for many years! Lol :)
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Sgt Mark Ramos
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Edited >1 y ago
Basic
Lackland AFB in 1984. I returned for my brother's graduation last year. It was a bit surreal seeing the place after 29 years. Coincidentally, he was in the same building that my flight was. My last duty station was Kadena AFB, Okinawa, Japan. I'd love to go back to Okinawa for a visit.
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SrA Donna Patrick
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Lackland AFB. Yes, I went back a few years later and it was creepy. The memory was fresh so I could still smell the french toast and feel the fear. LOL! Don't want to go back to San Antonio but would love to go back to Austin.
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