Hey Air Force fellas

Originally Posted by billybarue

Darrell mentioned no AD base up in Boston, but he forgot about Hanscom.

In my view it all depends on what you want to do. When I was young it was all about the mission and I told every Ops Officer I had to "give me 5 minutes to cash a check and buy a tooth brush and I'll go anywhere you want me to." So it didn't much matter where I was stationed, I was TDY (temporary duty) 250 days of the year.

When i got shackled with staff jobs it was nice to be at Scott AFB outside of St Louis. I love the midwest and it is right next to St Louis, or a 5 hour drive to Chicago for the long weekends. Loved my time at USAFA, Colorado is fantastic.

Never stationed at the following but in the states I spent a lot of time at, and enjoyed, McChord near Seattle: Elmendorf outside of Anchorage: Travis 1.5 hours outside of San Fran: Langley down near VA Beach; and loads of time in and around DC - Andrews, Bolling, Pentagon, and many Air Force Offices at Ft Belvoir. Eglin and/or Hurlburt down in Ft Walton Beach, FL.

In hindsight I always wanted, and wish I had gotten, a long overseas assignment. preferences would be Ramstein (Germany), Aviano (Italy), Souda Bay (Crete) - Navy Base but there are some AF billets, Mildenhall (England) - I spent a whole lot of time here. Moron (Spain) - I spent a good bit of time here as well. It is a shadow of what it was, but I believe there are still a few (very few) permanent party positions. Incirlick (Turkey) - loved it there. Yokota (Japan) - lots of time spent here as well, and loved it.

I would say try to get overseas if you get the chance. But it sounds like your AFSC will limit you on your first tour, but I would try to get overseas when you can - great opportunity many civilians will never have the chance to take advantage of.

FWIW

Why did I think Hanscom was closed?

[T.G]

Originally Posted by Darrell

Why did I think Hanscom was closed?

Is this multiple choice?

[OLS]

WHAT? You didn't list Seymour Johnson on your preference list?
Are you trying out for Cretin of the quarter?
Haha. I got a kick out of your list, cause it is the first one I saw that didn't
have a bunch of European bases on it. I guess the fascination with overseas
duty has waned since the 80s. Of course, if you do more than 4 years you
will do some time overseas regardless. And I am not kidding about Seymour.
I loved it. halfway to the mountains, halfway to the beach. And NC is a fine
state. I like the SC idea, too. Forget HI, forget LV. Most of all, good luck.
The USAF is a fine organization.

And yes, Ramstein is AWESOME, babay. Was TDY there for 6 weeks. Gained
about 18 lbs. embarassing.

[ashtonlady]

Anyone that has been in the millitary knows the saying, Hurry up and wait.

[DrDubzz]

Originally Posted by ashtonlady

Anyone that has been in the millitary knows the saying, Hurry up and wait.

I have heard this quite a bit lately, however, if I have to wait too much longer this will not be an option. I literally cannot afford to miss the June COT and if this paperwork takes too long I will have to find a civilian job. If that's the case I'm finding somewhere to settle.

I figure it all happens for a reason, maybe the military and I weren't meant to be despite my best efforts

[DrDubzz]

I had an encouraging meeting with my recruiter this past week, my final stuff is submitted and I should know in the next 2-3 weeks what the plan is

[DrDubzz]

I've been selected, and assigned to Randolph AFB

I'm excited, except that the first open COT date now is not until January...

who's been to Randolph before?

[The Poet]

Originally Posted by RX2010

who's been to Randolph before?

Not me. But my brother The Bird (ret.) ended his 26 years there, and liked San Antonio so much he still lives there, as does both of his married girls. Of course, it helps that his backyard is a golf course.

[Savvy]

Congrats on getting selected Tim. I'm sure being done with all the paperwork and everything to just get selected is a nice feeling. I've not personally been to Randolph, but San Antonio's a great city. Hope you like it, and welcome to the AF.

[Partagaspete]

Congrats and welcomt to Big Blue! Sounds lime you will be rolling in as I am rolling out...

Thank you for your commitment to serve your country and fellow man.

T

[DrDubzz]

thanks! and thank you for your time as well

I'm pretty excited to finally know where I'll be for the next while

[ScottieM]

Congrats to You!! Glad you decided to stick with it. I'm sure Randolph will be an Awesome Place to be Stationed.

One thing I regret is not going overseas much when I was Active Duty. I requested to be state side initially and missed out on Europe unless you count Thule AB Greenland.

Good Luck to You!

[billybarue]

Very good base - nice town.

for pilots Randolph means one and only one thing - PIT (Pilot Instructor Training). If you are going to be a Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) instructor than you have to go through PIT. Lots of flying activity but mainly in the trainers - not the heavies, fighters, or bombers.

AFPC (Air Force Personnel Center) is there so you can work your follow on assignment while you are there.

Headquarters for Air Education and Training Command (AETC) which is a four-star Major Command.

Important base with lots of activity and visibility. It is one of the oldest bases we have. Some very old buildings that are maintained well and look amazing. I am sure some of them may be on architectural historic lists somewhere.

The "Auger Inn" is the bar in the basement at the O-club and on Friday nights it used to be a hell of a good time. Lots of pilots fly in from around the country for it when they are enroute on a training mission somewhere. Tends to attract the local girls (Auger Doggers) - which can be fun

Believe it or not, my Dad has a building dedicated to him on that base

Congrats - hope you enjoy your first assignment and glad it worked out.

I know I'm late to the party, but just wanted to welcome you to the AF. You'll like Randolph, as you know San Antonio has plenty to do and see and there are lots of great spots to visit in an hour or two drive. Check out Padre Island! As for me, my first duty station was Minot, ND and honestly it's all what you make of it. I just recently PCS'd down here to Robins and so far so good. Keep us updated and if you have any questions, feel free to shoot me a message.

[papichulo]

Congrats on getting in and being stationed at RAFB. I am an E9 and I am currently assigned to Lackland; however, I am often at RAFB. I am currently TDY longterm (18 months and counting) to Kirtland (Albuquerque, NM). I have been stationed in order: Holloman (Alamogordo, NM)-great base that took me TDY to 13 countries in Central and South America; Pamerola AB, which is now Soto Cano (Honduras-remote tour); two tours at Murted AB (Turkey-remote tour); Davis-Monthan (Tucson, AZ); Shaw (South Carolina); back to Davis-Monthan; Kirtland; Pentagon; Lackland. I have been deployed and or performed duties in 3 or 4 dozen countries. My dream base is Aviano AB, Italy. I have close to six years to go. We will see. You will be fine and along the way you meet many BOTLs both in and out of the military. You have made a wise decision to serve our great country and I salute you Just my two cents.

[DrDubzz]

I have an another question now. I'm headed to COT on March 6 at Maxwell AFB. Any tips? It's only 4 weeks and relative to other OTS scenarios it's fairly watered down, but still probably more rigid/strict than anything else I've ever done. Any and all advice is welcome.

TIA

[Knip23]

O no no no, the hell with the states shoot for.

Okniawa Japan. ( AWSOME Station was there for 9 years.)
Guam ( 2 years Awsome)

if i was in the AF thats where i would shoot for.

Knip.

[DrDubzz]

well I'm definitely at Randolph for the first tour, but after that who knows

[Partagaspete]

Originally Posted by RX2010

well I'm definitely at Randolph for the first tour, but after that who knows

All I can recommend is get over to Europe as soon as you can. there is soooo much to see and do. I was there for 14 years and still did not get to do or see half of what I wanted to.

[DrDubzz]

just wanted to post an update, I'm headed to Commissioned Officer Training on Monday, looking forward to it. There's a lot to get gone between now and then so get done it must.

Visited Randolph a couple weeks ago and really liked it, the medical facilities were very nice. I'll, primarily, be at the BX pharmacy so it'll be just like my civilian job but without most of the sucky parts (like 3rd party insurances).