Smartest Enlisted

Of all the Services, the Air Force has the most intelligent enlisted people. This is not just theory; it's provable fact.

Take the Army. When the stuff hits the fan, the young Army private wakes up to the bellowing of his First Sergeant. He grabs his BDUs out of his foot locker, dresses, runs to the chow-hall for breakfast on the fly, then jumps in his tank. Pretty soon, the company commander, a captain, arrives, gives him a big salute, and says, "Give 'em Hell, soldier!"

Now take the Navy. When the stuff hits the fan, the young Sailor is eating breakfast in the mess. He hustles the 20 feet to his battle station, stuffing extra pastries in his pocket as he goes. There he sits, in the middle of a big, steel target, with nowhere to run, when the Captain comes on the 1MC and says, "Give 'em Hell, Sailors! I salute you!"

Now take the Marines. When the stuff hits the fan, the young Marine is kicked out of bed by his First Sergeant and puts on the muddy set of BDUs he was wearing on the field exercise he was part of three hours earlier. He gets no breakfast, but is told to feel free to chew on his boots. He runs out and forms up with his rifle. Pretty soon, his company commander, a captain, comes out, gives the Marine a sharp salute, and says, "Give 'em Hell, Marine!"

And then there's the Air Force. When the stuff hits the fan, the Airman receives a phone call at his off-base quarters. He gets up, showers,shaves, and puts on the fresh uniform he picked up from the BX cleaners the day before. He jumps in his car and cruises through the McDonalds drive-thru for an Egg McMuffin and Coca-Cola on his way into work. Once at work, he signs in on the duty roster. He proceeds to his F-15, spends 30 minutes pre-flighting it, and signs off the forms. Pretty soon the pilot, a young captain arrives, straps into the jet, and starts the engines. Our young Airman stands at attention, gives the aviator a sharp salute, and says, "Give 'em Hell, Captain!"







(I have friends in all branches of the US Military, so I post this poem in jest.)

A Different Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve. 

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here! 

Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts.

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light.

Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile. 
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.

I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother.
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.."

" So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."

"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

Development & Training Flight

      Once a month, I travel up to Travis Air Force Base for what is called a Development and Training Flight. Unlike active duty, when I was essentially on my own to get ready for BMT, the Training Flight's primary purpose is to prepare future Airmen for Basic Training. 
 

     Those of us who live outside what is considered the commute area are provided lodging at the hotel the night before. While a normal UTA is Saturday and Sunday, the Training Flight is just for Saturday. We usually report to the classroom around 06:30 in the morning. Travis AFB has two weekends each month for their UTA, and the training flight meets both of those weekends. I attend B-Flight which is usually on the 3^rd weekend while A-flight usually meets on the 1^st weekend.

The first order of business is an open ranks inspection. Those running the Training Flight make sure our hair is in regulation, we have our military ID, and that we are wearing our uniform. At 07:00 we pause for reveille, during which time we face the music and render a salute. Once the music ends, we continue what we had been doing.

     Usually after the inspection we go inside and get weighed to make sure we still meet the height/weight requirements as set by the Air Force. Most people are concerned about being overweight, but there are a few of us who have to ensure we stay above the minimum weight requirement. 
 

    Once inside the classroom we usually spend some time on memory work. Memory work includes the Chain of Command, Rank Recognition, the Airman's Creed, Core Values, and the Air Force Song. These are all items that we are required to learn in BMT, so if we can learn them now it will make for a slightly easier 8.5 weeks. To help track our progress we are given a quiz each month regarding the memory work.

     We also have a recruiter's briefing and DEP checklist. The recruiters remind us about the Get One Now program. The Get One Now program is a way by which those of us already in the Air Force Reserve can refer a friend or family member who may be interested in joining the Reserve. The DEP checklist is simply a way for the recruiters to confirm that we are still eligible to join the Air Force. Any major life events such as marriage, divorce, pregnancy, medical procedures, legal issues, etc., could have the potential to effect our eligibility. Even if they don't disqualify someone, it could mean additional paperwork that has to be filed before leaving for BMT. 
 

      At some point during the day we have physical training. The type of PT we perform varies depending on the month. On the odd numbered months they administer a PT test. The test consists of running, pushups and situps. The run is over the distance of 1.5 miles and is timed. For the pushup and situps we are given one minute each to do as many as we can. On the other months we usually do some sort of circuit training. In between each UTA we are required to work on our individual PT and have to turn in a workout log each month.

     At other times we have had guest speakers come in and talk about either the Air Force in general or specific items regarding BMT. We have also had team building activities and a lesson on the history of the Air Force and Travis Air Force Base. 

 

Aside from the learning aspect of the Training Flight, it gives everyone a chance to meet fellow Reservists. With one or two exceptions, everyone in our Training Flight will be a part of the 349^th AMW. I have met several trainees who like myself will be doing Air Transportation. I know of at least 1 fellow trainee who will be leaving for BMT the same day I do, is also doing Air Transportation, and is assigned to the same squadron at Travis that I am. 

Front of our Uniform Shirt for Training flight

Back of the T-Shirt