John's Air Force Career Page
Like I said before, I've retired from the Air Force after serving for 20 years. I've travelled around the world and settled into the DC area at the same time. To explain how this is possible, take a look at the rundown of my travels and assignments:
January - April 1983, Lackland AFB, TX
As with all Air Force enlisted members, I started my career in the Basic Training Center at Lackland, where I was awarded the AF Basic Training Honor Graduate Ribbon. After BT I stayed at Lackland for training as a Security Specialist. This particular field fell under the Security Police, with emphasis on protection of airfields, aircraft, and weapons systems.
May 1983 - September 1984, Fairchild AFB, WA
My first assignment was to the 92nd Security Police Squadron at Fairchild. This base is located outside Spokane near the airport. Not a lot to talk about (or can talk about), but it was a great first assignment since it was close enough to family and friends. Made the transition from civilian to military life a little easier.
October 1984 - May 1986, McChord AFB, WA
Next came a wonderful move across the state to what is considered the #1 base of preference in the CONUS (the states except Alaska and Hawaii). While here I was assigned to the 62nd SPS. I also spent three months (May-July '85) in the base Honor Guard, and two months (Jan-Feb '86) at Rhein-Main AB in Frankfurt, Germany with the 435th SPS during REFORGER '86.
June - July 1986, Keesler AFB, MS
At this point I started my new career as a Computer Specialist (everyone's a specialist in the AF). The computer technical training for the AF is located at Keesler, and the timing was great. I was able to sleep in in the morning, go to class in the afternoon, and go out in the evening. On the weekends I was able to go hit the beach and work on my tan. This was definitely a fun two months.
August 1986 - October 1989, The Pentagon, Arlington, VA
My first assignment as a computer wienie was with the 1st Information Systems Group, later named the 7th Communications Group. I actually worked in an office building in the Ballston area. It was just a couple blocks from a newly built shopping mall, so lunch breaks were spent there.
November 1989 - April 1991, Kunsan AB, South Korea
This was my first official overseas assignment, this one with the 1982 Communications Squadron. I worked in the Data Processing Center when I wasn't playing volleyball. The 18 months in Korea was a little unusual for any person, but it was great for saving money and paying off bills.
May 1991 - June 1996, Bolling AFB, DC
Back to the DC area. Here I was assigned to the 11th CS. I started off in the Comm Center, processing message traffic. After moving around to different sections of the Comm Center I was moved to the PC Maintenance Shop, but the timing was really lousy. The month I was moved my little boy was born, so I took a month off to help Lori. Shortly after returning to work, my next little trip began.
July - November, 1996, Incirlik AB, Turkey
This was a lovely trip. I found out about this two weeks before I had to leave. That didn't score many points with Lori. I spent two weeks in England, toured London on my birthday, then the rest of the time in Turkey in support of Operation Provide Comfort. I worked as the UNIX system administrator for the Intelligence (C2) Branch. During my off time, or should I say away from office time, I managed to get out and do some shopping. Definitely got some great deals!!!
December 1996 - May 2000, The Pentagon, Arlington, VA
Here I was trying to go back to Korea, and the assignment gurus send me back to the Puzzle Palace. This time I was assigned to the Defense Information Systems Agency. After working two years on the Help Desk for the Global Command and Control System (GCCS), I then was responsible for training on the Desk. That entailed tracking the training of new personnel and coordinating the courses they need to attend to learn their job.
June 2000, - May 2001, Osan AB, South Korea
We finally managed to work things out with the Air Force, and we got together in Korea, sort of. Lori was up in Seoul with the Embassy, and I ended up 40 miles away at Osan with the 303rd Intelligence Squadron. I was officially assigned to the 303rd, but I worked in the 7th Air Force Special Security Office as the computer security dude, so I got to walk around, answer a lot of questions, and make sure people weren't doing stupid things with their systems.
June 2001 - May 2003, Yongsan Army Post, Seoul, South Korea
The Air Force finally got us back together, but they had to send me to the Army to make it happen. I ended up back in the GCCS world (see my last Pentagon assignment) with US Forces, Korea (USFK). I worked in the J6I shop as a GCCS System Administrator. It was nice to have my office only a mile from home. This allowed me to go home for lunch with MacKe, or do lunch at the Embassy with Lori. This was the final assignment of my career, and I really enjoyed it. Too bad I didn't discover it sooner...
As you can see I managed to get around a little. One thing about numerous moves is the awards and decorations that come with them. Here are some of my more significant A&D's, and below that a depiction of my "rack":
*** The Oak Leaf Cluster on the ribbon signifies additional presentations of the same award.
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For an explanation on each ribbon and what it represents, just click on the ribbon.
Thanks for taking the time to let me talk about myself. If you have any comments or questions, drop me an e-mail.
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