new Airman

[ratfortman]

Just had my middle girl graduate from Basic Military Training for the USAF in San Antonio. She is going to be with the 181st Air Intelligence Wing at Terre Haute ANG. Proud papa! (7 yrs active duty myself)
Anyone here with that group over at Terre Haute?

 

[singlesix]

Your have a right to be proud! Congrats.

 

[bhowell34]

Congrats I'm sure you're proud. No sorry I'm at Grissom. I'm sure she'll like it there though

 

[ratfortman]

I think they are transitioning to drones there. I told her if she sends any over my house, that it might accidentally suffer a loss of control!
It took almost a year from the time she raised her right hand to get her a class date. We had almost given up on the idea, and then they called on a Wed, and said be on the flight first thing Monday.
Lackland sure has changed from 30 years ago!

 

[bhowell34]

Yes it has. I went there for retraining last summer. The new super barracks are crazy. I heard it's a lot easier now a days too because of all the recent scandals

 

[ratfortman]

she told me that they only got one day on the range! Officially, the MTI's aren't supposed to get up close and in their faces,and officially a trainee can complain if they do, but Lord help you if you choose to do so!
The thing that was so amazing was to watch the other families coming from all over the country and seeing the looks of joy and pride on their faces. It was a very moving experience. Gives me hope!

 

[ratfortman]

bhowell34, so you are in AF Reserve? Are you in school, or out already? What goes on up there at Grissom now? I know there used to be alot of flying(A10s and tankers)

 

[lrahm]

Just had my middle girl graduate from Basic Military Training for the USAF in San Antonio. She is going to be with the 181st Air Intelligence Wing at Terre Haute ANG. Proud papa! (7 yrs active duty myself)
Anyone here with that group over at Terre Haute?

My daughter is posted there in the Army.

 

[bhowell34]

Yes. I served 4 years active and now I'm at Grissom. I go to school now full time. We have kc 135's. Sadly the A10's left awhile ago when the active duty left.

 

[ratfortman]

Irahm, I wonder if the Army and ANG ever do any work together? Maybe they will cross paths. She will be in the photography/public affairs section.
bhowell34, are you up at Purdue? What's your MOS?

 

[bhowell34]

No I go to IUPUI. I'm Base Safety. Basically like the OSHA of the base. And to answer your other question many bases have tenant units with them. Like Grissom has Army and Marines on it.

 

[ratfortman]

IUPUI, that's a good school. Got another daughter there. Thanks for your service!

 

[andski3]

Congrats,
I drill out of Wright Patterson AFB, Civil Engineering.

Congrats again to the both of you.

 

[ratfortman]

What unit is that? I know there are several there. Wish I had known about the ANG or AF Reserve before I signed up for 7 years of active duty!

 

[lrahm]

Irahm, I wonder if the Army and ANG ever do any work together? Maybe they will cross paths. She will be in the photography/public affairs section.
bhowell34, are you up at Purdue? What's your MOS?

She is in the post band. Loves music.

 

[Tactical Dave]

Just had my middle girl graduate from Basic Military Training for the USAF in San Antonio. She is going to be with the 181st Air Intelligence Wing at Terre Haute ANG. Proud papa! (7 yrs active duty myself)
Anyone here with that group over at Terre Haute?

My father was there when it was the 181st fighter wing, he is at the base in Ft Wayne now. He deployed to OIF 1 with the 181st and was with them from 1994 till the weeks after they lost their jets. He really liked the unit a lot and has a lot of memories.

He is in line for E-9 next year and will hit 35 years of service then (active for 5).

 

[in625shooter]

I think they are transitioning to drones there. I told her if she sends any over my house, that it might accidentally suffer a loss of control!
It took almost a year from the time she raised her right hand to get her a class date. We had almost given up on the idea, and then they called on a Wed, and said be on the flight first thing Monday.
Lackland sure has changed from 30 years ago!

NEGATIVE on the drones. I retired from Terre Haute in 2007 when it was a Fighter Wing right when the transition was starting to happen. Terre Haute lost all the aircraft and are an Intelligence wing. What that means is the bulk of civilian Federal technicians became title 10 Active Duty for the intelligence side. they look at pictures from sats, planes or drones decide if it is a target within the ROE and give the green light. suppose to be 15 min or less from time of the picture and iron on target.

There was a lot of groaning when Terre haute lost the planes but in reality Terre haute in doing so is secured for a lot of years to come with any more BRAC. terre Hautes new mission is the wave of the future.

Congrats to the young lady on her service

 

[ratfortman]

My father was there when it was the 181st fighter wing, he is at the base in Ft Wayne now. He deployed to OIF 1 with the 181st and was with them from 1994 till the weeks after they lost their jets. He really liked the unit a lot and has a lot of memories.

He is in line for E-9 next year and will hit 35 years of service then (active for 5).

That sounds like quite a career he has had! Its always heartbreaking when an AF wing loses its planes. The 181st had a long flying history. I have heard others like your dad say the same thing; it was like a second family.
I hope they can keep both units open.

 

[ratfortman]

NEGATIVE on the drones. I retired from Terre Haute in 2007 when it was a Fighter Wing right when the transition was starting to happen. Terre Haute lost all the aircraft and are an Intelligence wing. What that means is the bulk of civilian Federal technicians became title 10 Active Duty for the intelligence side. they look at pictures from sats, planes or drones decide if it is a target within the ROE and give the green light. suppose to be 15 min or less from time of the picture and iron on target.

There was a lot of groaning when Terre haute lost the planes but in reality Terre haute in doing so is secured for a lot of years to come with any more BRAC. terre Hautes new mission is the wave of the future.

Congrats to the young lady on her service

That is good to hear about the long term outlook. I had a source over there tell me that they were conducting some seismic tests and he said it was prep for drone activity. Hadn't heard anything more one way or the other.

 

[KellyinAvon]

Congrats to both of you!!
KellyinAvon SMSgt, USAF (Ret)