USAF 12/86 thru 6/91

[cbeltrante]

I'd figure I'd start this off by stating I served in the USAF in the Security Police field from December 1986 to June 1991.

I had the pleasure of doing Basic Training and my Security Police Training at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX. It was 12 weeks of total fun for me. I enjoyed it very much and came out of it a somewhat changed person then when I went into it.

I must say that my experience in the military was nothing but positive. As a young adult it taught me tolerance, discipline and most of all teamwork.
I built some lasting friendships in the USAF that still are ongoing to this day.

I was stationed at Andersen AFB, Guam, while there I did a week temporary duty at the Royal Australian AFB in Darwin, Australia and loved every minute of it. Guam was a tropical paradise and I was lucky enough to scuba dive some of the most beautiful ocean waters in the world while I was there.

After Guam I was stationed at Nellis AFB, Las Vegas, NV. While at Nellis I went to Panama during the Noriega saga in 1989, which open my eyes to what economic sanctions can do to a country and I also learned to appreciate unit cohesion and how important the teamwork that we were taught in Basic Training was so needed in a hostile environment.

All in all I treasure my years of service in the military and all the people I came across and the experiences that have helped me shape my life as it is today.

I like to thank anyone else who served or is serving in the US Armed Forces because I know what kind of sacrifice each and everyone of you had/have to make in a wartime or non-wartime environment.

Take care,
Chris

[Siberian_Husky]

Great posting, Chris. You are absolutely right – people should remember and appreciate the sacrifice of everyone who serves, be it in peacetime or at war.

Regretfully, many people shift the blame and the grudge, they feel towards the government, onto the warriors themselves by missing a seemingly simple fact that the Military carries out orders, not makes decisions.

Thank you very much for your service.

[cbeltrante]

Regretfully, many people shift the blame and the grudge, they feel towards the government, onto the warriors themselves by missing a seemingly simple fact that the Military carries out orders, not makes decisions.

This is so true, too bad people don't remember the words of General Douglas MacArthur who said not verbatim but close, "Nobody hates war more than the soldier, because when war is brought upon us, it is the soldier who gives the greatest sacrifice, but he fulfills his obligation to his country by sacrficing the most precious gift in all the world his life if need be."

So let's not forget those who have sacrificed and still are sacrificing the greatest gift, their lives for other peoples' freedom and our way of life.

Thanks!!!