Welcome aboard Viking. It is nice to have a "squid" around!
I know exactly where you are coming from. I have been in the AF now 17 and a half years. I am a SNCO... ICBMs all my career. Minuteman II, III and the deactivated Peacekeeper
Our dumbasses in congress took away our most powerful and accurate ICBMs. I like to call it gun control for missiles. You can only have one bullet per ICBM versus the 10 that the PK could hold!
I initially enlisted back in '90, but they put me into the DEP, and didn't get to basic until March of '91. I came in "open electronics" and had college under my belt which helped out immensly. However, I didn't get the PMEL or avionics jobs I was looking for, but my last choice... ICBMs. I did get my first base choice though, Ellsworth SD. I was only going to do my four years, then punch. However, I grew to enjoy all the ICBM folks and the close knit community we had. I thoroughly enjoyed working in Missile Maintenance and the culture was still the SAC mindset of Peace Through Strength, or what I have on a T-Shirt: Peace Through Superior Firepower. Shortly after I signed up for my second hitch, the Clintonistas took over and things started to change for the worse. One thing that does appeal to me about ICBMs, we stay home as the silent warriors and our defense is our strength. But now, keeping ICBMs on alert and target (green time) is not at all that important anymore... my humble opinion. We have deactivated 3 missile wings, the 400th Missile Squadron (PK) and recently the 654th in MT, 100 birds now gone and not covering targets. Now things have seem to come full circle. With the recent bad press of the Minot incident of flying loaded ALCMs, shipment of ICBM parts to Taiwan, falsified destruction records and crews falling asleep with classifed... the call is now amongst old timers "BRING SAC BACK!"
Where I work, I am the only enlisted guy, but the Captains and Majors I work with are all excellent officers. Two prior enlisted and the others are ROTC guys. I see them get shot down by Colonels when they are trying to make the right call on evaluations/inspections, and I see their frustration. Just as my Major and I get quite frustrated when we get shot down. We have identified NAF wide problems, and the vice commander wanted something done, implemented our recommendations to the wings to help mitigate or eliminate them. Two wings have complied, however, one wing commander has told his OPS group commander they will not be complying with it! We have seen cartoons of General LeMay rising from the grave to kick ass and fix what is broken. As you know, once officers become generals and civilians move into the SES, they are politicians.
Not all is lost though, yet. I have worked with liberty minded enlisted and officers who believe our country and military is going to shit as well. One particular "O" who shall remain anonymous, yelled out to me one day while we were outside: "Hey! I have a new catch phrase!" I said "What is that Colonel?" and he yells "F*** Barack!" I returned with "I didn't hear that Sir..." while covering my ears. He then yelled it louder!!
Another day I was in his office showing him a new NFA weapon I have. He was really digging it and we got talking about individual rights and liberties. He said flat out: "The second ammendment is my carry permit!" He also told me one day that if our country really takes a dive, he is moving to Montana and starting a militia. I told him I would be right on his heels. I also see him at the range now and then too. He is a bit too hard core though for some people there, and they think he is on the edge. I disagree. The weird thing is that he is originally from occupied territory on the east coast!!
The old dogs, so to speak, are the ones who are very frustrated. They are retiring right at 20 years, or punching out early without regards to loss of retirement or time served. One major I know well, is counting the days down to retire. He cant wait. Same thing, he doesn't play the game or play well with others who are PC... that is why he is retiring as a major vs Lt Col or Col.
There are some outstanding young airmen out there, but the most of them are very ignorant of our liberty. Then there are the ones who will blindly follow without questioning something that seems wrong. A few I work with give me crap now and then because of my liberty minded views.
Today I got to tell most people how my traffic court went yesterday. They were all very curious to how it went, and were shocked that I didn't get thrown in jail for contempt. I fought a bogus ticket and dishonest intimidating cop. Yes, I was going fast, but NOWHERE near to what this guy said. Never let me see the radar either. Well, long story short, I lost. I represented myself Pro Se and I saw right away that I pissed off the judge when I wouldn't take the oath. She stopped and told me I need to raise my hand to take an oath. I politely said "Your Honor, I do not intend to testify against myself or take the stand." She gave me one of those, how dare you stop me and question me look. She then said again I need to take the oath. I then firmly said "Ma'am, I am not going to testify against myself." The cop lied towards the end of his questioning by the Prostitution, and basically said that I was sarcastic and I refused to sign the ticket initially. So the stage was set that I was a non-compliant little surf. I had him dead to rights in cross examination concerning the operation of his radar (got a copy of the manual) and I had case law to boot. She got pissed at me when I wanted to admit them both to the court for her consideration and she would not do it. I ultimately pissed her off when I said, "Radar operates the same in WY as it does in Nebraska." She then found me "guilty" and made me pay the whole ammount. Most of them said "always stirring the pot, or rocking the boat!" while laughing with me.
Anyway, keep your chin up LT and keep doing the best for your troops and they will follow you into hell with gas cans.
