If you count full days, from sunup to sundown, today marks my 10-year anniversary of actually being in the Air Force. I actually arrived at Basic Military Training at around 11:30 p.m. on April 17, 2001, but I didn’t even see an MTI until the 18th, so we’ll call today 10 years.
Really, there’s so much that can be said about the past decade, but we all have our stories and I won’t bore you with mine. I can’t begin to count the times I was dead certain I was getting out at the first chance I got, but here I am now with a reenlistment pending in just a few weeks and my sights now set on the retirement at the bottom of the hill.
So here’s to another 10 years, if they’ll let me stay.
-Farva
Farva=Lifer!
It’s all good. After 10 it seems to just slide by so fast you look back and say to yourself “Holy Cr@p”. I personally will hit 16 next Tuesday (26th).
yeah.. i just hit my 20 mark.. the last 5 will go by fast
careerist, not lifer.
A lifer is a Loud, Ignorant Fucker Expecting Retirement.
We all know a few.
Navy Chief?
In April 2001, I was finishing up 7th grade. Sorry to make everyone feel old. lol. I working on 5 years!! congrats on your decade of service!!
I hit 9 at the end of April. I had so monay aspirations to be the next four star general, or the next CMSgt of the AF. Now I just hope I make it to retirement.
And in 2001, I had been married for three years, had two kids, and lived out in the boondocks of Washington. Ah the good ole days……………..
Congratulations. In 2001 I had been retired 15 years. It’s not a bad life Farva, it gets easier as the promotions come along and you add stripes. Of course the money comes handy, but the prestige of being in the top 3 really feels good. If the AF had let me, I’d still be in, but military service is for younger folks. Though I am in good physical shape, at 72 it’s hard to run up a hill.
January 30th was 9 years here…been a long road so far and I honestly can’t say if I will make it to 20…as my body is starting to tire out big time. In 2001, I just celebrated my 1st wedding anniversary. Last Friday marked 11 wonderful years.
Congratulations, Farva! There was once time when I thought the 20 yr mark would never come (STS). Now, I find it had to believe I’m almost 6 years retired. I’m still part of the AF as a civil servant in CE, doing basically the same job as when I retired from active duty (54271- previously a 3E0X1). It was a good ride and I wouldn’t do anything any different. Well, there was that one Article 15…
in 2001, I was a sophomore in high school
and congrats Farva. First 10 is considered the hardest, correct?
I was retired 6 years in 01. Living the life as a defendt spouse
Big day for everyone, Farva! You’re ten years in, and today (well the 17th so today when I’m posting) is my 21st! Tonight’s gonna be a good night! bahahahahaha
Hell, Ive been in and out and in and back out (sts) for the past 8 years and its flown by. Quick story relating to the comic today. I was in tech school and my dad was still enlisted, as a Master Sergeant. I talked him up big, all this and that, been there, done that, Desert Storm etc….I was hoping he’d show up in BDUs at least. He called and told me to meet him downstairs at the squadron’s front desk. What was this man wearing? None other than a PINK button up shirt, BRIGHT PINK!!! He knew I was expecting the BDUs he said and wanted to “humble me” with his shirt. Thanks dad. I love that man and his lessons.
HAHAHA I just had to mention that April 18th 2001 was my 21st birthday. I presume we had very drastically different days, with you having your first day at BMT and me having my first day of legal bar hopping and strip clubs…
Either way, I’m sure that was a memorable day for both of us.
I hit 22 next month. In April 2001 I got orders for a short tour to Korea. The good ol’ days….
Congrats on 10 years!
I just hit 10 years in the Army last month.
In April 2001, I was in 1st grade. DAMN do I feel young.. D:
10 years coming up on 18 June… Congrats on the decade Farva!
It’s all uphill from here
Congrats on a decade! Husband just cruised past 13 in February. I’m on my puny first year of civil service (my clock was reset when I went from AF to Army before hitting career tenure. NUTS!) Only 29 years and 10 months to go till I can get that federal retirement. Uggggh.
Congrats on hitting the hump
Congrats on hitting 10. I found the first 10 easier than the last 6 I have been in, but I blame that on the ever changing “Kinder, gentler, fluffier” AF.
3 1/2. Done at 4.
I know the feeling. Working on my out-processing now- 4 1/2 years.
Did you know at the time your first day was the anniversary of the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo?
I really wish I had joined right after high school…I could be celebrating 14 years instead of 9!!! DOH!!!!!!!!!
Hit my 4 year mark in the Army back in Feb, always thought I’d get out at the end of my contract (I have a 5 year enlistment) but now I gotta say I’m seriously thinking about another three years. It does get a lot easier now that I picked up my Sergeant lol
I am at 18 1/2 years as of this month, and I can see the door from here. Now if I can just get these creeky ankles and knees of mine to pump out a few more laps around that track…
I’ve been stationed at Lackland for the last six months, now, and I am still having BMT flashbacks as I travel around the base. It’s changed, but not enough for me to forget.
Congrats Farva! Halfway home….
In 2001 I was alrady retired for 11 years from a 22 year AF career started in 1968. In September that year (2001) my wife was a Civil Servant working for Navy Intel and home sick that day when 8 of her shipmates were killed when an engine from a 767 tore through the Pentagon conference room where they were watching the attacks on New York.
Thank you (and all you troops out there as well) for your service!
Bill
It was a great “send off”! We were there and have loved all the wonderful adventures you have shared – thank you for your support. We will be here for the next 10. – at least we hope so. Hang in there. The Wimberley connection.
Congrats, my hubby wanted to get out at 13 years. I refused to let him, so he crosstrained and just re-enlisted to make it to E8 high year tenure. He’s having too much fun to leave now. Hopefully he’ll make Chief before then and will wear his uniform everytime we see our future Army officer son (graduates in 2014) because I have a feeling he’ll be the Army Aviator verson of Barbie.
Congrats on getting halfway Farva
BTW, how long til we get to see the stache photos?
Farva wrote, “…but we all have our stories and I won’t bore you with mine.”
Farva: We may all have our stories, but only a few can tell stories as well as you can. That’s why we keep coming back here.
You can tell us your stories ANY time, and I’ll bet you bore no one.
Congrats on the first 10!
Congrats on the ten year mark Farva! You’ve got me by about a year and a month…Showed up on the bus at about 11pm on 20 May, 2002, but my “official” first day was 21 May 2002…
Farva.. thats awesome, congrats! my first day was the 18th also, and if I hadn’t separated I woulda hit my 15th year.. yeah, I’m dumb