Service Record

[ehowton]

Air Force Achievement Medal (with two oak leaf clusters), Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Air Force Good Conduct Medal (with one oak leaf cluster), National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal (with one campaign star), Air Force Overseas Short-Tour Ribbon, Air Force Overseas Long-Tour Ribbon, Air Force Longevity Award, Air Force Training Ribbon.

1990-1990: 3707th Basic Military Training Squadron, Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas

1990-1991: Goodfellow Technical Training Center, Goodfellow Air Force Base, San Angelo, Texas

1991-1991: 497th Reconnaissance Technical Group, Lindsey Air Station (Schierstein Kaserne), Wiesbaden, Germany

1991-1993: 496th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron/Joint Analysis Center, Royal Air Force Alconbury (RAF Molesworth), Cambridgeshire, England

1993-1995: 36th Intelligence Squadron, 480th Intelligence Group, Langley Air Force Base, Hampton, Virginia

1995-1996: 607th Air Intelligence Squadron, Osan Air Base, Songtan-Si (Pyeongtaek), South Korea

1996-1997: United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), Offutt Air Force Base, Bellevue, Nebraska

Comments

[quicksilvermad.livejournal.com]

How funny that the first and last of the patches are in my dad's collection. And he designed another one for one of his stations, but some other jerk took the credit for it. I'll find out which one it was and get back to you.

Strategic Command... Ah, I remember walking on that logo on a rubber mat to get into the Vandenberg building where my dad's office was. One of his friends always had those wrapped peppermint candies or butterscotch for me and my sister when we came to visit.

Good times!

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

When I first got in, I thought USAFE was the entire world. And while I didn't wear the patch, once I got there, PACAF was a close second. How neat that he designed a patch! I have a Saudi campaign patch on my jacket that one of the Brits in the small unit I was attached to designed.

STRATCOM was one of the reasons I left the Air Force. All my assignments had been tactical to that point, and I found I was good at it. The Mission Comes First and all that. STRATCOM had a different world view, and I found I couldn't easily translate into it. But because of that experience, I gained an understanding about where my strengths lie and how to better utilize them.

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

I used your experience with each of these to explain the difference between tactical and strategic amongst our team this weekend, illustrating how both is needed to fight on the political front. I find I've been quoting you and your dad a lot lately.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

To ensure that a team is most effective, one must play to their individual strengths. Unfortunately, the needs of the Air Force sometimes overrules that. We were, after all, all Airmen; a tool of might to fulfill objectives.

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

It's hard to believe that's you in the picture. You without facial hair just isn't right.

Thank you for your service to our country.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

I did sport a mustache the entire time I was in, but Service Photo's are taken during Basic Training and no facial hair is allowed during that time.

[kat-rowe.livejournal.com]

Very cool.

*realizes she hasn't smushed a Veteran today and hugs you tight* Thanks for fighting the good fight for a bunch of people you're never even met. You rock :)

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Thanks. It was great fun while it lasted.

[kat-rowe.livejournal.com]

:) you rock *hugs you again*

[celtmanx.livejournal.com]

Watch it now!!! I've got debs. He's my personal veteran.

[kat-rowe.livejournal.com]

*backs away slowly*

Sorry, dude. Didn't know he was spoken for.

*wanders off in search of another veteran to smush, fails, and hugs herself instead*

[celtmanx.livejournal.com]

Yeah, he's been mine since middle school. Even when I wanted to kill him for dropping the Penthouse magazines at the vice principals feet. I had my first heart attack at 14.

[kat-rowe.livejournal.com]

Well, if he's been giving you arryhtmias since you were 14, that definitely makes him yours ;p

*hugs you instead*

[celtmanx.livejournal.com]

And thank you for serving our country as well.

[kat-rowe.livejournal.com]

Only wish I could have done it longer. Pesky incontestible medical discharges *pouts*

[celtmanx.livejournal.com]

I can relate, I was misdiagnosed as 4F.

[kat-rowe.livejournal.com]

That sucks, but not as bad as a couple men and women I went through Basic with who damned well should have been 4Fed and ended up washing out during Basic instead. Terrible disappointment for them :(

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

You took the oath. And that says volumes.

[kat-rowe.livejournal.com]

the phrase that springs to mind is "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak"

damned mortal coil! *shakes fist at the skies*

[celtmanx.livejournal.com]

Gosh you look so young in that picture. Were we really ever that young?

Thank you for serving our country.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Thank you, but this post was created as a link to be be pasted when questions of where I was stationed and duration arose. Also because my mom sometimes forgets.

[celtmanx.livejournal.com]

"Thank you for serving our country."

Well I've never actually said it and I just thought I would take the opportunity.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Thank you for standing by my side for seven years while I did so.

[thesweetestnote.livejournal.com]

You Bad Ass.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

heh