Live Air Force
by Susan P
When I was twenty-one, I joined the Air Force with a friend through the “buddy system.” We went though basic training and technical school together and after tech school, she went to Sheppard AFB and I went to Cannon AFB. There I learned my career through self-study and on-the-job training. I became involved in the “Outdoor Adventure Program” and went snow camping and hiking in Ruidoso, New Mexico. Additionally, I served on the “Honor Guard” attending parades and funerals honoring deceased veterans. My husband and I got engaged before he got orders to England and I received orders to Spain. When I arrived in Spain, my sponsor took me to play bingo downtown Zaragoza and I won ninety-six pesetas (which is about ninety American dollars). With money in our pockets, we experienced “churros” a cinnamon sugar covered pastry and Spain’s Seafood Pallea—shrimp, mussels and rice. My roommate and I went on a Mission on a KC-135 Tanker aircraft and watched aircraft being refueled in flight. I competed in 6k runs and, although I didn’t win a trophy, I made many new friends along the way. Later on, my husband and I married and I transferred to England from Spain, where we started our family and continued our adventure together. The military made me think about the world around me instead of what I was used to as a child. It was a great investment in my life and if you are thinking about joining the Air Force, I would say “go for it!”