What was/is your Military Occupational Specialty (MOS)

[CigarStone]

Air Force 31651L Missile Systems Guidance and Control Specialist. Designed, calibrated and maintained Air Intercept Missiles.

AIM 9 Sidewinder (Air Intercept Missile) Rail launched, supersonic, infra-red guided, self homing, strike missile. Still the most deadly air to air missile in the world.

 

[jfields]

USMC 6092 - Airframes Structural. Basically, a glorified mechanic on F-4 Phantoms. I miss those old birds. Here’s an old photo of one of the actual planes I worked on at my last duty station at Andrews Air Force Base.

 

[CigarStone]

Love the F-4 Phantom! It's considered the most versatile airplane ever deployed by the United States.

 

[Pugman1943]

Oh the memories. These are my old squadron off USS Independence CVA 62. Saw more of these "catted" off over 3 years than @jfields has sticks in his humi. Glorious to watch the AB's kick in. They were the workhorse. And talk about how much ordinance you could hang on them. Bad motor scooters.

 

[kann]

USAF 2T2X1 -- Air Transportation

I got to play with the big birds. I loaded a few -53s in my day...

 

[BlindedByScience]

Worried dad of a USMC small arms armorer / tech..... Oldest son, Sgt. Robert Larsen served in the USMC for 10 years.

 

[jfields]

USAF 2T2X1 -- Air Transportation

I got to play with the big birds. I loaded a few -53s in my day...

View attachment 51556

So does this mean you weren’t a snake charmer in The USN?

 

[kann]

So does this mean you weren’t a snake charmer in The USN?

 

[CigarStone]

Oh the memories. These are my old squadron off USS Independence CVA 62. Saw more of these "catted" off over 3 years than @jfields has sticks in his humi. Glorious to watch the AB's kick in. They were the workhorse. And talk about how much ordinance you could hang on them. Bad motor scooters.

View attachment 51555

They didn't make that many of them!

It was referred to as the garbage scow because you could put anything in it and on it.

 

[SKYDIVNEKD]

USMC 2531 Field Radio Operator. Unique story. Originally wanted MP but I failed my hearing test(eight times) and I had to get a hearing waiver. After the paperwork was lost for 9 months, I lost that job. I got the waiver and they hooked a brother up as a radio operator. Ok, maybe it was just funny to me.

Floyd T

 

[ChuckJr]

Deaf radio operator... What could go wrong?

 

[SKYDIVNEKD]

Deaf radio operator... What could go wrong?

My thoughts exactly! Improvise! Adapt! Overcome!

Floyd T

 

[xyz123]

Deaf radio operator... What could go wrong?

Listen! Do you smell something??

 

[xyz123]

Come on fellas, Air Warriors on the Smithsonian Channel?? Every great bird that ever flew has been documented wonderfully on that series. If you have Directv it's part of the 'Extra' package for $5/mo (channel 570). That channel alone is worth every penny!

 

[tone-ny]

2A590 Aerospace Maintenance Superintendent, glorified aircraft mechanic APG, heavies. Also QA inspector in this career field.

8F000 First Sergeant, Special Duty Identifier

 

[CigarStone]

One of the super high tech solutions we came up with on the AIM 9 was to fix the premature ejaculation of the rollerons (pictured below).

The rolleron would be locked into the rear wing until the missile reached roughly Mach 1 (the speed of sound), at which point they would release and swing freely. The missile flew at mach 1.4 plus the speed of the launching aircraft. The fins on the wheel would catch air and spin at incredible speeds creating a gyroscopic effect to help stabilize the intricate maneuvers being output from the guidance system. As the planes got faster the pilots were complaining about aircraft stabilization problems due to the rollerons releasing prior to launch. Kinda like me!

After months of study, and debriefing pilots, here is the highly technical, highly classified fix we came up with, don't tell anyone! (no longer classified)
We drilled a hole in the body of the four rollerons and inserted a screw in each. We ran a string between each set of two opposing rollerons (crossing at the rear of the missile) and secured it to the screws at a specific tension. The string would keep the rollerons in place until the rocket motor ignited, burning the string and allowing the rollerons to release. Problem solved!

 

[mjolnir01]

AFSC 11M Mobility Pilot early on, then 11S Special Operations Pilot eventually with an R-prefix for an Air Planning qualification, and finally finished out as an 11U (18A DAFSC) ISR RPA Pilot.

 

[kann]

2A590 Aerospace Maintenance Superintendent, glorified aircraft mechanic APG, heavies. Also QA inspector in this career field.

8F000 First Sergeant, Special Duty Identifier

My career aspiration was to be a First Sergeant. Big Blue saw fit to put me out to pasture before I had the opportunity to get there, though, on account of becoming asymmetrical...

 

[jfields]

USMC 2531 Field Radio Operator. Unique story. Originally wanted MP but I failed my hearing test(eight times) and I had to get a hearing waiver. After the paperwork was lost for 9 months, I lost that job. I got the waiver and they hooked a brother up as a radio operator. Ok, maybe it was just funny to me.

Floyd T

I never knew you were a Devil Dog Floyd!

 

[SKYDIVNEKD]

I never knew you were a Devil Dog Floyd!

Yes, sir. I did six years in the reserves from '85 to '91. I was discharged shortly before Desert Storm. Our unit was called up, so I really figured I'd get a call. I believe since the ass whoopin was over so quickly, they didn't need to call people back.

Floyd T