Warthog Territory Forums :: View topic - Cross-training approved

Best of luck to you!

I was thinking the other day about being a Crew Chief. One of the most underappreciated and misunderstood career fields in the AF. Most people on bases think we're just gas station guys with not a lot of smarts...but they've never seen our 5 and 7 level CDCs have they...some of the hardest CDCs out there! How many aircraft do most folks have to learn? We have to know sytems on five different airframes. At my base there are pletny of opportunities to move away from the line to a backshop or another career field like AGE, Motorpool, SP, etc. In fact, when I joined the USAF in '86 I originally wanted to be SP but they didn't have any openings for when I wanted to come in so I thought "hey, tactical aircraft MX sounds cool".

The more I thought about it though...the more I realized I wouldn't change a thing. Being a CC on the line is tough, but when I troubleshoot something, repair it, and see the jet come back code 1...that's priceless to me. Been on the line since '86...probably still be on the line in 2027.

Author:	jackb [ 16 Nov 2010, 09:34 ]
Post subject:	Cross-training approved
So it's official, I'm cross training. OSI class starts May 10. I've spent the last 11 yrs on the flightline, and as many things that there are that I will NOT miss about the line, there are just as many that I will miss to death, most especially the other Chiefs that I do have have worked WITH.

Author:	prkiii [ 16 Nov 2010, 15:15 ]
Post subject:	Re: Cross-training approved
jackb wrote: So it's official, I'm cross training. OSI class starts May 10. I've spent the last 11 yrs on the flightline, and as many things that there are that I will NOT miss about the line, there are just as many that I will miss to death, most especially the other Chiefs that I do have have worked WITH. Congrats, will you get to come back from the sandbox early? I feel you about the flight line, it is a love/hate relationship. There is so much that I miss but at the same time so much I don't!! I know you can't go into much detail but how are things going for ya'll over there? Stay safe!!!!

Author:	Ice Pirate [ 16 Nov 2010, 18:31 ]
Post subject:
Congratulations Jack! I retrained into CATM after just 3 years on the line at DM. That was in 1980. And now, 30 years later, I'm still hanging out here. Once the line gets in your blood, it's always there. I dearly loved my time working ranges and wouldn't have traded those years for love nor money. Yet I still miss the line. I'm sure we'll still see you around here.

Author:	Coach [ 16 Nov 2010, 19:05 ]
Post subject:
Mixed feelings, Jack. Good for you...congratulations! Your deployment tempo just went through the roof! Coach

Author:	jackb [ 17 Nov 2010, 00:10 ]
Post subject:
prkiii - Yeah, I'll be coming home next month. Unfortunately all my single friends I hang out with are staying, and only guys with babies due to be born soon are coming back early, so I doubt they'll be allowed to come out and drink lol Ice Pirate - I know, I'm excited, but kind of anxious too. I joined the AF when I was 17, and every bit of who I am, my personality, my behavior, my sense of humor... has been formed on the flightline. I am a Swing Shift Crew Chief, no doubt about it. As sure as night follows day, that will never change. Coach - Thanks. Applying to cross train was the biggest decision I made in my life - at least as big as joining the AF in the first place, and not one I came to lightly - but I feel like I've reached the end of the road as a maintainer. I could go on for days about how I feel about this subject. I'll graduate OSI tech school in Sept, PCS shortly after that, and they say to count on a deployment as soon as your first year of being a probationary agent is up...

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Author:	Racegal8 [ 17 Nov 2010, 00:23 ]
Post subject:
Good luck and keep us posted on how things are going

Author:	Weasel Keeper [ 20 Nov 2010, 05:17 ]
Post subject:
Best of luck to you! I was thinking the other day about being a Crew Chief. One of the most underappreciated and misunderstood career fields in the AF. Most people on bases think we're just gas station guys with not a lot of smarts...but they've never seen our 5 and 7 level CDCs have they...some of the hardest CDCs out there! How many aircraft do most folks have to learn? We have to know sytems on five different airframes. At my base there are pletny of opportunities to move away from the line to a backshop or another career field like AGE, Motorpool, SP, etc. In fact, when I joined the USAF in '86 I originally wanted to be SP but they didn't have any openings for when I wanted to come in so I thought \"hey, tactical aircraft MX sounds cool\". The more I thought about it though...the more I realized I wouldn't change a thing. Being a CC on the line is tough, but when I troubleshoot something, repair it, and see the jet come back code 1...that's priceless to me. Been on the line since '86...probably still be on the line in 2027.

Author:	prkiii [ 20 Nov 2010, 13:42 ]
Post subject:
Weasel Keeper wrote: Best of luck to you! I was thinking the other day about being a Crew Chief. One of the most underappreciated and misunderstood career fields in the AF. Most people on bases think we're just gas station guys with not a lot of smarts...but they've never seen our 5 and 7 level CDCs have they...some of the hardest CDCs out there! How many aircraft do most folks have to learn? We have to know sytems on five different airframes. At my base there are pletny of opportunities to move away from the line to a backshop or another career field like AGE, Motorpool, SP, etc. In fact, when I joined the USAF in '86 I originally wanted to be SP but they didn't have any openings for when I wanted to come in so I thought "hey, tactical aircraft MX sounds cool". The more I thought about it though...the more I realized I wouldn't change a thing. Being a CC on the line is tough, but when I troubleshoot something, repair it, and see the jet come back code 1...that's priceless to me. Been on the line since '86...probably still be on the line in 2027. And that is what I miss, that and the relationships....nothing like the bonds I built while on the line!

Author:	sgtgoose1 [ 30 Nov 2010, 17:23 ]
Post subject:
Congrats Jackb, Maybe I should cross trained into another field instead of \"Bailing out\" , Maybe that would of kept my Marriage together alittle while longer?? Then Its a \"Would of Could Of, Should Of\"? But it wasn't the answer, I don't think I could of left the line . Good Luck Goose

Author:	TheBigThug [ 05 Dec 2010, 18:08 ]
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Congrats! I never regretted my time in LE.

Author:	jackb [ 05 Dec 2010, 22:44 ]
Post subject:
As every day passes, I am more and more sure I've made the right choice.

Author:	fenderstrat72 [ 06 Dec 2010, 05:15 ]
Post subject:
jackb wrote: As every day passes, I am more and more sure I've made the right choice. That's the spirit. Good luck on your new career path.

Author:	Dice-man [ 09 Dec 2010, 19:10 ]
Post subject:
If that's what you want Jackb then I'm happy for you, although I hate losing such a good contact in the A-10 world.

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