OK, it sucks. It is disorganized from the git go. And for someone who hasn't touched a tactical aircraft since early 1991, it was like being in the maze at Fountainblue outside of Paris. Or more relevant to the generation I am part of, Lost in the Ozone. The Forms class I attended today was designed for those who have been using the system for quite awhile and experienced in the ways of fixing airplanes in this environment. I have nothing to match up with it. Dear NavAirSysCom, any jobs at China Lake or Point Mugu? Hell, even El Centro would work! Hell, I'd even go to Yuma or Twentynine Stumps!
I pray that my mom doesn't read this as my dad was in the Air Force when they got married and I was conceived. Fact, nothing more or less. But he was in the Black World and not airplane maintenance.
And I would have to also infer that I was in the oldest air arm in the service of the Republic. Next May, US Naval Aviation will be 99 years old. We have been doing it longer. And of historical note, Army Aviation was originally a function of the Signal Corps and was not a separate part of the Army until WW1.
And my deepest apologies to Buck. He retired from the Air Force long before most of the former Air Force, Retired Air Force and always AF civil servants were aware of the Air Force.
4 comments:
My first vist. Nice site.
As for the the maintenance gripes; I've never been in the Air Force, but I imagine they use very specific task related forms to go with the highly specialized technicians. This way trend analysis can be collated, shuffled and thunk on.
The good thing is that you are working with top notch people on top shelf equipment.
That'll teach you to have a real job!
Dunno about the current state of USAF's technical order system, but it was in fine form when I left the aircraft control and warning (AC&W) radar maintenance world back in 1979 (I finished out my career as a "programs management technician," sort of a glorified paper-pusher that led to interesting and rewarding things post-USAF).
OTOH, Son Number One is an aircraft maintenance ossifer (AMXS) and thinks his world functions quite well. OTOOH... he's never been in the Navy. (We won't go into the inter-service wars that break out frequently between SN1, SN2 [he a former submariner and currently a SWO], and myself.) Maybe it's just "acclimation" in play here, Glenn.
And the multiple mentions of "what you were taught in Air Force Tech School" being a catch-phrase during the day's instruction. Of thirteen, I was the odd man being the only non-Air Force Trained person in the room.
The TOs seem to be just fine. I like the detail for the procedures. The paperwork just seems to be overly complicated.
You're probably correct on the acclimation to the new situation.
And for the inter-service thing, my mother still unloads on me with this: If it wasn't for the Air Force you wouldn't be here! Dad was in the Khaki AF in the Early 50s. Mom was an Air Force Wife for a few short years. Dad was a spook at Suitland Hall, MD.
Retired AF MSGT, today! You Navy Pukes had way better paperwork. It was SIMPLE!
I WIN! Subject closed.
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