Art,
If I had to do it all over again, I would prefer the leavening of experience in
the instructors that I had in the 60's.

Learning it all the ATC way or the SAC way or the MAC way or the TAC way was
not conducive to gaining general knowledge and learning "why" something needed
to be done.
The "how" came in crew training under the specific command that you were going
to after initial training.
It was nice to recall something that an instructor from another command had
given you as a"tip" when you were lost for 14 hours with nothing working and
about to bust an ADIZ or a miss an important item.
The Air Training Command system of the 60's (You WILL do it this way!) wasn't
always the best way, or easiest way or smartest way.
An old B-47 Nav/Bomb taught me things about the radar set that no C-124 flight
lunch inspector ever thought about trying. An old C-47 nav taught me how to
repair a sextant that probably saved my rear at least once over the pond.
A navy CPO nav taught me noon day fix proceedures that worked more than once.
The main thing I got out of Air Teaining Command was accuracy and pacing.
Experienced people from other places taught me how to improvement my
"judgement" and smooth out the rough edges.

Rick Clark
GRID still sucks!