On Sat, 17 Jul 2004 15:40:17 GMT, John A. Stovall
wrote:

On Sat, 17 Jul 2004 15:28:50 GMT, "Brooks Gregory"
wrote:

"John A. Stovall" wrote

Being in a rocket silo in Montana is fine duty why are you knocking
it?

And what does the nonsense you posted have to do with missile silo
duty?

Dunno for the life of me why you jumped in with such a strong defense
of missile silo duty. The initial argument was regarding the question
of whether you had a choice of going to pilot training in the ANG or
going into the USAF with no pilot training slots available, which
would be a better option. Seems like if you had aspirations to fly
jets and one route was open while another one wasn't, the choice would
be the classic "no-brainer."

During the period in question, I was running the Training Command
personnel shop that handled UPT/UNT/UPT-H input and output
assignments. The place we put pilot training washouts who didn't want
to got to navigator training was either missile officer or weapons
controller (GCI scope-dope.)

I don't recall anyone facing the assignment to missiles as being
particularly grateful nor viewing it as "fine duty." They did get
pretty polyester ascots, vinyl caps and a chance to get a Master's
degree during their days in the hole. And, other than cholesterol
build-up from chow hall food, the hazards during the Vietnam war were
minimal in the silo. Casualties were low and few POW's were taken.


Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
Smithsonian Institution Press
ISBN #1-58834-103-8