In March of 1965, I enlisted in the Air Force/Women in the Air Force (WAF) Division from Chesapeake, Va., and went to Lackland Air Force Base for six weeks of basic training. All of the women that were with me in my flight became very close in order to get through this training time. It was hard, and we often lost a lot of weight.

Marching to the mess hall one day, our flight was called to a halt at the front of the building, and that's when the first sergeant called out my name.

"Airman Parker, get to the front door, now!"

I did immediately and was told to open the large door, stand at attention and remain holding the door open until told to rejoin my flight inside.

"Ma'am, yes, ma'am!"

As my flight passed in front of me through the door I was holding, I notice several women in my flight looking at me and chuckling. Because we were not allowed to speak to each other at this time I had no idea what was so funny.

Bringing up the rear of the flight was the first sergeant. She stopped abruptly in front of me, turned, faced me and asked, "Do you have a problem, airman?"

My eyes were wide open now.

"Ma'am, no, ma'am," I said. She repeated her question, so I thought she wanted me to speak louder so I said, "Ma'am, no, ma'am!"

I could see the look of exasperation and the raising of her eyes to the heavens as she said, "Airman, you have my permission to come to at ease and look down, <strong>now</strong>!"

Fear ripped across my brain, my heart skipped. I peeked downward and oh my gosh! There they were: my fatigue pants, hanging below my "gig string," my waist and heading southward for all to see!

Well, I knew immediately that I would be giving up one of the two gig slips that we had to give up at the request of a superior upon screwing up. I peered up at my first sergeant and asked for permission to pull up my fatigue pants. She gave me permission, so I pulled them back up and came back to attention.

Then she asked for my gig slip. I reached into my pocket for the slip. <strong>Big oops!</strong> I forgot to come to at ease before going to my pocket.

"Make that two slips, airman," she said. Shocked and not knowing what to do I went back to attention, exclaiming that I am going to lose my pants again!

Now I'm thinking, "Crap," because we only get two gig slips and I think I just made my third screw up! But as I was picturing me getting booted out of boot camp, my first sergeant smiled and told me to keep the slips and to go and catch up to my flight. As I left, I heard her say, "Airman, eat all of your food and keep your pants up!"

Whew!