From my service memories which starts when I turned 18 and signed up for Selective Service to Boot Camp, Pats, Tech School, RAF Wethersfield, RAF Deb den for Dog Handler Training, back to Wethersfield, Malmstrom AFB, to separation, and a presentation to Middle School students on dog handling.
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Daybreak finds us gliding onto Texas soil. Somehow, we are off, loaded into the awaiting arms of Airman First Class Spellman, our Drill Instructor (DI).
He was demoted twice for fighting another DI and for throwing a 2nd Lieutenant out an open window.
We are told to fall in outside by the buses. Since we had no idea how to fall in, we soon learned the fury of the DI....This, I believe, was part of the plan to further demoralize us in the breaking down part of our training. How could we know how to fall in?
Four rows of 20 each, a ROTC recruit by the name of Ross tried to impress the DI but it didn't work. After standing in a loose formation, we were told more meaningful things with the use of a lot of flowery adjectives. We were finally told to get on the bus. The DI called us "Rainbows." We later learned that was because of the different colored clothing that we were wearing.
I enjoyed the bus ride to Lackland AFB Training Center. Seeing a new part of the Country and watching for Davy Crockett to ride by on his way to the Alamo. Not really but I could visualize it....maybe because I liked Davy Crockett when I was a kid and had Davy Crockett wallpaper in my bedroom when I was a kid.
From the bus window I could see jets taking off and landing at Kelly AFB. I loved the sights and the sounds but I didn't really care for their use in destruction of life and property.
The buses finally arrived at the main gate of Lackland and the gate guard waved us in (I thought how nice it is to know that I wouldn't be a cop). The buses worked their way through the maze of barracks and peeled off one by one until it was our turn to stop. We were assigned to the 3707 Training Squadron, A Flight, Class 04056 (4, May 66-date that boot camp ended).
We were ordered off the bus and told to fall in, "at attention." The DI then arranged us according to height. Short in front and tall in the rear. I was somewhere in the middle of the pack. We were then told to count off numbers row by row. This was to be our number and we would use this number system to find our spot in the formation. It did not take as long as we expected, my number was 69.
Once in formation, we then marched single file into the barracks and were assigned to the first or second floor. I was on the second floor, left side of the open bay (room) and the lower bunk. The head of the beds were alternated on both the top and lower bunks.
Foot lockers were placed at each end of the bunk beds. The contents of the locker were your skivvies, socks, shaving gear and writing material.
Clothing was rolled or folded in the proper manner in the bottom section. Shaving gear was clean and neatly placed in the top section with the writing material which was also kept in its proper position. A laundry bag would later be tied in the prescribed manner from the top rail of the bunk.
Between the windows was a shelf with a clothes rod beneath it. The shelf held our service cap and school manuals. The clothes rod held our uniforms spaced one and quarter inch apart and facing to the right. Under the bunks edge was placed our soon to be spit shined boots.
We were then ordered to fall out and to fall in, out in front of the barracks. It was instruction time on how to march. We were told to start off with our left foot and then come down on the heels of our feet with enough force as to make a sound that would assist us in picking up the cadence as we marched. As we marched we were to swing our arms in a natural swing (what the DI declared natural) without thought or rolling our shoulders. Our fingers were held in a loose cup.
Road guards were appointed, they were two men in the front of the formation and two in the rear of the formation, several times they were fired and others would be appointed. Road guards were to run out in front of the formation as we approached an intersection and stop traffic as the flight marched through an intersection. As we approached an intersection, the DI would call out "road guards out", the front pair would double time out and stand at ease and raise their right hand and stop the traffic. Halfway through the intersection the rear pair would replace the front pair. Once passed the intersection, the DI would call out "road guards in" and they would return to the formation.
Once instructed in the art of marching and road guarding, we were marched off to breakfast. Everyone was eager for some food but our eagerness had to wait well into an hour. We were ordered to stand, "At Ease, but no talking."
It was our turn finally and we entered the Mess Hall, column by column, only to find another line and more waiting. As our turn came, we signed our name and moved in a single file along the back wall, then down the side wall to the serving line.
At the serving line we place a tray with silverware on the stainless steel counter and side stepped down the food line replying, "yes sir or no sir", to the individuals behind the food counter when asked if we wanted what they were serving.
You then took the first available table, waited for all four seats to be taken and then you could start eating. We learned to eat fast and with no talking, depending on the mood of the DI, and if he caught someone talking, was the deciding factors in how much you got to eat. Several times it was 3 or 4 mouthfuls, then we would hear "Flight 04056 pick them up and move them out", (Flight was the Air Forces term for platoon). Of course, our DI got to eat all of his breakfast because he was served before we even signed in. I don't know how many full meals we missed out on, but towards the mid point of boot camp things got better.
One of those first days our DI screamed at us, "you rainbows embarrass me, what a bunch of *#&@^^*." "Hey Ozark, is that your first pair of shoes?" Carl answered, "yes. That his mama had just bought them for him." Carl later told us that it wasn't true, but figured to play with the DI. That was the last thing to do, Carl was on the Di's hit list for several weeks and then someone else was then picked on.
Anyway, A1C Spellman then said, "You walk like you have one foot on each side of a ridge. When I want you, I'll just call for my Ridge Walker. You got that troop?" Carl responded with a, "Yes, Sir."
We were marching here and there; learning to march was an on going thing (we were learning how to work together as a group). We were marched to the Barber's Shop, where we all received a 30 second pig shave. Spellman turned out to be a nice DI; other DI's took their troops back to the barber every two weeks for a pig shave. We went once at the beginning and then back again just for a trim right before we left boot camp.
While marching, singing became part of our training as well. Some of the songs that we learned were: Sound Off; Count Cadence; WAF Cadence; Road Guards Out; Lackland Boogie and Rainbow, Don't Be Blue.
We got a series of shots and then they were given to us every two weeks. On one of the trips to get our shots, the medics were working with new and improved compressed air units. Some troops either moved or the staff was not yet familiar with their new toys. There was a lot of torn skin. With two weeks to go, we were marched back for our last series of shots. Drill Instructor Spellman announced that morning, that the last shot would be in the left testicle with a square needle. He went on to say that there would be some pain, but not to worry; it would be gone in about two week. All of us were very concerned about this and didn't really like the thought of two weeks of pain. Needless to say, there was no square needle and no such shots were given. Spellman had a good laugh at our mental stress.
More marching, this time it was to base finance and personnel sections. We were given a small advance on our pay, this was so that we could purchase the items needed for our foot lockers.
At personnel, we reviewed the paper work that was done in Seattle and made the needed correction and filled out other paper work as needed.
From the Personnel Section we were marched off to the BX (Base Exchange) to purchase the items on the list the Spellman had given us. Things that were required were: razor; razor blades; soap; soap dish; tooth paste; tooth brush; comb (this struck us as funny since we had no hair); pen and paper; envelopes; and stamps. After going through the check-out counter we were broke again, unless you brought money from home. Most of us had other money, but it was useless because we were confined to the barracks. We were too busy with marching, PT (physical training), classes, mess hall and GI the barracks. We also learned how to make our bunks, hang our clothes and the proper display of the items in the foot locker.
Back at the barracks with our major purchases from the BX, we were ordered to sit on the floor at the rear of the first floor bunk room. There, Spellman instructed us on how to use the items just purchased. How we were to use them and then clean them after each use, then how they should be displayed in the foot locker. We were also ordered that we will write home at least once every week.
At the end of the third or fourth week we got patio privileges. It was a 30 minute break several times a week during the evening hours. The patio had vending machines that served pop, candy and ice cream. That first night, we all went wild for the lack of sweets as well as not knowing when we would get another patio break. Once they became a common occurrence, we cut down on the sweets. Of course, if Spellman became upset for either our actions or maybe for some other reason, we would loose one of our patio visits.
After we had everything stored as directed, we were ordered to "Fall Out and Fall In" (that meant to get out of the barracks and fall in formation so we could march someplace). We started to march and were given a guided tour of the base. I think the real reason was just another session on marching and following orders. The tour finally ended up in front of one of the many Mess Halls.
After dinner, our learning continued at the barracks. We were instructed in the military way of cleaning our living quarters, latrines and the correct way in making our bunks. Spellman also continued the instruction of the Air Force Mission, what was expected of us and what we would learn before leaving boot camp.
Our days started at 0430 hours with "Everybody Up". Those that failed to move, were dumped out of their bunk by the DI. We had one hour to shave, shower, make our bunks, and shine our boots and to clean the latrine.
At 0530 hours, it was "Fall Out and Fall In" for our march to the mess hall for breakfast and then on to our classes. We learned that Spellman was a bit of a Maverick and liked to cause a bit of trouble now and then. One of the things he did, was to double time us through intersection so he could beat another flight to the mess hall, he didn't like standing in line.
Our day usually ended around 2000 hours (8 PM) and we had free time until 2100 hours. This was a time that we could shine boots, write letters review the day’s studies and talk with the other guys. Sometimes after lights out, we would write letters from under our blankets by using our flashlights.
It was the second or third day that we got our turn at the "Green Elephant", so called for it was where we received our uniforms and other misc. equipment. We got two of everything in regards to clothing. The
Supply Personnel were really good at guessing the correct size, all it took was a quick glance and a size was called out. By the time we got to the end of the counter, we had a large pile of clothes and a Duffel Bag to put them in. We stuffed the clothing into the bag as directed (everything in its proper place) and then marched back to the barrack.
In the barracks, we learned the proper way of folding and hanging of our clothes. Those that were on hangers were to be facing to the right and no less or no more than 1 1/4 inch apart. Foot locker items were either folded or rolled in the required fashion. They were placed in their proper place in the foot locker, like items could touch each other, but they could not touch any other type of clothing.
After everything was put away, we were introduced to the Gig Slip. This was also known as DD Form 248. Gig Slip was given out if your bed, clothing, hair, shave, boots, etc., were not up to military standards. Ten or more Gigs you were sent back one week in training. I believe that one guy in our flight was sent back. I received three: one for my bed, one for a bad shave and one for General Principle (GP). Mr. ROTC, (as Spellman called him), Airman Basic Ross, kept swing his shoulders, The DI stopped the marching and walked up to Ross and asked for his 248. I was right behind Ross and the DI then stepped in front of me and said, "Johnson, give me your 248, it is for GP." I said, "Yes Sir" as I handed him my 248. Of course, your Gigs had to be properly folded and inside your right shirt pocket as well as folded as to hide under the pocket flap.
Our next little marching exercise took us to a building where our pictures were to be taken for the home town newspaper. We took out our dress blue jacket, light blue shirt, tie and our dress service cap. Once in the room, we dressed up for the camera and had our picture taken. We marched on back to the barracks and put the clothes back in their place. It was then on out to march to another class.
So what was Boot Camp? In short, it was the learning of how to play their game and what they were teaching you. There was the marching, which taught us to work as a unit, and physical training, to rid us of our soft bodies. The obstacle course was, to assist the PT and to ready us for possible combat. At the firing range, we were instructed in safe weapons handling, the mechanics of a firearm and how to use one. Fast eating (how indigestion works), classes of the Air Force Mission, POW training, GI the barracks, first aid, defensive tactics as well as deadly tactics.
After about three weeks, the DI seemed to back off. Actually, we were probably falling into shape. Sometimes Spellman would bark out, "Route Step" while marching, which was a loose form of marching. We also learned a new detail...Butt Patrol. I didn't appreciate this...picking up someone's cigarette butt. Never could understand why people just threw them out on the ground or road. Now, as a park ranger, I am still doing it. However, I also write tickets to those that I witness throwing them on the ground. We all had to do it, even the smokers were complaining about it.
Some where, during our training, we had to pull two days of KP, (kitchen Patrol), I was lucky I guess, at least I thought I was. I got to pull mine at Camp Bullis. It was an Army Post up in the Foothills. It was a much friendlier and relaxed setting. Camp Bullis was firing range and mock up area for a Vietnamese Village.
Some where around the last two weeks of Boot Camp, we received our orders. Boy, was I shocked. In fact everyone was, all but two or three of us were to become Air Police (I think it was in 1968 they changes the name to Security Police).
At the end of Boot Camp we had a review (parade). This became a comedy, because the base band was at the far end of the parade grounds and the 2nd Lt. who was marching us couldn't keep cadence. Our DI was getting pretty hot under the collar. This was the same lieutenant that he threw out the window.
