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Military Recruitment Analysis

Decent Essays

When I graduated from UCLA in January 1951 with a B.S. in Public Health, I was draft bait. I began visiting Military Recruiter's stations in Los Angeles. The USAF Recruiter, after I finished all the physical and mental tests, asked me if I had any interest in flying. I said 'yes' and he advised me not to open the draft letter should it arrive in the mail, but to pack light and call him to arrange a trip to San Antonio, Texas at Lackland, AFB. Flying school would be a few weeks off and my assignment was Greenville, Mississippi for AT-6 Training and then Advanced Training at Vance AFB, Enid, Oklahoma in B-25's. Randolph AFB for B29 transition with a 9 man crew. I was the Co-Pilot. Then Topeka, Kansas at Forbes Field Radar and Navigation (B-29).Next …show more content…

In December 1952, we were assigned a B-29 to fly to Okinawa as our A/C Capt Don Paulsel had many hours in a B-29. Our assignment was SAC 20th AD, 19th Bomber Command, 93rd Bomb Squadron, Kadena AFB, Okinawa.During the 1950s we were subject to the draft and I didn't want to spend two years in the Army. I went to various recruiting offices and the Air Force was the most receptive. Their recruiters were well organized in Los Angeles to join up. After I completed mental and physical testing, I was asked if I had ever considered flying. Up until that time, I hadn't but I said, "Tell me about it." When I accepted their offer, they told me not to open any letter I might receive from the Draft Board. They said I should call them if I got a letter and they would swear me in and send me to San Antonio for a short stay until flying school became available. I followed their directions and my USAF flying experience got underway within three weeks.WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?I served 4 years, and turned down the offer of a USAF Career Officer due to the Cold War and our conversion to B-47 Atom …show more content…

But, I had been considering staying in and had already made the decision not to sign up.The B-47 was an attractive bomber with six jet engines but I had seen enough combat. My C.O. was somewhat surprised when I declined and told him that I was planning to go to dental school to become a dentist. He sent me to B-47 Ground School and I became the base B-47 Flight Simulator Instructor for my remaining two years of service.IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH WERE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TO YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY.My primary duty was B29 co-pilot and I flew twenty-eight missions from Okinawa to North Korea every third night. This was a very maturing experience for a young 23 year old. Search lights, flak attacks and MIG-15's added much to our own concerns and excitement. We approached the target in a "Stream" with the leader at lowest altitude, and the rest of stacked higher behind. We were 500 feet and 1 minute separation between us.The last line was the newest crews and they carried a Flash Bomb which followed their bomb

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