I don’t want to call it a “stupid” question, because most people just don’t know this. But when I was serving in the US Air Force, if my service ever came up around civilians, it was almost guaranteed that the next words out of their mouth were, “What planes do you fly?” It was such a common occurrence, it was a running joke amongst us Air Force members.
Only 5% of the Air Force are pilots. The other 95% work in career fields that either directly or indirectly support those pilots. We have doctors, lawyers, electricians, police, accountants, cooks… You name it, we likely have a similar career for it.
I personally worked in IT. I fixed computers for 20 years, usually in some cold, dark server room deep in the bowels of a facility. (Sometimes underground even!) I was about as far removed from the airplanes as one could get. So despite my 20 years working for the Air Force, I know absolutely nothing about planes.
Also, it kind of bothers me when people thank me for my service because I didn’t do anything. I’m no hero. Anyone could’ve done my job. Heck, I deployed with Marines once and they told me, if shit hits the fan, to just duck under my desk and let them take care of it. Even in the Air Force, we’re told that Security Forces (our version of military police) are the ones trained to handle combat with enemy forces and to get out of their way if anything happens.
When I was deployed with the Marines, my Marine boss told me once that she hopes to god that she never sees an Air Force person with a rifle in their arms. That means the planes are down, the Marines are dead, and the base is overrun. She said we are the absolute last resort to defend against enemy forces. So if we come under fire, she asked that I hand my weapon to the nearest Marine and then go take cover.
I have a coworker that did IT in (I think) the air force. He had some superior that was blasting him because his password wasn’t working trying to login. My coworker reset the password, remoted in, logged in and the the guy know it’s working and have him the PW.
He gets a call and the dude is again freaking out on him saying it’s not working. My CW drives across base to assist. He gets there and asks the guy to login. First thing he did is hits caps lock and starts typing. CW tells him what’s wrong, does it himself and it works. And to have him do it again, and the guy hits caps lock… CW says something and the superior snaps on him. He snapped back.
When he got back to his station, he gets the call that he fucked up, and that he just volunteered for a deployment to Alaska, where he sent the next few months.
Not really related, but I thought it was a funny story.
Also, it kind of bothers me when people thank me for my service because I didn’t do anything. I’m no hero. Anyone could’ve done my job. Heck, I deployed with Marines once and they told me, if shit hits the fan, to just duck under my desk and let them take care of it. Even in the Air Force, we’re told that Security Forces (our version of military police) are the ones trained to handle combat with enemy forces and to get out of their way if anything happens.
spoiler
Don’t know if it is the case for America, but where I live, people don’t even touch the army with a pole unless they are raised in army families or particularly patriotic families. Even though it is a great employer - both for civilians and soldiers roles - it is regarded as a place people “fail into,” a job we apply for when we fail to secure training or work in the civilian world.
If any of this rings true for the culture where you live, you do deserve the respect. You looked into a profession that most people are too scared to even consider, and found your way to make a contribution. You did skilled work that many of the soldiers were either not smart enough, too busy to do, or just unwilling to train for. Every time you clocked in and sat down in front of a keyboard you were doing valuable work that helps to keep your army functional, and presenting as a formidable force.
And, you actually said in your comment, they asked you to “just sit under your desk if things got heated” - this means there legitimately was some risk of your workplace coming under fire, even if it’s probably super small. That’s exactly what people are so afraid of when they think about working in the army.
The way I see it, working for the army is putting yourself forward and saying “I’m willing to do things to defend my country,” to varying degrees, but you did that before any of those other civilians did. I just think it’s important you appreciate that. It’s in the same vein that people who work in really essential roles like teaching should be proud of themselves and be celebrated more.
it is regarded as a place people “fail into,” a job we apply for when we fail to secure training or work in the civilian world.
That was also the case in America pre 9/11, its also when thanking people for their service become very common. Bumper sticker magnets with the phrase were a huge fad.
When I was a young lad, I thought to join the Air Force. My dad was in the Air Force and he was happy to hear it. I rode an hour on a bus to the place, went through all the tests, etc. and near the end learned that I’d be a helicopter mechanic. I didn’t want to be a mechanic I wanted to be a pilot, that’s why I wanted to join. I didn’t bother saying that to anyone, but that’s what I wanted.
When it came time to take the pledge I remained seated. The Air Force folks who ran the place were pissed. They kicked me out the front door and didn’t offer a ride home. I had to call my dad to pick me up. My dad was a reasonable man, and kind, so he didn’t lay into me but I could tell he was very disappointed.
Looking back on it, helicopter mechanic would have been a good fit for me, I’d probably have been very good at it, and it would have been an interesting career. Had I been better prepared, I would have done it. And, my life would have been much different I’m sure. Maybe even better, I’ll never know.
(This was over 40 years ago, I don’t remember the details too well.)
I don’t want to call it a “stupid” question, because most people just don’t know this. But when I was serving in the US Air Force, if my service ever came up around civilians, it was almost guaranteed that the next words out of their mouth were, “What planes do you fly?” It was such a common occurrence, it was a running joke amongst us Air Force members.
Only 5% of the Air Force are pilots. The other 95% work in career fields that either directly or indirectly support those pilots. We have doctors, lawyers, electricians, police, accountants, cooks… You name it, we likely have a similar career for it.
I personally worked in IT. I fixed computers for 20 years, usually in some cold, dark server room deep in the bowels of a facility. (Sometimes underground even!) I was about as far removed from the airplanes as one could get. So despite my 20 years working for the Air Force, I know absolutely nothing about planes.
Also, it kind of bothers me when people thank me for my service because I didn’t do anything. I’m no hero. Anyone could’ve done my job. Heck, I deployed with Marines once and they told me, if shit hits the fan, to just duck under my desk and let them take care of it. Even in the Air Force, we’re told that Security Forces (our version of military police) are the ones trained to handle combat with enemy forces and to get out of their way if anything happens.
When I was deployed with the Marines, my Marine boss told me once that she hopes to god that she never sees an Air Force person with a rifle in their arms. That means the planes are down, the Marines are dead, and the base is overrun. She said we are the absolute last resort to defend against enemy forces. So if we come under fire, she asked that I hand my weapon to the nearest Marine and then go take cover.
I have a coworker that did IT in (I think) the air force. He had some superior that was blasting him because his password wasn’t working trying to login. My coworker reset the password, remoted in, logged in and the the guy know it’s working and have him the PW.
He gets a call and the dude is again freaking out on him saying it’s not working. My CW drives across base to assist. He gets there and asks the guy to login. First thing he did is hits caps lock and starts typing. CW tells him what’s wrong, does it himself and it works. And to have him do it again, and the guy hits caps lock… CW says something and the superior snaps on him. He snapped back.
When he got back to his station, he gets the call that he fucked up, and that he just volunteered for a deployment to Alaska, where he sent the next few months.
Not really related, but I thought it was a funny story.
spoiler
Don’t know if it is the case for America, but where I live, people don’t even touch the army with a pole unless they are raised in army families or particularly patriotic families. Even though it is a great employer - both for civilians and soldiers roles - it is regarded as a place people “fail into,” a job we apply for when we fail to secure training or work in the civilian world.
If any of this rings true for the culture where you live, you do deserve the respect. You looked into a profession that most people are too scared to even consider, and found your way to make a contribution. You did skilled work that many of the soldiers were either not smart enough, too busy to do, or just unwilling to train for. Every time you clocked in and sat down in front of a keyboard you were doing valuable work that helps to keep your army functional, and presenting as a formidable force.
And, you actually said in your comment, they asked you to “just sit under your desk if things got heated” - this means there legitimately was some risk of your workplace coming under fire, even if it’s probably super small. That’s exactly what people are so afraid of when they think about working in the army.
The way I see it, working for the army is putting yourself forward and saying “I’m willing to do things to defend my country,” to varying degrees, but you did that before any of those other civilians did. I just think it’s important you appreciate that. It’s in the same vein that people who work in really essential roles like teaching should be proud of themselves and be celebrated more.
That was also the case in America pre 9/11, its also when thanking people for their service become very common. Bumper sticker magnets with the phrase were a huge fad.
When I was a young lad, I thought to join the Air Force. My dad was in the Air Force and he was happy to hear it. I rode an hour on a bus to the place, went through all the tests, etc. and near the end learned that I’d be a helicopter mechanic. I didn’t want to be a mechanic I wanted to be a pilot, that’s why I wanted to join. I didn’t bother saying that to anyone, but that’s what I wanted.
When it came time to take the pledge I remained seated. The Air Force folks who ran the place were pissed. They kicked me out the front door and didn’t offer a ride home. I had to call my dad to pick me up. My dad was a reasonable man, and kind, so he didn’t lay into me but I could tell he was very disappointed.
Looking back on it, helicopter mechanic would have been a good fit for me, I’d probably have been very good at it, and it would have been an interesting career. Had I been better prepared, I would have done it. And, my life would have been much different I’m sure. Maybe even better, I’ll never know.
(This was over 40 years ago, I don’t remember the details too well.)