The salute from my DI at my AOCS commissioning.
Completing my Fam 13 "safe for solo" flight in primary.
Getting jets after primary.
Being told "you're a qual" getting shot back to shore in flight school.
Getting my wings.
Being told "you're a qual" after my last night trap in the FRS.
The clearing turn after a morning simo launch off the waist cat while my skipper was shot off the bow on a clear (relatively) calm day north of the Arctic Circle.
Breaking at the bow to a "SHIB OK" (eventually outlawed in our air wing).
Being given the keys to an airplane and per diem to go anywhere in the country I wanted provided I could find a student.
Bringing a flight into the 800' carrier break at over 500 KIAS at any airfield that would allow it.
Fly/Lift/Drink/Repeat Air to Air det (especially in NQX).
The puzzlement in my mind when a former Topgun instructor reservist said he enjoyed going to his civilian airline job more than his reserve fighter job when we were on det in NQX.
Understanding what he meant (though not totally agreeing) when I got my airline job.
Fly/Lift/Drink/Repeat Cargo det with the reserves in Sicily.
O Clubs around the world.
Working with the finest people I'll ever know.
Originally Posted by
LivingInMEM
My best memories are of those times I posted "There I Was" stories on APC, and the Mil vs Civ discussions. Those times made the 19 years thus far all worth it.
The knowledge that no matter how much I miss the good times, there were plenty of not so good times and that my post military QOL has been better than it was on active duty.