Why I Didn't Leave the Post

nick0094

10-Year Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2009
Messages
93
Today, my CAP squadron was assisting the United States Air Force Band at their concert and Constitution Hall. I was supposed to guard the control center. The squadron commander said he would send someone to take my place halfway through the show so I could see some of the concert. The show was 3/4 over and noone showed. Now, it turns out that there was some miscommnunication and I could've left, but my orders were to stand there until someone came to releive me, so thats what I did. I ended up standing around for 3 hours. I could've sat down in this big comfy chair, but I felt that I was supposed to be doing something and I didn't want to misrepresent CAP by loafing around while wearing the uniform. Lately, I've been wondering why I actually want to go to USAFA, and while I was standing there, I figured it out. I could've left early and joined everyone else inside where it was warm, but I knew that someone gave me a job to do and they were depending on me in a way. It was a special sense of responsibility, and thats one of the reasons I want to go to the Academy, to be a part of something greater than myself, protect America, and not insult the "long blue line". :smile: If that's not a good reason, I can honestly say I don't really know what is.
 
As a full-bird colonel from the air force told me a couple months ago, it takes a certain level of maturity to realize what you want to do with your life and to get yourself straight on that path. Congrats kid, you've got it and that was a very sweet post.

Now, stop bragging and making the rest of us look bad HAHA! :thumb:
 
Just wondering. Was the event fun still? Did you get to hear any beautiful moozak?
 
Air Force calls it the "long blue line" too? So does the Coast Guard.

Interesting, Coast Guard would consider "long" as 219 years.
Air Force considers it 62 years.




No, I kid, I kid.

Sounds like you're thinking right, keep thinking about "why you want it", that goes along way to help when "the going gets tough". :thumb:
 
Just wondering. Was the event fun still? Did you get to hear any beautiful moozak?

I saw most of it from the control room, but that was just like watching it on TV. Eventually someone came to take my spot so I got to see it up close, which was cool. I also shook hands with and had a brief conversation with the secretary of the Air Force, which I think was pretty cool.:biggrin:
 
Today, my CAP squadron was assisting the United States Air Force Band at their concert and Constitution Hall. I was supposed to guard the control center. The squadron commander said he would send someone to take my place halfway through the show so I could see some of the concert. The show was 3/4 over and noone showed. Now, it turns out that there was some miscommnunication and I could've left, but my orders were to stand there until someone came to releive me, so thats what I did. I ended up standing around for 3 hours. I could've sat down in this big comfy chair, but I felt that I was supposed to be doing something and I didn't want to misrepresent CAP by loafing around while wearing the uniform. Lately, I've been wondering why I actually want to go to USAFA, and while I was standing there, I figured it out. I could've left early and joined everyone else inside where it was warm, but I knew that someone gave me a job to do and they were depending on me in a way. It was a special sense of responsibility, and thats one of the reasons I want to go to the Academy, to be a part of something greater than myself, protect America, and not insult the "long blue line". :smile: If that's not a good reason, I can honestly say I don't really know what is.

JROTC?
 
Air Force calls it the "long blue line" too? So does the Coast Guard.

Interesting, Coast Guard would consider "long" as 219 years.
Air Force considers it 62 years.

I know you are joking, and that this has nothing to do with the thread, but there hasn't really been a "Cost Guard" for 219 years, as I'm sure you know that better than I. I'm sure you meant Coast Guard and its antecedents (Revenue Cutter Service and Life Saving Service et. al), which, in fairness to the USAF (my former service) would let use our antecedent organizations as well. That would date to the Aeronautical Division of the Army Signal Corps in 1907. You guys are still older, though, obviously. But, you're right, the USAF declares itself to be 62 years old, and we sprang from another military branch so maybe we can't use our Army time in dating our history. Then again, there were no powered aircraft until 1903, so we are the new kid on the block no matter which way you look at it.

Incidentally, my great-grandfather was what they called a "station keeper" with the US LSS on Block Island, RI in the early part of this century. he transitioned to the USCG when they absorbed them (1912, I think?). Crazy stuff; the LSS/CG guys used to row little boats out to the wrecks from the surf...I have some old pictures. Over 500 rescues from wrecks in his career (which spanned until the early 1930s).....amazing stuff, I've always had mad props for the CG dudes.
 
I

Incidentally, my great-grandfather was what they called a "station keeper" with the US LSS on Block Island, RI in the early part of this century. he t.

I'm a moron, I meant the early part of last century. Also, clearly there has never been a "Cost Guard," which sounds like a special at K-mart. I shall keep a better eye on my typing.
 
Of course, if I REALLY traced it back, it would be to 1789, the same year the War Department was created. The Life Saving Service was created in 1789, and the "system of cutters" which later became known as the "Revenue Marine" and "Revenue Cutter Service" and finally the "Coast Guard" in 1915. Of course, we'd also have to look at the fact that all members of the Revenue Cutter Service continued to service after the service was renamed in 1915. Same commandant, same Academy, same everything, just absorbed a variety of other agencies, before increasing in size 10 fold for WWII.

We would ALSO have to look at the U.S. Navy, which traces it's roots to the Continental Navy which was disbanded for 7 years. The "real" birthday would be 1797.


All of that is of course a side note to the original post.

Very cool about the Lighthouse Service relative. I've always tried to find one of their badges in antique shops....with no luck. My classmate had one on his "knick-knack shelf".
 
Back
Top