Author: SgtGrit

Memorable Air Wing PFT

I was in the Wing from 1969 to 1971, that was after bootcamp, ITR and avionics schools.  We did have quarterly PFTs (Physical Fitness Test) in the Wing.  These included the 3-mile run, push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, etc., all for time.  Your time bracket depended on your age and not rank.  My fondest PFT memory was of a quarterly in 1970 at MCAS El Toro.  read more

My Marine Corps Lighter, a Zippo of Course.

I still have my trusty Zippo from down south and very proud of it. I have an old  saying on it as follows. "When this Marine dies he will rot in the ground like any other f' ing animal." I broke the top off by accident and The Zippo Co. was nice enough to fix it and send it back to me. They're guarantee. read more

Airwingers

1974 While stationed at Camp Pendleton’s Airfield Flight line as Aircrew on “E” model Hueys, I was sent to get my license to drive a jeep. After the classroom portion, we went to do the practical exam by going four wheeling up in the mountains there on base. Rough job but somebody had to do it, anyway it was getting to be about lunch time and we found ourselves up in the San Onofre area of the base.

We drove down out of the hills to the main road there and pulled into the PX parking lot. For those unfamiliar with the Marine Air Wing and Crew Chiefs in particular… we did not wear normal Marine Corps sateen green utilities. We wore green Nomex Flight suites, no starch in our Covers (flammable), brown Leather Flight Jackets, black steel toed Flight Boots, no polish (flammable) and no blouse on the pant legs, and we had quite a bit of mud on us from four wheeling. For you East coast Marines San Onofre was part of MCRD Recruit Training and was used for (ITS) Infantry Training School. read more