Judson Osborne:
CLASS OF 1996
Deltona High SchoolClass of 1996
Deltona, FL
University of South Florida - BusinessClass of 2007
Tampa, FL
Embry - Riddle Aeronautical UniversityClass of 2005
Daytona beach, FL
Community College of the Air ForceClass of 2002
Montgomery, AL
Daytona Beach Community CollegeClass of 1998
Daytona beach, FL
Judson's Story
Military
I joined the Air Force in '99 after floundering a bit in college (UF). I couldn't see going into debt w/ student loans to earn a degree that would earn me 20,000 a year. So, I signed up for the AF for 6 years to feed and cloth myself and to pay off some debt. I went in guaranteed for the job of Air Traffic Controller. I didn't know anything about the job - but as it turns out I'm a pretty good match for the job and I really enjoy it.
My first base was Eglin AFB in Florida. I got a chance to work RADAR (just like the movie Pushing Tin)at what many say is the most challenging air traffic faciliy in all of the DoD. Next, I was assigned to Langley AFB in Virginia where I got to work tower. I liked it too, but it was/is completely different from RADAR. While I was there I deployed to Iraq and spent 4 months over there working with the Army.
My m...Expand for more
ost memorable military moment is probably my F15 ride. I actually got to fly a little bit too. Holy geez. Think Ace Combat 5 multiplied by 1000. My proudest military moment was probably about 2 months before I separated when I got an aircraft save. I was credited with saving a pilot's life and one, maybe two 35 million dollar aircraft.
Now that I'm out, I plan to continue to work air traffic assuming that I can ever get the FAA to hire me. Still working on that one...
All in all it was a good experience. I came out better off than how I joined. If I had it to do over again, I probably would have only joined for 4 years instead of 6. I had accomplished all my goals (Staff Sergeant, 7 skill level) at 3 1/2 years, so the last 2 1/2 were really, really slow in passing.
The time passes even slower when you are a small blue fish swimming in a sea of red.
Register for Free to view all details!
Reunions
Photos