I just arrived at my first duty station, and along with the typical issue items I happened to be given a camelbak Motherlode. HOW SWEET IS THAT?!?!?! I just recently bought a smaller more streamlined camelbak that only carries 1.5L which is great for shorter rides and now have this 3L mammoth bag.

K, sorry, christmas is over for now, k thanks :D

I want to take the time to personally Thank You for your service to our country.

Now with that said, the Motherlode is pretty sweet, the only setback is the added weight. Mine holds 2 liters, so if you think about it, it is like putting a 2 liter bottle of Pepsi in your backpack. It doesn't look like that, in that slim bag, but it really adds to your rides. I try now to just do water bottles on my shorter rides and save the Camelbak for the long hauls.

You don't have to fill it all the way up.

thanks man, like I said, I love my job!!!

You work with BUFFs?!?! Sweeeeetttt! I have some friends that just got stationed there at Barksdale AFB. I'm an air force brat by the way, my dad is still in. Nice to know Uncle Sam is helping out the cyclists!

Hey Chief! I was a Crew Chief on C-141's back in the early seventies. I'm glad you like your job. I had a great time doing my job, but being it was right after the Nam war, morale was real low, and it seemed everyone hated us. Anyway I have no regrets, except one. And that's what I'm here to tell ya. It's one of those, "if Ida known then what I know now" kinda things.
You like to stay in shape right? You like fun jobs right? Well right now your still having fun twisting safety wire, throwing wheel chocks and burning J57's, but after a while, you may find yourself getting bored.
Think about crosstraining into one of them cool jobs like Combat Control, or Para-Rescue. I had the chance to go for Combat Control ( I shoot really well), but I turned it down. Sometimes I really regret that.
Nothing wrong with being a Crew Chief though. It will prepare you for Aviation jobs. In that case, Get your A&P license, A Bachelors degree, and as much computer crap as you can stand. As a matter of fact aviation engineers who can run CAD/UNIGRAPHICS programs are hot right now.

C-141s are some popular birds still to this day, its a shame the reserves are finally ditching them as well.

Yeah, those jobs are demanding. But I always thought it would be so cool to HALO behind enemy lines and designate targets for the fighter jets. And being married would put a damper on the lifestyle, or visa versa.
Them old C141's where thirty years old when I worked on them in the 70's. It's time for them to retire. Of course my attitude about that is because now I'm a Quality Control Auditor for Boeing, building the new C-17. It is one awesome bird. Kinda like a C-141 on steroids. Problem is, I've never once had the opportunity to fly on one, and I never will.
That B-52 is an oldy too, but it's still the only bird in the world that can do what it does. I've heard stories from Nam vets who've been on the ground when a B-52 drops its load. They say there is nothing more demoralizing to an enemy than when the world around you explodes and all you see in the air is a tiny, very distant vapor trail. I went to tech school on B-52's at Chanute AFB Illinois. That base is closed now.
You know, you CAN become an officer and still have fun: http://www.specwarnet.com/vehicles/SOLL.htm
And look at all the neat toys you get to play with: http://www.specwarnet.com/americas/cc.htm
I was what they called a "Dedicated Crew Chief", which basically meant wherever my plane went, I went with it, which was a lot of fun sometimes.

The 141s were definately old, hell, they were a good bit older than the B-52s, I have met a handfull of the last reservist crew chiefs to be tasked with the C-141 and they all love it. There are some exciting things on the horizon, but for now its the same as always. You know how it is. How is the Boeing thing working out for you? I would like to think that after 20 years and some college time I could try to get a job with them for a second retirement.

Mike, I only did four years in the AF, and a couple years at a Navy Shipyard in Charleston SC. I was happy at the shipyard, but Granada happened and all the navy ships left the harbor, so I was layed off. I beebopped around doing piddly jobs for a couple years, until Mcdonnell Douglas hired me. Then Boeing bought out MDC, and I've been with the company for twenty years now. Definately had its ups and downs, but overall I can't complain. It's one of the best paying jobs around for someone with my lack of education.
If I were in your shoes, I'd definately go for the commision, and then try to get assigned to a newer aircraft, such as the C-17. Companies like Boeing are always looking for people who have kept up with technology over the years.
With a commision, BA degree, and twenty years experience, they'd probably put you in some sort of management position. Another thing we're always looking for is trainers and engineers.
Don't stop with maintenance officer. Keep going and get a degree in aviation engineering too. And consider avionics/electronics too. Them guys always seem to get the sweetest deals.
I can't really advise you on a path or direction, because there are so many to choose from. All I can say is, maintain a positive attitude, keep your eye out for opportunities, and maintain a proactive stance on your education (and stay out of the NCO club).
Another thing is, the defense aviation field is real fickle sometimes, and seems to be directly related to whoever is the president at the time to sign the defense appropriations bill. When I was in the AF, Jimmy Carter was president. One time none of us could cash our paychecks, because Carter wouldn't sign the defense bill. And that was right after my return from Beirut (STAY AWAY!). That really torqued us off.
But you are young enough to go in any direction you want. But I can guarantee one thing though. Whatever you do, it will most certainly involve computer skills. Get all you can.
Good luck!

Don, I really appreciate the words of advice. I look foward to actually taking advantage of the opportunities ahead of me, for now, its an off day. So its time to get to the couch and watch some tv.

Mike, more immediate advice!
Since you just reported to your first assignment, you'll no doubt go through a little hazing.
Don't let anybody send you to the hangar for certain things like, three yards of flight line, or a gallon of propwash, left handed crescent wrench, or anything like that. Don't let anybody tell you to check the voltage on the vortex generators either. They're little airfoils glued to the wing surfaces that are supposed to generate airflow vortices, not electricity.
Another one to look for is adjusting the oleo strut extension on the main landing gear. I fell for that one. I had to be at the top of the strut to loosen the schrader valve to let air out to lower the strut. A guy standing underneath is supposed to tell you when to tighten it up. Keep an eye on him. If he suddenly leaves the gear well, immediately shut the valve. If you don't you will find yourself covered in hydraulic fluid. Because there is no separation of air and oil in the strut, once all the air leaves, the oil will follow, and it happens very fast. I'm not positive, but I think the B-52 is set up the same way.

LMAO, actually this SSgt who is supposed to be 'helping me' has been trying all the time to get me to look up the voltage output of the vortex generators. They teach us that one in tech school, so I wasnt likely to fall for it, however he insisted and another airman backed him up and insisted that they create static electricity, still, I refuse to look it up. They havnt gotten me yet, but there isnt anything I can do if they break out the duct tape.