AMTA Article?

The majority of my USAF years were spent as an Airborne Maintenance Technician on Reconnaissance aircraft (RC-135s and C-130s). We have an organization that came together many moons ago that I joined around twenty years ago or so: AMTA. Somewhere along the line I did a Lifetime Membership, simply because I didn't want the hassle of annual dues and I was a believer in it and the funds are used for charity.  There is a quarterly paper that comes out (Wirebender) and they are always asking for members to contribute content.  Considered it a few times, but .... wasn't sure what content that would be.  Well, two days ago I saw the request and a light bulb popped up .... so ...   here we go.  May not make it to print with them, but ... hey .. I've got my own 'publication?'

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Joined the AMTA quite a few moons ago and sadly have only made two of the Reunions.  I’ve always meant to make more of them, but … life always seems to get in the way.  I often see the names of many of the folks I flew with in the Wirebender and regret not going.   Getting out back in ’99, I still reside in Greenville where I retired from the Det down here mod’ing the RC-135s and still have ties to the program in my civilian life.  I’ve worked for several companies over the last 23 years that provide equipment and software for the program.  So, at some level I’m still connected with Big Safari. Some of my best friends are/were AMTs back in the day.  Still, I miss the camaraderie of the old days. On a positive note, I’ve found another organization that provides some of that, as have some of our fellow AMTs.

I’ve been riding motorcycles for about 40 years and gotten pretty die hard about it the last thirteen or so. I ride multiple brands spending most of my time on an Indian Motorcycle.  The rest on a Harley Davidson, the brand that most lean towards.  Back in ’15 I was at a local watering hole on my bike when a Retired Marine rolled up with his girlfriend wearing a vest with a back patch I’d only seen once before; “Combat Vets Association.”   Well, it got my attention.  Fellow AMT and close friend Mark Kennedy was with me that day and we got to asking him a few questions.  This was not a Motorcycle Club, but an Association of like-minded riders that all had received credit for their ‘combat time’ in the military. Sound familiar? We quickly realized that those Air Medals we all coveted in the early days (hey, they even helped many of us get promoted with the additional points they got us) suddenly was our ticket into this world.  Certain wars/operations also qualified us. Those of you that were in Viet Nam, have that ticket. My time in Panama during Just Cause and all those deployments in the early 90’s to Riyadh, provided that ticket.  The list goes on.  Well, our interest was piqued. 

Well, life gets in the way and it’d be another two years before I got off the sidelines and looked closer into it all.  After a few meetings, I found I enjoyed being around these guys, and a few women, that had truly done their time.  Most were Army, with the other services being the minority.  Makes for a lot of good fun and ribbing of each other. Lot of these folks, especially the younger ones are dealing with PTSD to some degree and their Bikes and our Brotherhood/Sisterhood provide them some comfort.  Well, after a few months I found myself patched in.  Shortly after that Mark Kennedy joined the fray.  Soon, Dave Vestal. So now with a Chief in the mix with us Senior NCO’s we have a lil fun with the Army boys and all their USAF ‘chair force’ jokes.  Hell, I’d argue we have some of the better stories.  After the jesting, few will admit they loved coming to the USAF chow halls and were in disbelief of how good we all had it.  Many will quietly tell you they probably picked the wrong service!  But the bottom line is we all did our time.  Some more than others.  But we all found ourselves in harms way to some degree.  Whether it was a grunt in some god forsaken hell hole fighting Iraqis or Afghanis, an AMT flying above it all in harms way so the crew could provide critical intel to the ground pounders, or during the cold war with a MIG off the wing of your RJ … we all paid our dues. And in the mix, is nothing but Respect for each other. 

Have to admit, there is nothing like at the beginning of a meeting dozens .... hundreds ... sometimes thousands (our National annual meetings) of your fellow men and women whom you served with standing, facing the American Flag and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance; before EVERY single meeting.  Looking around we’ve got folks with Viet Nam era patches to young ones with Afghanistan patches.  Just last weekend ran into a young USAF MSgt out of Dyess whom is about to retire.  Retire???   Son of a Bitch looked like a young kid, which means…. I’m getting old!  But every time I ride with these folks, reminds me of my roots.  All those long missions.  All those damned TDYs.  All those great memories, with some of you all whether it was in Omaha, Panama, Kadena, Crete, Athens, Riyadh, England… or my last tour in Greenville.  Those days got me to where I am today, in civilian life and … with the Combat Vets Motorcycle Association (CVMA).

Which brings up the question. Do you ride a Motorcycle?  If so …  you know what I’m hinting at.  You may want to check out the CVMA.  Your deployments and or Air Medals may qualify you to join an organization of almost 20,000 active members. I’m a life member of it and … the AMTA as well.  As I’m writing this, I’m realizing I’m overdue for an AMTA reunion and need to mark my calendar.  Really need to get there and rekindle some old friendships; pick up where we maybe left off. Maybe ... create more?  Hopefully … ... ride my motorcycle to it?

Rick Lossner