I can find Army SPN numbers but can not locate Air Force SDN number definitions which are different from Army

I can find Army SPN numbers but can not locate Air Force SDN number definitions which are different from Army

I checked my discharge after reading the "spin codes" messages. Mine has SDN 411 convenience of the government. I came back from Vietnam with three months left on my enlistment in 1967 so I got a three month early out.
I found a list of the spin codes on a web site, link below.
SDN 411 is returnee from overseas duty. Correct, in my case.
http://www.landscaper.net/discharg.htm#List%20of%20Spin%20Codes

I checked my discharge after reading the "spin codes" messages. Mine has SDN 411 convenience of the government. I came back from Vietnam with three months left on my enlistment in 1967 so I got a three month early out.
I found a list of the spin codes on a web site, link below.
SDN 411 is returnee from overseas duty. Correct, in my case.
http://www.landscaper.net/discharg.htm#List%20of%20Spin%20Codes

Received this tidbit via e-mail from Roy Hartnell (hartnell@aim.com) concerning a newspaper article about the former Cambria AFS that appeared in today's San Luis Obispo (CA) Tribune: http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/story/152643.html . The article is mainly about asbestos there, and its allegedly illegal disposal.

Received this tidbit via e-mail from Roy Hartnell (hartnell@aim.com) concerning a newspaper article about the former Cambria AFS that appeared in today's San Luis Obispo (CA) Tribune: http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/story/152643.html . The article is mainly about asbestos there, and its allegedly illegal disposal.

On my DD214s the SDN appears in section 11c, Reason and Authority.

On my DD214s the SDN appears in section 11c, Reason and Authority.

RE the SDN codes on DD214, where would these be located? I have an original 'old' DD214 from my first separation in 1975. This was just a single page form. I went in my old file and checked it out, but there were no numbers or codes anything like those listed at the sites mentioned below. Also, no specifically marked spaces or lines for these items either. Anyone familiar with where on form I should look? Thanks...

I am really excited about discovering this web page. Suspect I will spend many long hours reminiscing about some of the good times past. I spent my first remote overseas tour at the 922nd AC&W Squadron at Cartwright, Labrador in 1955-56. Spent a semi-remote tour at Baudette, Minnesota in 1960-61. Another remote tour at Tin City, Alaska in 1961-62 and finally a semi-remote tour at Bucks Harbor, Maine in 1969-71. Spent 24 years in the US Air Force and retired as a Chief Master Sergeant in 1978.

Bob you perked my interest with the DD214 bit,there is a # I have 2 DD214s one has SDN 203 that # means end of enlistment , 2nd DD214 has a # 704?? after says para 2 AFR39-14 ??? worked for FAA never had a problem so it must be OK?? where do you find def. of SDN numbers?? only find SPD numbers

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/theorderlyroom/l/blcode1.htm
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/theorderlyroom/a/code2.htm

From both pages:

QUOTE: These codes are contained in your military records and may be annotated on various military separation documents. These codes are subject to change, and the Department of Defense will no longer allow the military services to release the meanings of these codes to the general public. The below definitions were obtained before this prohibition went into effect. UNQUOTE

Sure was a joy to find this site. before my days in my belove EC-121,s I was inthe 690th AC&W Squadron The 719th AC&W and finally Tuslog Det 8 . It sure was great to see so many of my old comrads.Those sure were the good old days. Yes, I even look bak at those remote tours as great time.

I have just been made aware of something I never knew of and want to
pass this on to all veterans. Since the 1940's through somewhere about
1975, the military coded many DD214 forms (sometimes referred to as
discharge papers) with a thing called a "Spin Code". It carried a lot
of weight when seeking employment with firms dealing with government
contracts, and many other civilian companies as well. It doesn't matter
how many awards you received, number of years served or where you
served. This code carried a lot of weight.

These "Spin Codes" qualified your discharge, even if was honorable. I
first saw this story on a website and decided to check my own DD214 to
see if such a code exists. To my amazement, it is there!

Look at your own DD214 form and see if you see a "Separation Designator
Number (SDN)" for USAF veterans, "Separation Program Number (SPN)" for
Army vets. I don't know what the other branches of service used.

I suggest you use Google to find out what the 3 character Spin codes
mean. While some are logical, some are VERY derogatory! While the
code on my DD214 is okay, I am rather upset that this system was used
without my knowledge, and could have cause irreparable harm to many
veterans returning to the civilian world having served their country
honorably.

Please do not take my word for this but check it out yourself.

Sincerely,
Robert Caggiano
Fortuna AFS scopedope 62-64.

I'm a former scope dope with 28 years service as a 276XX. Service from Aug 1957 till Jul 1985.

Hi out there. Anyone knowing me feel free to contact me vis e-mail,
Letter, or Phone Call. I'm:
Delbert G. Chiles
3600 Gold Crest Lane
Rosamond, CA 93560-6804
(661)256-1281
I got transfered from the Sacramento Army Depot to Edwards AFB when
the Depot closed. I made this move from Sacramento to Southern Calif
in 1993, and have been at this address since 1995. I sure would like
to hear from someone.

SeeYa;
Del Chiles
delfel@peoplepc.com

I was at OTIS AFB in 1955 to 1959 in the elect shop for the connies Than went to ground power for the last 6 mo. before discharged.
I never did see the new barracks, Had a new bed though.

Windy or anyone who has a question about Cape Newenham can go to the website www.msnusers.com/capenewenham there are over 234 members from all the years, plus over 2000 pictures,
bob

Windy or anyone who has a question about Cape Newenham can go to the website www.msnusers.com/capenewenham there are over 234 members from all the years, plus over 2000 pictures,
bob

636th @ Condon, OR
I was browsing through the October 2007 issue of 'Northwest Travel' magazine today and came across a feature on Condon, Oregon on page 27. The article, two or three pages in length, briefly mentions the old radar base, and includes a photo of the wind farm which has been erected on the bluff near the site, as well as new homes for sale.
Take a look if you're interested.

I entered the Air Force in jan-65,Boot camp at Lackland AFB, Tech school at Sheppard AFB-3755th ,then 777 radar sq 2 1/2 Yrs, then 738th radar sq till it closed in sept-1968. recieved an early out because of the down sizing due to returning nam vets. Im almost 61 yrs old,and in good shape. I'd gladly go back if the would let me put a bullet in the head of UBL.

stationed with the 608th, K53, Jan.'57 thru Jan.'58. Bangor ADS at Topsham Maine Feb.'58 until discharge Feb.'60 Visited Topsham with fellow vet of "Bankmud", Gary Crittenden, we watched as the blockhouse was being dismantled. (see photo)

My dad, Eugene Lynch, worked as a welder on TT2, maybe for a few years around 1955. (Okay, I was 3 at the time!)
Anyway, he died in 1961, in Liberia. Yes, the man travelled alot, worked all over the world from the Burma Road in the 1930s to Saudi Arabia and back again - taking time to serve in the Army, Belgium, then the Pacific Theater.
Anyway, he broke his ribs on TT2 and had to be rescued(?). Anyone with memories or pictures, I am just trying to piece together a man I barely remember.
These sites are phenemonal!! I had no clue the importance or scope of them!

Bless you all.
Gail

On 9/11 - six years later -- all I can think of is that if the defense network we worked so hard to build and operate hadn't been scrapped by those fools in Washington in the 1990s, we could have stopped that second plane from crashing into the World Trade Center. Air traffic controllers watched it fly down the Hudson River for half an hour, knowing where it was going, and there was no one to call to stop it.

As I understand, one of the biggest concerns these days is that a nuclear weapon might be accidently jettisoned from an aircraft, or lost in an aircraft mishap, and then have that weapon fall into the hands of some terrorist group either here in the continental U.S. or abroad. Consequently, accountability and surveillance are at much heightened levels. We all remember what occurred back on 9-11-2001 -- now imagine what those same terrorists would have done if they had had one or more nuclear weapons at their disposal, with the means to transport them to a major U.S. city. I shudder to think about it.

Regarding Tom Page remarks concerning cancer rate of persons who were stationed near camp Hanford, Wa. I agree that it may not be possible to prove that contamination from the nuclear site caused cancer. However, there are a fairly high number of veterans of the 637th AC&W Squadron, Othello, Wa., who have suffered from lung cancer and colon cancer. In 56, when I was stationed there, I was issued a dosimeter to wear 24/7,along with my dogtags. Like everyone else who was there, I wore it until I was discharged in 1960. When I turned it in, as far as I know, it was s--- canned. Not once in the 42 months I served there, did anyone inspect the device. Makes it kind of hard to claim radiation exposure as a cause of the terrible diease, does it not?

If were not going to have nukes over populated areas what happens if
we go to DEFCON 2 or 1. The nuke weapons are in the US so we have to
fly them out. Does this negate the standing order.

I was surprised when I read the story of the Air Force commander being relieved of duty because he allowed B-52s to overfly U.S. territory with nuclear weapons on board. What's the big deal? During the Cold War, I'm sure the B-52s and B-47s that were on alert status all those years weren't carrying popcorn in their bomb bays. Was carrying nukes back then OK, but not OK now? Maybe others out there can add some insight into this issue.

John, my understanding from the material I read yesterday on the Air Force Association site was that the person relieved of duty was the Munitions Squadron Commander. His being relieved had more to do with how the munitions apparently got removed from storage without the required paper trail, i.e., probably a signature that was required for accountability was missing.

Just read about how Radomes Members are showing their USAF heritage with distinctive license plates and decals on their vehicles. I noted that "RADOMES" and "RADOME" are already spoken for in Michigan!

Gentalmen the problem with the NUC weapons is,only the President can authorize the up loading of Nuc weapons. This all falls under the Human Reliable program. President Regan sign the agreement with Russia" no nuc weapons over populated areas.Two man control was ignored.

Last Tuesday I showed Norbert Haas and his family around Calumet Air Force Station. Norbert had been stationed there in 1954, and had not been back since then. During the last several years the station has been without any tenants other than those with antennas on the old 26 tower. Some of the buildings are still in relatively good shape but others have been broken into and access is quite easy. Fortunately since Keweenaw County now owns the old base, the main road is fenced and locked, so there is little vandalism.

This time we probed into the innards of what may have been the Comm Center, adjacent to the 26 and the height towers. It appeared the building had an inside, separate highly secure building, with what appeared to be a blast door. This inner building also contained an inner room with about 80 or so comfortable movie-theater seats! The seats were all still in place, and there was a stage and there were projection ports in the back of the room, like you would find in a movie theater.

The doors to this room were equipped with copper finger stock, so as to make an RF-proof ground when closed. HVAC equipment was extensive, and much of it remained in place. There was also evidence of internal standby power generation equipment, even though the base had its own standby power as well.

Perhaps someone who was stationed either at Calumet or another base where this sort of building, and theater existed could explain its function.

Thanks...
Tom Scanlan

Recently, I was reminded of the fact we don't have any/many
Height-Finder radars protecting us. It is presumed that all acft
will have accurate alt-encoding transponders in all acft and they
will be 'on'and providing altitude when interrogated...Is there
such a thing as a phased-array' HF? This wud be electronically-turned [azimuth] and 'nodded'up-n-down at a higher speed than older,
mechanical rigs. A nice, constant color-screen [oriented vertical-
ly?] wud display [like modern weather and defense radars]. A pro-
gram wud allow 'clicking'a target on the search set and the new
HF wud quickly find & 'associate' the search and HF? If a friendly
loses its transponder, FAA/NORAD folk cud 'associate' and desig-
nate both with flight/registry/track ID/etc, even if the transpon-
der has failed [or hijackers or dope-smugglers turn it off]? If
the search and HF antennas are close together, software wud keep
them from 'frying' eachother? Bonus: The phased-array HF cud be set
to 'scan' [around, 180 degrees away from its associated search ra-
dar and it cud 'catch' unidentified targets, warn the center, and
assign-relate the target's [or several targets'] identity code[s]?
I think something like this wud be very handy for FAA and NORAD
purposes and help interceptors fly up to check 'em out, or enhance
collision-avoidance. One of these electronic HFs cud be setup and
quickly calibrated and turned loose. Events like Oshkosh and busy
air traffic facilities of all types cud make good use of this? Do
we have such a set [perhaps both fixed and mobile versions]?..
[Aaron].

Re Aaron Allen's entry below. Height-finding (altitude-determinating) capabilities exist on ARSR-4 and AN/FPS-117 model radars (and certain mobile radars). Reportedly, the altitude accuracy is not as good as what was achieved by our old AN/FPS-6 /-90 and AN/FPS-26 nodding height-finder radars ... but is better than nothing. ARSR-4 radars are deployed at FAA joint-use long-range radar sites around the periphery of the CONUS (plus at Kaala AFS, HI; Mt. Santa Rosa, GU; and Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, CU). AN/FPS-117 radars are deployed at Alaskan long-range radar sites (AC&W and NWS), plus Kokee AFS, HI, and Punta Salinas, PR. AN/FPS-117 radars are also in use in Canada at NWS radar sites and at the four coastal radar sites. The four AN/FPS-117 radars in Iceland were recently turned over to the Icelandic government who reportedly will continue operating the two southern sites (H-1 and H-3), and share data with NATO. AN/FPS-117 radars are also used in various overseas sites, e.g., Germany, as are 3D Hughes Air-Defense Radars, or HADRs. So, the answer is, ''yes,'' radars with height-finding capability are still in use by the US -- just not the old nodding height-finder radars themselves (however, it is possible that some foreign governments might still use them {?}).

Just a reminder on site rosters--if you see a mistake or
missing item pls msg me and I'll fixit...Pls remember ur
middle inits, AFSC/Job Title, Grade/Rank, current email..
Aaron.

I served at Ft. Fisher AFS as a Security Policeman in 1968/69 prior to going to Bien Hoa AB in Viet Nam. If anyone remembers me drop me an EMAIL at douglaswarmke@yahoo.com

I spent four years of my life at this site. 1955-1959

I went through Lackland for basic training then to Keesler AFB from March to December 1968 - 3394 student squadron. My first assignment was Palermo AFS, NJ, from Jan 1969 until it closed in May/June 1970. I was reassigned then to Gibbsboro AFS, NJ, until I was separated in January 1972. I guess I fought the war of NJ.

My dad was stationed at Cape Newenham in Alaska in the early 1970s. I was interested in writing about his adventures while he was there, such as the time when there was an 11 day storm and there was nothing to eat except hot dogs and mustard. I was just trying to find some details about his time there to give my stories some verisimilitude.

I was at Mt Hebo, from June 1963 to January 1966. enjoyey the view and not necessarily the snow