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Who am I?

Wednesday, July 22, 2009 12:01 | Jeff Bier

I was born a 3rd generation American in Queens, Long Island, New York in 1954 to an ex-Marine and his wife of  five years.    My dad was born in Brooklyn, NY (served as a Marine guard on the Battleships New York and Wisconsin and was at Iwo) and my grandfather was born in Paterson, New Jersey.  He served in the US Army Veterinarian Corp as a private during WWI and was stationed in France for a few months in 1918.  When he got back, my grandfather started a Coal and Ice business in Brooklyn which was very good.  Good enough to buy a 240 acre farm in upstate New York in the1930s.  He passed away when I was only six weeks old at the age of 62, and my mom's dad died 15 years earlier, so I never knew my grandfathers.  But I did know that my grandfather and his brother, my dad and all five of my uncles had served in the US military.   

Please read "Comments" for the rest of this story...

Comments

  • Wednesday, July 22, 2009 09:07 | Jeff Bier
    Anyway, we lived (rented) in Jamaica, Queens, NY for six years then in 1965 my folks bought their first and only house and moved to Bethpage, Nassau County, and Long Island, NY. I went to the local public schools at first, and then went to Holy Trinity High School, a new RC school built in 1968. I was in its third graduating class in 1972. I then went to college for a year at the New York Institute of Technology, but quit after my first year. I enlisted in the USAF in the summer of '74 and went to basic in Jan 1975. I then served as a Missile Maintenance Technician at Minot AFB, ND. I got out of my four-year commitment to go back to college through USAF ROTC.
    My 2.5 years in the Air Force plus a year at college already allowed me to start as a junior in college in the fall of 1977. I was commissioned a 2nd LT in May 1979, and went to Hanscom AFB, MA for my first assignment as an officer. I married my wife (Liz) in December of that year. She finished her college degree at Northeastern University, Boston, MA just before we moved to Vandenberg AFB, CA for my second assignment. There we had and raised the first two of our four children. All four are Air Force brats. Three being born at USAF Hospitals with the youngest in San Pedro, CA while I was stationed to LA AFB, CA. We stated at Vendenberg AFB from '82 to'86 and I was assigned to the 6595th Shuttle Test Group as we built the $4.5 Billion Shuttle Launch and Landing Site facilities. Only we never launched a Shuttle because of the Challenger disaster and budget cuts in the late '80s.
    But those were still the best of times for me in the service. I got to work with NASA engineers and our astronauts. I traveled a lot between LA AFB, CA and the many NASA centers. I was even Headquarters Commander for the Western Space and Missile Center for seven months.
    I was then stationed at Tyndall AFB, FL with the USAF Civil Engineering Center from '86 to '88 on loan (as it were) from my Major Command (AFSC) for a "career broading" tour. Bad move on my part. During this time, the good old USAF changed the way it promoted officers. No longer were you one of thousands that went before a board. Now your local commander had a say in it with a "Definitely Promote, Promote, or Don't Promote" vote.
    Aaah, I was a non-Civil Engineer (Systems Acquisition Officer) in a Civil Engineering HQ organization that historically had less than 40% or its O-03s promoted to O-04. Wrong place at the wrong time. It's wasn't "which three of these six captains get the "Definitely Promote" vote, but which three of these four Civil Engineering captains gets it.
    If that wasn't enough to kill my chances of promotion, then came the Gulf War in the early1990s. Promotion to Major for non-rated USAF offices fell almost 25% in those years while rated offices' rates were almost at 100%, up 20% from normal. So even though I was in the top 65%, I didn't make the cut. I fact, in my organization, all eight of us captains who had earlier time in as enlisted members we passed over. Even our Major Command (AFSC) had an all time low for former enlisted, now officers, get promote to Major.
    So in February 1992 I was forced separated due to 2x promotion passover. I had 15.25 years in and wouldn't you know it, just two years later they (USAF) came along with a 15 year early retirement program that came too late for me. That's enough of my boo-hoo, wo is me.
    I just turned 55 last month, and realized that I have been out of the Service for over 17 years now. One good thing out of all this is that my youngest son, James will be commissioned a 2nd LT in the USAF next year when he graduates from Portland State University with an EE BS. He already has earned the "Ironman" award from his encampment during last summer’s (2008) Field Training. I can't wait to get back into an O'Club for dinner and a drink. It will be 20+ years since the last time I was able to go, but well worth the wait.
    Link  •  Reply
    • Friday, July 24, 2009 10:07 | Eleanor Tobias
      Well Jeff, you have certainly had your share of ups and downs, but from your writing it shows me that it has only made you stronger and more positive! I congratulate you on that because it is a real accomplishment. There are those who would simply blame the world and be angry forever.

      Also, enjoy your first drink at the "O" club! As you said, it will be worth the wait!!

      The best to you and yours, Fran
      Link  •  Reply
      • Tuesday, July 28, 2009 17:25 | Jeff Bier
        Thanks, Fran. Now I need to talk to Al about taking the next big step of us and move out on getting government contracts for our vets in SW WA.
        Link  •  Reply
    • Monday, July 27, 2009 08:31 | Deleted user
      Jeff,

      Good stuff! Wow, Minot, I'll bet those were some cold winters. My uncle was in the AF at Cutbank, MT and the pictures that he showed us of their winters were crazy.

      Thank you for your work here at the Vancouver center and for your service to our country. I'm sorry that it ended the way that it did, but you look like you've gotten over it pretty well.

      Congratulations to you and your son for getting a BSEE. It's a tough degree to earn. I started on one, but couldn't keep up, so I ended up with a business degree.

      I look forward to getting to know you better over the next few months.

      Tim
      Link  •  Reply
      • Tuesday, July 28, 2009 17:27 | Jeff Bier
        With these past few days in the 100s, we need to get some Iced Tea into the office instead of just hot coffee. Then we can start to getting down to work like Al says.
        Link  •  Reply
    • Monday, August 31, 2009 09:15 | Taffy Dalby
      You have had excellent training and valuable experience that's so useful, and learned a great amount of patience and humility. Thank you so much for protecting my country during your service. Your son can now benefit from your wisdom and the Vet's your support and comraderie. God bless you,
      Taffy Dalby RN Orange County Coordinaotr, Operation Interdependence.
      Link  •  Reply
    • Tuesday, September 01, 2009 16:21 | James Bier
      Wow, this is really great, Dad. I'll pass on the information about this website and your organization to the fellows at my USAF ROTC detachment. Best of luck to you and the SVBRC. Hope you grow fast and often.
      Link  •  Reply
      • Friday, February 12, 2010 09:19 | Jeff Bier
        Thanks, and have some of you RORC buddies signup here and post comments.
        Link  •  Reply
  • Monday, August 31, 2009 12:28 | Sarah Bier
    This is great. Keep up the good fight and continue to help others from your experiences. I hope that the Center in Vancouver starts to take off and help local returning servicemen and women. Best of luck in the Center's and your personal growth as you move forward.
    Link  •  Reply
    • Tuesday, September 01, 2009 16:16 | Jeff Bier
      Thanks for the kind words. Keep coming back at least once a month to see what we are up to and how we are growing.
      Link  •  Reply

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