Employment Summary: Robert C Parker (USAF)

I spent 12 years in the Air Force, from 1980 to 1992. My technical training was in Biloxi Mississippi, at Kessler AFB. I was there from the late summer of 1980 to the late spring of 1981. I completed the Airborne Command Post Communications Equipment Apprentice course. I left Kessler AFB with a 3-level in the the career field of 328x5, which was later changed to the AFSC of 455x6

A good link to learn about the Airborne Command Post is here.

I was at two active duty bases, Ellsworth AFB, near Rapid City, SD and Hickam AFB in Honolulu, HI. I spent 2 tours at Ellsworth, from 1981 to 1984 and 1988 to 1992. I was in Hawaii from 1984 to 1988. I received my first and only Commendation Medal from the Air Force for my work here. I also received my 5 skill level in the 328x5 AFSC. During this time I worked only in the shop and became very adept at repairing radio receivers.

I left active duty in the Air Force as a communications electronics technician servicing computer and communications electronics equipment from the U.S.A.F. Airborne Command Post (EC-135) in 1992. Since we won the cold war, the Air Force eliminated many positions, including mine. Since I spent so much time in the guts of communications equipment, the natural progression for me was to finish my electrical engineering degree. I took three years to get my B.S.E.E. degree from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City, SD. Rapid is the location of Ellsworth Air Force Base.