Minot Air Force Base Airman Dies on Leave

reply to post by Azrael-6


I agree with ya. Real quick though, if something happened at work bad enough for him to be charged under UCMJ he would not have been working in or around nukes. He would have been disqualified from PRP duties until the matter was cleared up.
As to being in for five years and not seeing a nuke but guarding a building with them in it that is crazy. Totally not doubting you, the army has some different ways. They freaked out when they found out that we carried our M-9's with a round chambered and on fire (SOP). This was a big deal at PSAB in Saudi, the army commander tried to get that policy taken out of our regs! Didnt happen but he still tried and we were like "whats the big deal?"
However I think it is crazy that I could be controlling entry into a restricted area with protection level one resources, and even providing close in security enforcing the two person concept as a one striper. Thats about one year in, but you couldnt even see resources like that after five. Not saying that is wrong I just kinda go with the AF policy that if you are competent and pass QC it doesnt matter how many years you have been in. I knew PLENTY of people that were in for 15 years that should not have been around sensitive resources, and you know what, they werent allowed! LOL

Originally posted by hybridx
On the other hand, people get recruited all the time as a six year commitment in SF and get TWO STRIPES, A1C, Airman first class, E-3, whatever you want to call it.
Bottom line the guy is dead and we dont know how officially. Let us stop beating it to death.

the above shows how much you know about the rank and insignias of the US AF for the record Airman Firat Class is three stripes not two and grade E4 not E3 DUH

en.wikipedia.org...

And for the record no where has it been stated he was in fact an Airman first class each and every story I read simply states airman so how can you be so sure of his rank. You can't; all you are doing is guessing just as others are assuming he committed suicede and also assume he will be interned at Arlington which to date has not been the case.





[edit on 9/18/2007 by shots]

reply to post by shots


One of the links back from the area said he was airman first class. I will look for it. there www.kxmc.com...

However, DO NOT try to tell me what rank is in the AF. I earned my stripes and I am VERY aware of what the ranking system is, and I certainly do not need WIKI to find out what it is. WIKI also states the E-3 IS airman first class. review your link

[edit on 18-9-2007 by hybridx]

Originally posted by shots

Originally posted by hybridx
On the other hand, people get recruited all the time as a six year commitment in SF and get TWO STRIPES, A1C, Airman first class, E-3, whatever you want to call it.
Bottom line the guy is dead and we dont know how officially. Let us stop beating it to death.

the above shows how much you know about the rank and insignias of the US AF for the record Airman Firat Class is three stripes not two and grade E4 not E3 DUH

en.wikipedia.org...

actually, if you would have checked that wiki a little closer, you'd realize he was correct. Airman First Class (E-3) is 2 stripes. Senior Airman (E-3) has 3. He was also right about being recruited in for 6 years, and automatically getting E-3 rank.

reply to post by hybridx


OK I waas not aware of the change in what an airman first class is now called so I appologize.

Now that we have settled he was in fact an Airman First prove he committed suicide and was or has been buried in Arlington.

reply to post by scientist

Thank you scientist. You know, I dont post much because there really isnt much that I can contribute that someone hasnt already said. My whole point is though that until we find out what happened to this guy let him rest. If he committed suicide then thats what it was, but no one knows. I was just defending the guy and that leads me to another reason why I dont post much.
People try to flame you, or prove you wrong no matter what. For what reason he wanted to argue with me about rank and my experience in the AF I dont know. There was no point in it. I respect ya still, shots, but man you obviously have a lot of experience on this blog, so post responsibly.


[edit on 18-9-2007 by hybridx]

[edit on 18-9-2007 by hybridx]

reply to post by shots

I was never here to prove he committed suicide or be buried at arlington. I posted to say until we know more let him keep what he earned. I dont care as long as people dont jump the gun and say he was involved in some big conspiracy and knew things he should not have and got killed for it. Maybe it was but there isnt anything saying there was something like that happening as much as anyone speculating that he killed himself.
The nukes got moved. PERIOD! There certainly were way more people involved in that movement that outranked him and who knew more than him so why didnt that whole movement team, MUNS troops and SF, get killed off? He got the same security briefing before the movement that a buttload of people got. He certainly wasnt privy to anything that A LOT of other people did not know, so why suspect they killed him off. If you know anything about these type of movements you would know that the ENTIRE team has to know what is going on. If he did know something that could have gotten him taken out like some speculate, I guarantee there would be basically a whole shift of SF along with a lot of MUNS troops dying off too. THAT would be when I would take notice.
Let the kid rest in peace. If we find out something that just cant be ignored then we'll go from there.

reply to post by hybridx


I was posting responsibly.
> My point was not to argue and I admittd I was wrong, I had gone on my experience in the Air force many years ago and admittedly I did not check current changes and I did appologize

My point all along was to clear up the accusations nothing more. No one knows he committed suice nor do we know he was buried in Artiulington as has been alleged. Just for the record I was not trying to drag or belittle his death that was done by thos who allege he was connected to the 5b52 incident who had not proof he even guarded ACM missles.

Check the Barksdale thread there in lies the problem those or at least one individual is making all these unfounded claims not me. I was simply trying to get the truth.

www.abovetopsecret.com...'

reply to post by shots

Cool then we both agree on the same thing. People need to stop throwing nonsense around unless they can show some proof about things.

Originally posted by shots

Originally posted by hybridx
On the other hand, people get recruited all the time as a six year commitment in SF and get TWO STRIPES, A1C, Airman first class, E-3, whatever you want to call it.
Bottom line the guy is dead and we dont know how officially. Let us stop beating it to death.

the above shows how much you know about the rank and insignias of the US AF for the record Airman Firat Class is three stripes not two and grade E4 not E3 DUH

en.wikipedia.org...

And for the record no where has it been stated he was in fact an Airman first class each and every story I read simply states airman so how can you be so sure of his rank. You can't; all you are doing is guessing just as others are assuming he committed suicede and also assume he will be interned at Arlington which to date has not been the case.





[edit on 9/18/2007 by shots]

I wanted to PM directly to shots but for the life me can't figure out half of this site and I do not intend this to be personal attack. If I've violated any of the forum rules, I apologize and accept whatever punishmene deemed necessary.

Okay, this is a little off the topic, but I have to ask shots where you got your expertise on the Air Force. I'm 50, Retired AF and to my knowledge the last rank structure change was in 1977 when they split the rank of E4 Sgt to E4 Senior Airman /Sgt after minimun requirements were met. A1C was and still is in effect since the 70's that I know of. You talk like you've been around the block yourself, but now I'm beginning to wonder if your experience is base on net knowledge (which is not bad, it's just not where I though your comments were coming from.)

As for your comment that no where was it stated that this young man was an A1C, I direct you to the Minot AFB offical page:

Airman 1st Class Todd Blue, 20, was a response force member assigned to the 5th Security Forces Squadron.

www.minot.af.mil...

Shots, from the way you have been talking, I thought you had researched this thoughly and knew something about the Air Force. Now I have my doubts. Having said all that, you have put yourself out as skeptical and that's good. We shouldn't just buy everything hook line and sinker. And to the best of my knowledge, you are correct that no where is there official word that A1C Blue commited suicide.

Don

reply to post by paraclete1

I posted my experience in the Barksdale missle thread. But again for the record I was in the AF for roughly 9 years and during that nine years I was stationed in Minot where I met and Married my wife of 43 years. I also have friends and in laws in the Minot area and very familiar with what response teams do atleast when I was assigned to Minot Rapid Response teams were individuals who responded to Missile silos which had nothing to do with B52 aircraft.

If you go back a few posts you will also see I applogized for being incorrect since I was not aware of the changes regarding Rank in the AF

[edit on 9/19/2007 by shots]

Well, looks like we've both been around the block, you're just a step or two ahead of me. I apologize if I offended, that was not my intent. On another site, I got into a discussion once with someone who talked like he'd been around the block but his facts were all wrong and it turned out he was 16 and not the person he was presenting himself to be. When you stated that an A1C was a three striper and that no one could make A1C in a year, I wondered what you basis for that statement was. If I calculated it right, you were of the era where they had a Airman 2nd Class too I believe. And maybe even in the old Basic Training Pith Helment days. I remember the films (we didn't have videos in those days). I am having trouble myself keeping up as evident on another thread. When I got out, SAC, MAC, and TAC were changed and the Wings were being re-numbered.

No harding feelings I hope, Don

[edit on 19-9-2007 by paraclete1]

It appears there are 6 people who have died from "accidents" involved with the missing nuke. I guess this is just another one of those things for the Coincidence Theorists.

LINK

[edit on 19-9-2007 by Vinadetta]

reply to post by paraclete1


No offense taken. yes back when I was in they also had the TIG/TIS requirments which had to be met before you could be promoted.

Until I had learned of the new rules I was not aware that TIG/TIS are now waved which too me sucks, but times change.

This 20 year old was an EGG(Elite Gate Guard)...he was responsible for controlling entry into the base itself(the front gate). They are typically a completely separate unit with a completely different schedule. They are not part of flightline, or silo security.

reply to post by fighting69th


However he could have had knowledge of a unit dispatched to carry out the orders. If someone was going to start moving around nukes sending in high ranking team to do it would be the best cover to keep the lid on it.

People die everyday in a number of ways. In the Air Force it too happens and normally by means of auto/motorcycle incidents. An A1C would not be involved in messing with nukes thats just plain dumb. And, what would he be allowed to know if this is a coverup..........nothing thats it.

Granted I would not want to be part of Minot when the news hit cause everyone there probably got the smack down pretty hard do to the levels involved but nothing I think would cause him to kill himself. He was on leave which in civilian terms on vacation. Minot isn't a great place to live maybe thats why who knows. Seems like it was a fight with the family, maybe alcohol was involved and it ended like that no men in black going on here.......

2 cents

reply to post by Keebie


Each individual example on its own mean nothing. It is when you find patterns that the coincidences start to form a picture, if you do not cherry pick the pixels that illuminate your canvas.

Originally posted by Keebie
People die everyday in a number of ways. In the Air Force it too happens and normally by means of auto/motorcycle incidents. An A1C would not be involved in messing with nukes thats just plain dumb. And, what would he be allowed to know if this is a coverup..........nothing thats it.

You are completely incorrect.

An A1C can be part of a load crew and load nukes, or whatever weapons are on that particular jet he is assigned to. My husband is a weapons loader crew chief....and he has an A1C on his crew. You load based on skill level (3,5,7), not rank.

ANYONE working on a load crew knows every single proceedure on obtaining the weapons from secure storage all the way up to checking the cockpit to make sure the weapons are loaded and locked, etc etc. There are checklists that everyone, including the pilot must sign off on. Not only are there checklists that each person has to follow, but you have a QA guy standing there watching. (QA = Quality Assurance). Not only that, nukes look completely different then non-nukes, due to colors and markings. Everyone who is involved in weapons knows what they look like. Even the pilot.

[edit on 14-10-2007 by greeneyedleo]

I remember when I first thread that I had this feeling something huge was about about to explode. I was in the Air Force, and I know that there are things that happen all the time in the Air Force that is just swept under the rug. Well, when I stumbled on this article, I just had to say to myself, "I knew it!" I've seen in previous posts that both Minot AFB and Barksdale AFB have been mentioned, and this Yahoo article spells out just how jacked things can be.

70 punished in accidental b-52 flight