Richard H. Lomax, CTRCS USN Retired, 1969-1989


For some strange reason, I told my recruiter that I wanted to be an air 
traffic controller (AC).  I guess to me it sounded like a fast-paced job 
with applicability in the civilian world.  So, I actually started my 
Navy career as an Airman Apprentice, which meant I had the green stripes 
instead of white.  This career decision, as it turns out, was evidently 
not up to me or my recruiter! Who knew?  On the detailing day, the petty 
officer asked me, "Do you need those glasses?"  I said, "Only to see 
with.  I promise to wear them to work."  Back then, ACs needed near 
perfect vision (now they need only 20/200 uncorrected/correctable to 
20/20, so, I'd still be out - my "good" eye is 20/250).  At any rate 
(pun intended), we moved on down the list to CT and I put down "I" as my 
first choice and "R" as my second choice.  One of my good buddies from 
civilian life was an "I" and he enjoyed it.  I received the highest FLAT 
score in the battalion, so I thought I was a shoo-in.  Monterey, here I 
come!  Evidently, I also did well on the INT code test.
 
Rich
 
Rich Lomax
CTRCS (Ret)
Pensacoloa, Hanza, Keflavik, Guam, Skaggs Island, Wahiawa, Edzell, CNSG HQ