Kendle, Gerard, 1stSgt

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE AIR FORCE.
My influence was typical of many Air Force members. My dad joined in 1950 and had many stories to tell and as a young child. I traveled with him until he retired. Even to this day my dad's eyes light up when he talks about his career and retirement from the Air Force. My dad never told me to join the Air Force but his life experiences got me to join and I had the best 24 years ever. I met the most amazing people and traveled to so many places. My first assignment was to RAF Upper Heyford in the UK with the 20th TFW. My dad was in the same unit when I was a child and so we share the same little bit of history of each of us being assigned to the same unit. While I was stationed there I was able to relive some of the good memories I had as a child. The Air Force is a big part of my family and many of my friends. Now my son is thinking of joining himself.

WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHERE DID YOU GO TO BASIC TRAINING AND WHAT UNITS, BASES, OR SQUADRONS WERE YOU ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
I started out in the Security Police and for 20 years I followed this career. Then I joined a different Air force and I became a First Sergeant for the 167th Airlift Wing/Operations group. Being a First Sergeant was the best job I ever had. The operations personnel, aircrews and staff were the best a person could work for. Numerous deployments kept me busy but the position was very rewarding.

IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY?
I was assigned to the 322nd AEW/ELRS at Balad AB in Iraq and the focus of the deployed men and women in this unit were second to none. In logistics we had personnel assigned to us all around the country so I got to travel quite a bit. The days were long but awesome. A few scares when the mortars and rockets hit nearby and helping organize patriot details for fallen hero's were difficult many times but it made me proud to help. One night in particular that was rewarding is when a series of car bombs went off in the nearby city of Balad and numerous civilians were rushed in to our hospital and I needed to get people there to assist at a moments notice. I helped do my small share to help save lives. I was also present when the first free elections were taking place and the local Iraqi people held up their ink stained fingers and they smiled to show everyone they got to vote. This had a great impact on me personally.

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
My favorite place was a TDY to Spain and I fell in love with the area and the people. I don't really have a place I didn't like

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
Graduation from the First Sergeant Academy and getting my diamond, and everything after that.

OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR OTHER MEMORABILIA, WHICH ONE IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
Let's face it, after retiring from the Air National Guard many people look like a Mexican General. I received many awards and I am happy for them all. But my Meritorious Service medal kind of summed up my career. Being recognized as a airman for saving another airman's life from an electrocution incident stands out as well as a couple of different times doing POTUS support and meeting then Vice President Dan Quayle.

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
As an airman in England, there was a lot of drug activity and I would not participate and I was ostracized by some of the members of the unit who partook so to speak of the green leaf. I had a TSGT/ Flight Chief Mike German who looked out for me and helped me out where ever he could I took some lumps for that too but he showed me the Air force wasn't a bad place and that Karma existed and what goes around comes around and for many of those guy's, and it did.

CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
As a First Sergeant in Iraq, I had an airman that had some attitude problems and he got careless with some equipment which in theater was very mission essential and although the damage he caused was not critical, it had the potential to severely cripple the mission at a Wing level. His supervisor decided the commander needed to take care of this personally and the Commander did it in a nice and respectful way as a commander should. When the commander was done, I asked the airman to wait in my office. I finished speaking with the commander I entered my office and I began to chew the airman's rear, put the fear of god into him and then I talked him up and showed him his potential. The airman was exemplary during the rest of the deployment, Our Operations Chief joined me in the office as the airman left and the commander walked behind him. The commander asked if he did something wrong and I told him it was just an enlisted thing. The commander looked confused and he returned to his office. The Chief laughed as the commander walked out. A few moments later, the Operations officer walked over and he changed my call sign and called me a Bear. Some how or another this name has stuck and reached my home unit even before I returned. Years after my retirement it has taken over and I am stilled called Bear to this day.

WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY?
I am a police officer and I work special projects working on Community Quality of Life issues.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER? WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT YOUR TIME IN THE SERVICE?
Professionalism, Integrity, hard work and attention to detail lead to job satisfaction.

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE AIR FORCE?
Get into a career and see the world where you can and make the most of it. The best people are here and memories and job satisfaction abound.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
Just writing these things down has gotten me remembering. Seeing names from the past brings up many great memories.

DB 10/19/2016