Vollmuth, James, CMSgt

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE AIR FORCE.
Raised on a farm in North Dakota. Small town, no work other than on the farm. Needed to see the world.

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?
The majority of service time was as an Air Traffic Controller. VFR Tower, IFR Tower, Mobile, and Fixed Radar Approach Control. Served in England, France, Germany, Thailand, Korea, Grissom AFB (Bunker Hill AFB) & Keesler AFB. The last 3 years in the Air Force (1984-1987) were as the Senior Enlisted Advisor at Keesler Technical Training Center, Biloxi MS. Great job! Enjoyed it very much. Would do it again!

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?
Fortunately, I did not have to participate directly in any combat ops, except to control the aircraft that were doing the combat. Closest I came to combat was at Nakhon Phanom Thailand in 69 when there was a small firefight along the perimeter one night when they tried to get on the base. We held up in the control tower with weapons ready. Thank God we didn't have to use the weapons because we had just come from the club.

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
The best operational location was Ramstein Germany 70-74. Large Air Traffic Control Operation. Great location. Easy travel to many locations. The worst location was Loan France, 65-67. The base was being closed because France told us to leave (Again) Not a great place to be stationed when no one knew what was going to happen or where we might be going. Many rumors were flying around before we left the base. We were ultimately relocated to Upper Heyford AFB, England with the RF 101 aircraft. That was my second assignment to Upper Heyford. I was there in 1957 as a short assignment to the Tower when going from Sturgate AFB Eng. en route to Chelveston AFB Eng. Upper Heyford was a Great assignment!

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
Controlling Air Traffic at Ramstein RAPCON from 1970-74. Very busy operation controlling traffic for Ramstein, Simbach, Zwibrucken, and Ferdsfeld Airbases. Plus many aircraft from the Spangdalem AFB control area. Very busy controlling many types of aircraft in a complex air traffic control area. Fortunately, we had many very good controllers and the many new trainees from the school at Keesler trained very hard and became fully operational air traffic controllers. Ramstein was a great assignment and we enjoyed the German people and the many communities in the area.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
Being an Air Traffic Controller was the job that I was the proudest of. It is a job that if you can handle the pressure provides the most job satisfaction. The people you work with are fantastic and very dedicated to the job. However, being selected to serve as the Keesler Technical Training Center Senior Enlisted Adviser from 1984-1987 was the crowning glory of my career.

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?
Meritorious Service Medal. Master Air Traffic Controller. Master Instructor.

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
One of my mentors was Chief Master Sergeant Bob Nathan "NN". Great Supervisor and manager of people. Taught me a lot about life and Air Traffic Control.

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?
After retiring from the AF I went to work as a Civil Service Instructor in the Air Traffic Control course at Keesler AFB. Served as an Instructor, Instructor Supervisor, Computer Training Development Manager, Resource Manager, and ultimately the Course Training Manager. I was then selected to move to Keesler Wing Headquarters where I served as a Program Analyst in the Plans and Program Section until I retired in 2007. I am now fully retired and enjoying it.

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
DAV, VFW, American Legion, NCOA, AFSA,

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?
The Military service gave me the opportunity to grow up and learn how to live in the world. Made many good friends and saw much of the world.

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE AIR FORCE?
Learn all you can about your job. Always look out for your people. Manage fairly and honestly. Know details about your workers and be aware of their difficulties.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.

TWS and The USAF

Just joined Together We Served. No contacts yet.

KC 11.13.20