DeVault, Mark, SMSgt

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE AIR FORCE.

My Father (left) Korea era

My father, Bob DeVault, he was in the Air Force for about 6 years and said it's a great place to learn a skill for free and figure out what you want to do with yourself.

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 originally joined the AF out of sheer panic of not knowing what to do with my life! My Father, Uncles and some cousins, all were in the AF and I decided to join because I was tired of going to school. I chose to be a jet engine mechanic because I use to tinker with cars quite a bit (1981) this was when you still could tinker with cars! Plus I always had an interest in aviation in general, so it was a good fit for me. I stayed active duty AF for almost 12 years and through Desert Shield/Storm, but shortly after the war the AF started cutting back its ranks and I decided to take the money and try something new. I joined the AF Reserves and went back home to Indiana, luckily I was only a few miles from Grissom AFB and joined the unit since I had KC-135 experience. I entered the civilian workforce for almost 5 years and did NOT like it at all, I missed the sense of mission, the camaraderie and mostly feeling like I was doing something important. So, one UTA weekend at the base and I was looking at the AF Times paper and saw an ad for F-16 engine mechanics needed in Tucson AZ. I also had that experience so I decided to apply. Within a couple of months, I interviewed and accepted a civil service full-time job with the AZ Air National Guard and stayed for the next 20 years.

Why did I leave?

32 years of service was enough for me, I could have stayed longer but I was slowly getting frustrated with all the cut-backs and changes with the military. I also was not happy with some of the policy changes of the last 10 years, so instead of staying in and being a crusty old bitter SNCO, I decided to retire while on top of my game!! December 2012 I retired.

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 think I was involved in every combat-related operation I could be since I was in aviation. Operation Desert Shield/Storm, Operation Noble Eagle, Iraqi Freedom, etc.

The one thing that comes to mind is how grateful it felt to be an American and not from a third world country.

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?

The Griffiss Grind

I think my favorite duty station was Torrejon AB in Spain, (1987-1991) by now I was married with two small boys and when we could we would travel anywhere and everywhere we could!

My least favorite is bitter sweet because although we worked EXTREMELY hard, we played hard as well, but Griffiss AFB, Rome NY (1983-1987) was my least favorite mostly due to the fact that this was a SAC Bomber and Tanker base. Bombers have 8 engines, Tankers have 4. We had a squadron of each and I was a jet engine mechanic. Do the math! That's a lot of engines to maintain on the flight line!!!

The coldness of the winters made working outside absolutely miserable, I'm just glad and proud that I was in SAC before it went away.

But still bittersweet because my son James Justin DeVault was born at Griffiss AFB, so this base will always have a special place in my heart.

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
Volunteering to help at the Triage hospital in Iraq during the war and seeing our young soldiers injured and the courage that they had.

I was in Iraq and we would come under heavy rocket and mortar fire from time to time. I was there in 2007/2008 so the enemy knew where to aim everything at the base. We worked 12-hour shifts and one night while I was sleeping in my container a large blast went off right outside my door, the blast swung my door open and I saw smoke and a bright flash. Upon looking further, I was very lucky that I slept on the bottom bunk because shrapnel from the blast was embedded in the wall above my bed. I was a very lucky man that night!

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
What I was most proud of is how I helped mold tomorrows Airmen. Once I moved into supervision I made it my priority to help young airman achieve their career goals and for the most part, I was pretty successful.

I am also proud just to have served my country.

I received many awards and medals over the years but I really just felt I was doing my job, I was always grateful and humble for all the attention.

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?

Retirement Shadow Box 2012

By far it is my retirement shadow box.

One of my airmen designed and made it for me. I spent most of my aviation career with the F-16 so he designed the shadow box in the shape of an F-16 tail, including the static dis-chargers! The shadow box was crafted by one of my troops and I've never seen anything like it. Thank you, TSgt Jimmy Burrell!!

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
Steve Ackerman

My boss while at Griffiss AFB working in the (EC) Engine Conditioning section.
He was an absolute prick for the most part and I would cuss him out daily, but I learned more about hard work from him than anyone.

Kevin Colburn

Our expediter at Griffiss, top notch mechanic and an awesome troubleshooter!
Taught me how to be a great mechanic.

LIST THE NAMES OF OLD FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH, AT WHICH LOCATIONS, AND RECOUNT WHAT YOU REMEMBER MOST ABOUT THEM. INDICATE THOSE YOU ARE ALREADY IN TOUCH WITH AND THOSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH.
John Neff-Torrejon AB- my QA buddy and TDY party friend.

Kevin Colburn- Griffiss AFB, NY- best troubleshooter I know.

Steve Ackerman- Griffiss AFB, NY-Biggest prick I knew, but I learned more from him than any other boss ever, hands down.

Richard Bonner- Tucson, AZ Air Guard, 162FW- a great mentor.

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?
Sometimes when it was slow on the flight line in NY, we would catch some ZZZZZZ's in the back of the bread truck. SLEEPER BEWARE.

If you fell asleep, there was a good chance you would wake up to a blue dye mustache or a polka dot face!

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've been in aviation since I was 19 yrs. old.

I retired in 2012, 32 years of service at age 50 and got a job overseas in the UAE working with the UAE Air Force writing aviation maintenance and Quality Assurance regulations. It was the best civilian job I have ever had and by far the best paying!!! The contract ended in Jan 2016 so I moved back to Tucson, AZ.

Long ago while in the AF, I got my FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) license. It is now paying off because I got a job with Bombardier Inc. at the repair station in Tucson.

I am currently an Aerospace QA inspector on the Global, Challenger and Learjet aircraft.

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
I am a lifetime member of the VFW. Member of the American Legion and a few others.

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?
Confidence, I know I can do anything I put my mind to. I learned a skill from the best organization in the world.

I'm much more analytical than I used to be.

I finished College and received my Master's Degree, something I would not have done if not for the military.

I served my country honorably for 32 years.

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE AIR FORCE?
Stop being selfish, you are part of a bigger picture, it's not about you, it's about the team.

Listen to the older SNCO's and Officers. They have been there and done that. No one wants to see you fail.

Learn your job first and be the best at it and don't chase promotions and be an ass kisser.

Learn to adapt, don't expect the military to adapt to you!

Be proud of what you do in the military, you really are part of a small unique family when you look at how large our US population is.

Get a college degree!

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

TWS and The USAF

It has brought back quite a few memories and helps me to realize that I did something special and should relish that.

DS 1/23/18