Melnick, John, MSgt

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 participated in numerous forward deployed, humanitarian, and peacekeeping operations but my time with Army Special Forces and Navy Seals made me appreciate their sacrifices and led me to want to instruct Readiness Training for the Air Force so its people could be prepared.

Not many are afforded the opportunity to instruct medical readiness training and my chances were very slim, but being part of an instructor core brought me great pleasure. I always wanted to bring more to the table than previously set to improve the Air Forces ability to deploy.

Everyone thinks the Air Force is the "chair force" but a new operational tempo with more Air Force members deploying proves otherwise.

DID YOU ENCOUNTER A SITUATION DURING YOUR MILITARY SERVICE WHEN YOU BELIEVED THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY YOU MIGHT NOT SURVIVE? PLEASE DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME.
Fortunately, I was never put in a situation where I felt I would not survive other than driving from Prince Sultan Air Base to Riyadh during medical transports. The roads were treacherous (bad drivers) and several times you would hear gunfire... if it was directed at us is questionable, but none-the-less, a little nerve racking for an unarmed medic.

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
I feel blessed to have served with so many great people from the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines. This includes several from foreign nations.... they were all the best.

You have to understand, you make the best of every situation or assignment or it rules you versus you overcoming obstacles.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
The only achievement that I could hope for is that my time impacted someone else in a positive way to make their time or life better. Personal achievements are not worth a dime unless they reflect those who helped you achieve your goals.

I really enjoyed instructing and the people our instructor core impacted.

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?
My Air and Education Instructor Badge is most meaningful to me... I wish I could only have conveyed then how important the instructors who worked with and for me were to me. You can never replace great people.

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
My wife and children have the most positive impact on me and my career for allowing me the opportunity to serve and never complaining no matter how hard it got or how unreasonable I could be because of the pressures of service. The Good Lord carried me through many obstacles I could not have navigated on my own.

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.
Too many to mention.... Dr. Scott Ross, Dr. Hubert Gooch Jr, MSgt Edward O'Brien, TSgt Samuel Stephens, SSgt Ben Roberts, and SSgt Scott Westbrook from Hill Air Force base. Best medics in the Air Force and provided me a solid foundation to build from.

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 medic you had better laugh or it will drive you insane.

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 retirement I served as a contractor with the Air Force in Readiness and Training. Currently full-time retired.

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
Currently none.

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?
I wish I was a young man and could do the things the military requires of their subordinates. But, you can not turn back time so it is best to appreciate what you did and hope others appreciated your service as well.

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE AIR FORCE?
Get all the education you can that makes you a better person... which in-turn makes you a better warrior.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
A conduit to connect with others you served with who still desire comradery and esprit-de-corps.