Were you were authorized or ordered to report early for military training? Were you were authorized to remain after training?

LTC Stephen F. — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 13:42:16 -0500

In days of old, when you were ordered to report early for military training [at least in the Army] you were in unofficially in snowbird status. If you were authorized to stay after training was finished, beyond waiting for travel, you were in unofficial blackbird status. I don't know if this terminology is still used or not. Were you ever a snowbird or a blackbird?
[Note: this is a survey question]

Response by SSG Audwin Scott made Jan 26 at 2016 1:43 PM

SSG Audwin Scott — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 13:43:29 -0500

Not that I can recall.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jan 26 at 2016 1:43 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 13:43:37 -0500

I was a snowbird at Fort Benning between IMPOC and IOBC in 1980. We were not really gainfully employed, generally we helped out with some admin functions and had a lot of time off to explore the main post at Fort Benning.

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Jan 26 at 2016 1:45 PM

LTC Bink Romanick — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 13:45:08 -0500

LTC Stephen F. Ues between AOBC and Motor Officer worked with the project to mount roll bars on GOERS.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2016 1:59 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 13:59:44 -0500

LTC Stephen F., No I have never heard the term snowbird or blackbird. If I showed up early, I was a suckass. If I showed up late, I was called " lower than whale shit" because someone had to pick up the slack I was late for. In basic If anyone was late to formation, we all had to run up and down a hill until we all came down at the same time. I called that BS. LOL (-:

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2016 2:07 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 14:07:02 -0500

The worst was as a blackbird after Basic Training. We graduated on my birthday, Dec 7th, and they made us stay and leave as part of Christmas exodus 2 weeks later. We did range construction, grass cutting, moving stuff....
The best was when I went to the Advanced Course at Ft Huachuca. Spent 6 weeks as a middle school PE teacher while snowbirding.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Jan 26 at 2016 3:00 PM

MSG Brad Sand — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 15:00:33 -0500

I was never in either status and the only time anyone was referring to me as anything bird related it was probably not positive.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2016 3:27 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 15:27:57 -0500

Along with 5 others I was a snowbird for 6 weeks waiting for AIT in 96. CQ Runner, KP, grounds maintenance in the hot Georgia sun. Really didn't mind it. It was a 9-5, Mon-Fri ordeal with the occasional weekend KP. I got two certificates of achievement during that time and I didn't have an MOS yet.

Due to our overall positive attitude, staying out of trouble and keeping our rooms in order (buffer proficiency badge - Expert) we were 'phased' a week before class started. That meant that we wore civilian clothes, were off on weekends (no accountability formations and such), and could drink and goof off like adults when not in class.

Response by GySgt Joe Strong made Jan 26 at 2016 7:26 PM

GySgt Joe Strong — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 19:26:19 -0500

In my case, along with 14 others, my school seat was given to Reservists thus delaying our training. We were located at an Active unit nearby(100 mi.) and did some OJT and became acclimated to Service life.
It really wasn't bad until we arrived at schools 6 months later and pretty salty with meritorious promotions and nearly due for the next TIG promotion instead of being basic boots like all of our peers.
The Instructors figured it out though and both gave us more slack while simultaneously expecting more from us. It was a good thing.

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made Jan 27 at 2016 4:16 AM

SrA Matthew Knight — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 04:16:07 -0500

Luckily I was never in either one. I arrived on the start date for BMT and left on the last day we were supposed to be there for tech school.

At tech school there was one week before I started class however it was in-processing/orientation week and I started class on time, there was however plenty of people at tech school that did wait a week or two to start class depending on the class size on the first day they show up. Those individuals were usually put on CQ doing security checks, door ID checks and cleaning the first floor common area. After graduation I don't think I know of anyone who really stayed for an extended time. Our MTLs really pushed out-processing because it costs a considerable amount of money per day to keep people in the tech school dorms past their graduation date. In fact, if I remember right most of us left the day after graduation.

My first base, Scott AFB would probably be where I got the closest to what you would call snowbird status. I think I spent over a month at Scott before my training actually started. Most of that time was spent sitting on computer bored or doing CDCs. Good times. They could afford to do it there though because we weren't going anywhere after training other than down stairs to the ops floor.

Response by CPT Marc Serrá made Jan 27 at 2016 11:42 AM

CPT Marc Serrá — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 11:42:27 -0500

I had just under 4 weeks of snowbirding upon arrival to FLW awaiting EOBC. After 4 days, I was sent TDY to Ft. Irwin to participate in Millennium Challenge 2002 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Challenge_2002), as a 'pucker'. Our DA civilians were predisposed and I, along with two NCOs, were sent in their places. I spent three weeks sitting in a temporary trailer staring at a computer screen, 'operationally' in charge of a computerized Trans unit that never received orders, and therefore, never moved. We weren't allowed to bring in anything, to include books or study materials. A colossal waste of time for most of us involved.

Millennium Challenge 2002) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Response by MAJ David Wallace made Jan 28 at 2016 11:43 AM

MAJ David Wallace — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 11:43:44 -0500

After graduating from IOBC, I was a blackbird at B Co., 1/507th. My chief duties included giving "Corporal Sampson: the Only Airborne Qualified Mascot in the Free World" his daily medications. CPL Sampson broke his hip on a jump on Fryer Drop Zone and was on the mend. He had his own maroon beret and BDUs......how could you not love him?? As a blackbird following the Bn Motor Officer Course, I stayed around Ft. Knox to attend the Dismounted Armored Scout Course which was a pretty tough pre-Ranger course. Over 40 in class, 10 finished , and only 4 of us met course standards. ....