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John E. Shanks, born on March 12, 1961 in San Diego, California and joined the United States Air Force on May 21st, 1978 with a guaranteed AFSC of 811X0, Security Specialist.  After basic training with the 3707 BMTS, Flt 421, Security Specialist Tech School with the 3280th TTG and Air Base Ground Defense Training at Camp Bullis, Texas, I started my USAF career with the USAF Security Police.  I truly enjoyed my USAF career and every assignment. I have many life long friends from my years of military service.  Below is a brief history of my USAF career and some of the milestones along the way.  Thanks to the USAF Police Alumni Association for making this history possible.  I retired from the USAF as a Law Enforcement Instructor at the USAF Joint Law Enforcement and Security Training Center, Lackland, AFB in 1995.  
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My early years - 1978 - 1980 

HICKAM AFB, HAWAII:

​After completing BMTS, SP Academy and ABGD I was assigned to the 15th SPS, Hickam AFB, Hawaii.  What an incredible experience at Hickam, I worked C flight Security, was detailed to SPOI/OSI when we had someone breaking into houses, worked with the law enforcement flight and town patrol.  Also while stationed at Hickam I was part of our 44 man ABDG team that went to Team Spirit at Osan AB, where I celebrated my 18th birthday. I was there when Hickam experienced one of the biggest drug busts in PACAF history when we lost half our squadron to an undercover OSI agent who posed as an admin person in the orderly room and moved into the barracks.  She took down a lot of guys.  I enjoyed the local community by racing outrigger canoes with the HANG Ohana (Hawaii Air National Guard) canoe team and volunteered as a Big Brother to a 10 year old Hawaiian boy.  My biggest regret is being stationed in Hawaii at such an early age and not fully appreciating it all.  People I remember most at Hickam include: TSgt Ed McDuffie, SSgt Tony Childs,  Sgt. Dave Getrost, SrA Dale Metz, SSgt Solis, SSgt Barrera, TSgt Ward Tripplet, SSgt Lance Christiansen, and others.  

I PCS'ed from Hickam in October of 1980 to Mountain Home, AFB Idaho, 366 SPS.   

Winding done with the USAF - 1991 - 1995 

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Growing up Security Police - 1981 - 1990 

MOUNTAIN HOME AFB, IDAHO: 

I arrived at Mtn Home in November of 1980 and was finally settled in by 1981 and I do remember is was very cold.  I was once again assigned to C Flight Security and we really had a great group of folks.  

Being a small TAC base LE and Security worked very close together and I got my first taste of really being law enforcement at Mtn Home.  I remember one day our Desk Sgt/Security Controller, SrA Kevin Mansfield hit a cow on his motorcycle coming back from a three day break in Nevada.  The flight chief walks into guardmount and say "Shanks, your on the desk", boy oh boy was that a long night.  Who remembers the 5 page blotter and 5 pages of DD Form 1569 on the old IBM Selectric II and III typewriters.  If you made a mistake, and there were many, you had to correct all those copies, what a pain.  I did several TDY's while at Mtn Home including Red Flag exercises at Nellis AFB, Silver Flag Alpha at Indian Springs and a couple of unmentionables.  People I remember from Mtn. Home include:  Sgt. JB Kenna (room dog), Kevin Mansfield, SSgt Tim Gray, MSgt David Hart, SSgt Lance Christiansen (this guy shows up one more time), David Hites, Fran Jones, Linda Dix, Donna James and many other great people.  

In 1982 I cross trained from Security to Law Enforcement (best decision ever) and PCS'ed from Mtn. Home AFB to Lackland AFB, TX 3700 SPS.  

What to do - Life After the USAF 

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