Mark+Randall+Baughman

Mark Randall Baughman - Interviewed by Janae B.

Mark Randall Baughman Air Force Three years **date of induction :** October 1983 **date of discharge :** April 1986 I enlisted in the military. Because at that time, there wasn’t many jobs out there. The economy was pretty bad. They had more options for different jobs. They weren’t many jobs for me because I didn’t have the money for a college education. It was very interesting. You had to grow up, and grow up fast or you’d be in for it. I was very nervous but I knew it was something I had to do. Yes, I had prepared myself pretty well before I decided to enter the service. We woke up extremely early and ate breakfast. Then most of the day was spent training in different areas. Every day the order was different and there were different things to do. We would eat lunch in between all the training. Dinner came at about five o’clock and lights were out by ten. My instructors were very tough. If you did something wrong, they let you know it. But that’s the way they had to be. You had to be trained and trained right. You were assigned different things and it differed from time to time. It ranged from cafeteria duty to mowing the grass and raking the leaves. It was pretty easy for me. I was use to people expecting a lot out of me from doing sports in high school. Sharing barracks with so many people wasn’t difficult, but it was different. The routine was easy because I knew what I had to do every day. Yes, I did. I went to tech school for entomology, which is killing bugs. After tech school, I was a Senior Airman which is one step above normal. My superiors chose my jobs. Lackland Air Force Base. I went to Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. I was stateside during my service time. Absolutely. Unfortunately not. None of the people I was in the service with were from Pennsylvania. So when I moved back here, I just lost touch with them. When someone lives states away from you, it’s really hard to regain track of them once you’ve lost it. Not for me. My family has been there forever. I unfortunately lost track with my friends from the service. No. 22.  **Did you see OR personally experience any form of discrimination in the service?** No, I didn’t. No. No. The military honestly wasn’t for me. All I remember is how much paperwork there was to be able to get out. Well I lived with my wife down in Virginia and the entire family helped us move back to Pennsylvania. Yes, I did. I don’t remember the company name. It was in Altoona and I helped fix vacuums and dish washers. No. No. The military really made me grow up and act mature. I needed that. If you have good grades, I would tell you to try college first. If your grades aren’t so great, the military is an excellent way to fight for your country and learn a trade. Not really. Absolutely. Yes, because I know how important it is to have a good leader. I don’t think so. Yes, because it helps me have a say in who I want to lead this country. Honestly, the military did more for me then I did for it. No.
 * 1.  **** Would you please state your full name? **
 * 2.  **** In which branch of the service did you serve? **
 * 3.  **** How long were you in the military? (# of years/dates) **
 * 4.  **** Were you drafted OR did you enlist in the military? **
 * a.  ****  Why did you choose to enlist? **
 * b.  **** Why did you choose to join the Air Force? **
 * 5.  **** Why did you join the service? **
 * 6.  **** Can you describe the first days that you were in the service? **
 * 7.  **** What did the first day of being in the service feel like to you? **
 * 8.  **** Was entering the service what you had expected to be? **
 * 9.  **** Describe a normal day in the initial days in the service. **
 * 10.  **** What were your instructors like? **
 * 11.  **** Did you have a specific job assignment during boot camp training? **
 * 12.  **** Was the transition to the military easy or difficult for you? why or why not **
 * 13.  **** Did you receive specialized training & if so, in what area(s)? **
 * 14.  **** What was your rank when you completed boot camp&/or after additional training? **
 * 15.  **** Was your job assignment made by your superiors or did you get to chose? **
 * 16.  **** Where did you complete basic training? **
 * 17.  **** After basic training, what camp(s) were you stationed? **
 * 18.  **** Were you ever deployed overseas OR did you remain stateside during your service time? **
 * 19.  **** Where you able to make friends in the service? **
 * a)Have any friendships lasted beyond military service time? **
 * b. Do you believe friendships from military service are as strong, OR in some cases, stronger than family ties? **
 * 20.  **** Did you ever see a USO tour? **
 * 21.  **** Did you have a chance to travel? **
 * No. **
 * 23.  **** Did you keep a personal diary? **
 * Did you make the military a career? **
 * 27. What do you remember about the day you were discharged? **
 * 29. Describe actually arriving home. **
 * 30. Did you immediately find a job&/or return to work? **
 * a.)  **** Where did you work? **
 * 32. Do you choose to attend unit/service reunions? **
 * 33. Did you join a veteran's organization? **
 * 34. How did military service affect your life? **
 * 35. Would you advise or encourage young men and women to join the military and serve their country? **
 * 36. Did you military experience influence your views on today's military and war(s)/conflict(s) **
 * 37. Are you a registered voter and do you vote in all/most elections? **
 * 38. After serving in the military, do you feel more inclined to participate in the election process or less? Why? **
 * 39. Do you think that you would enlist in the military today? **
 * 40. Do you feel that participation in our democratic government is a right that you believe is essential to maintain our freedoms and liberties? **
 * 41. Would you like to add anything to the interview that was not covered or you may have remembered after the question was asked and/or answered? **
 * 52. Would you like to ask me anything regarding the interview? **