The JTAC Diet
By
Bob Brewin
Want a really interesting job guaranteed to keep you slim?
Want a really interesting job guaranteed to keep you slim?
Army Gen. David Petraeus, chief of the U.S. Central Command, said in a speech at the National Press Club yesterday that he faces a big shortage of joint tactical air controllers who call in air strikes for ground units.
JTACs may have Air Force blue running in their blood, but for all practical purposes they're grunts carrying a really heavy load of radios and laser target markers.
This is not exactly the safest line of work, but based on my long-ago experience in a Marine ground Forward Air Control team, it's a sure fire way to lose weight.
After toting around about 70 pounds of gear -- radios, three canteens, spare batteries, C-rations and smoke grenades -- in Vietnam, I ended up weighing 125 pounds on a 5' 11" frame.
Alas, I have not seen anything near 125 pounds for years. I wonder if Petraeus would like to hire a JTAC who has qualified for Social Security.