“Illegitimi Non Carborundum”
Last Updated: 11/22//2017 07:34
HISTORY, Page 3
wanted
to
set
the
record
straight,
time
has
a
habit
of
eroding
the
facts
of
individuals
recall,
By
the
way
the
SSgt.
I
made
reference
to
was
Jim
Brewer.
Another
name
to
add
to
the
original
list
would
be
Barton
D.
Roberson.
I
am
very
proud
of
my
small
part
in
that
I
was
one
of
the
individuals
that
was
instrumental
in
the
implementation
of
something
so
important
and
highly
technical
as
PMEL.
I
made
those
21
years
worth
every
memory.
Thanks
again
and
if
I
can
help
on
the
History
part
let
me
know,
because
I
went
through
it
all. Richard G Hawkins / Msgt/Ret.
(
Continued
)
“Illegitimi Non
Carborundum”
HISTORY, Page 3
•
Also prior to 1968 there was no 5 level in the AFSC
which effected promotion to SSgt for some people.
Hq. USAF approved a 3/5/7/9 ladder for AFSC 324X0 in
1968.
•
Effective on 3 Jan 68 the school started accepting first
term personnel. School length was 46 weeks.
3ABR32430.
•
3ALR32470 course was discontinued effective 21 Aug
68.
•
On November 22, 1971 the name "PMEL" was changed
to "Metrology."
•
On January 5, 1972 a "D" shift (classroom time was
0000 hrs to 0600 hrs) was started, also at that time the
microwave and physical/dimensional areas were
dropped from the Basic Course. Course length
became 32 weeks.
•
Early instructors, even before graduating from the
school, were Art Mulkey, Galen Baskin, Vern Cooper,
Andre Grable.
•
Some of the first students were, Ken Niles, Bart
Robeson, Jim Meyer.
•
Note 1: Capt. Howard R. Shaffer retired from the Air
Force as Lt. Col. , also retired from Martin Marietta
and resides in Fla. Thank you George Spellman for
this up date.
Hawkins Recalls…
I was originally assigned to PMEL school in November 1958. The original group consisted of Msgts Manweiler, Stienmel, Tsgt Jim Long, A SSgt whose name I can't recall at this time, Mr Henry May, Mr Steve Moore. Assigned to the school and the first to arrive were SSgt. John Meadows, myself…A1C Richard Hawkins. So you see several of the individuals you credit with being on board at the time PMEL inception is incorrect. In fact it was several months after Meadows and I arrived. There was a lot of turmoil associated with getting PMEL off the ground. A tremendous amount of pressure; and extra ordinary effort on the part of the instructors in the beginning of the course. Thanks for your time and patience to read this. This is in no way meant to be a slap in the face to anyone. I just wanted to set the record straight, time has a habit of eroding the facts of individuals recall, By the way the SSgt. I made reference to was Jim Brewer. Another name to add to the original list would be Barton D. Roberson. I am very proud of my small part in that I was one of the individuals that was instrumental in the implementation of something so important and highly technical as PMEL. I made those 21 years worth every memory. Thanks again and if I can help on the History part let me know, because I went through it all. Richard G Hawkins / Msgt/Ret. ( Continued )
