Bill Hasbrook - W5BWM
I’m a 5th generation Texan, born and raised. Family members on all sides (including in-laws) reportedly participated in the military all the way back to the early 1800’s, so there was no question – I was going to serve.
I received my ROTC commission in 1981 through the Corps at Texas A&M and entered active duty as a Minuteman Deputy Commander, advancing to a DOTI instructor, and finally to Minuteman Commander (and like many of us included numerous additional duties).
At the end of my initial commitment, I took the option to leave active duty and entered the reserves where I served the Air Training Command at the Officer Training School (OTS) at the Medina Annex to Lackland AFB in San Antonio until 1996 when I got caught up in President Clinton’s RIF. I loved every minute of serving our great Nation in the Air Force, and believe I’d still be there had we not been downsized in the mid-90’s.
Still wanting to serve, I entered the Texas State Guard where I helped Colonel Mike Thuss (USA-Retired) build the engineering battalion (where I ultimately served as XO) until I retired from there in 2022.
Today I fill that void by putting my HAM to use in numerous charitable events (e.g. providing comm during such events as biking events such as the Ride to End Alzheimer’s and the Multiple Sclerosis 150) as well as serving on our City’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).
So, you can imagine my pleasure when I found the AFFC – a group of likeminded HAMs – and in the same manner as deciding to enter the military, there was no question in joining.
As an aside, one benefit of being a retired officer is that I got the privilege of being able to commission my son an Ensign out of the Coast Guard Academy. Apparently, the President attends the ceremony of one academy each year, and in 2015 it happened to be the Coast Guard. My son’s first assignment was at sea as a weapons officer (and where he also got bridge-qualified) on a cutter stationed in Kodiak, Alaska. He left there to enter flight school flying C-130’s where today he is a Lieutenant, aircraft commander, and up for promotion to Lieutenant Commander (and back in Kodiak). I couldn’t be prouder.
