What in the world is a B-52? Wait, they’re how old? And they’re still flying??? The answer is yes they still exist, yes they’re as old as dirt, and yep they’re flying just fine and getting the job done.
Hi WAFS! My name is Katie and my husband is a B-52 Pilot.
I’m not going to lie, the first question I had about Barksdale AFB was if it was close to New Orleans…I mean, if I would have just pulled out a map I would have quickly realized it was nowhere near it and I was totally bummed. For anyone that has no clue where this base is located, Barksdale is in Bossier City, LA which is right off of I-20. We are about two and a half hours east of DFW and five hours north of NOLA. What some people don’t know is that the only places stateside that have B-52 squadrons are here at Barksdale AFB and the other is Minot AFB in North Dakota. Yay for so many choices right?!
Now when we first moved here in 2014 we were not married so I can definitely relate to any WAFS out there that moved to be with their loved ones before getting married. It was an adjustment for sure but it all worked out. When we first got to Barksdale we were told that the deployments were every year and a half or so, they were always to Guam (hello paradise) and besides normal day-to-day sorties and the occasional night flight, that was pretty much it. NOPE NOPE AND NOPE!! The second my husband was done with the FTU we hit the ground running and were gearing up for our very first deployment together-mind you we were still not married at this point and days before he left we had closed on our first home as a couple. It was a long six months but when he got home he immediately upgraded to an instructor, we got engaged, got married (we did the Justice of the Peace) and the chaos didn’t stop there. More TDYs happened, a deployment to the desert, Weapons School (we had our wedding the night before he left) and then finally a little break. Nine months passed and we welcomed our first child, and since the Air Force likes to keep you on your toes, three months later my husband was sent off on yet another deployment! Thankfully halfway through he was able to take a staff job at Hickam AFB so my son and I flew out and spent a lovely two months with him. PHEW IS THAT IT?!?! Needless to say the past few years here have been a little insane but totally worth it now that I look back.
As far as the BUFF community goes here at Barksdale AFB, it is pretty awesome. There is always something going on either on base or in either Bossier City or Shreveport. Plus you are a hop and a skip to either DFW or Little Rock. NOLA is more of a weekend trip but I promise there is plenty to do. I have also met some of the most amazing spouses over the years and I consider them family. That being said, no matter what squadron you integrate into or what base you end up at, get involved! I’m an extrovert but with anything new it can be slightly intimidating so meeting spouses in your squadron and getting involved is an easy way to make the time fly by during long periods away from your spouse. Another way to get involved is to consider being a Key Spouse if that is up your alley – I’ve been one for almost two years and I really enjoy meeting people and planning events for the squadron. The BUFF lifestyle for the most part is pretty routine. We have had a few curve balls thrown our way but my advice would be to take it one day at a time just like the military lifestyle in general.
The military life is a crazy one as we all know far too well so I will leave you with this. No matter where you end up, make it an adventure. I never thought in a million years we would end up spending most of my husbands’ career in one spot but it has been awesome calling Louisiana our home. Be open to new assignments, moving may be rough but once the dust settles, get out there and get to know your new community and meet new people. Understand and accept that your friends may leave you as they’re off to another assignment – it’s never easy seeing your loved ones move away but always know that the AF is a small world and you’ll see them again 🙂
MEET KATIE
