Stalker: "What's all this sand?"

SGM: "Your trainees left it under the bubble. If I wanted (expletive) volleyball court moved, I'd have had someone competent move it."

Program Manager: "What are those dogs doing out there by the Land Survival area?" Asst Mgr: "They belong to Coon Dog." Program Manager: "What?" Asst Mgr: "They belong to Coon Dog. He's keeping them out there." Sergeant Major: "The first time I catch them ...

Grunt: Oh, I see we've got a little attitudinal problem. Trainee: Sir, no sir! Grunt: What? Trainee: Sir, no sir! Grunt: Did I ask you a question? Trainee: Sir, no sir! Grunt: Then why are you sounding off? Trainee: SILENT Grunt: Shaking head and just barely avoiding laughter. "I'll be followed...

Counselor: Hey, we can't get to the back gate for E&E. There's a skunk back there. Sandrat: Throw something at it. Counselor: No way - you do it! Sandrat throws basketball, hits skunk right on the back. The skunk bounces a foot up in the air, lands on its back with its feet straight up in the ai...

I'm kinda partial to the original Kosan scenario - the Theater Ops briefings for that rocked.

GUMP - USSRC TECHNICIAN: What are you guys doing? Spanky: We're opening this cockpit. GUMP: But, that's the Mig. You aren't supposed to open that cockpit. Spanky: Sandrat told me to. Sandrat: No I didn't, I said we should find a way to drain the cockpit - it's full of water. Spanky: So I'm opening t...

Give HR a call and get an application in. They always need lifeguards.

By the way, "Iron Gump" is a collection of the more hilarious stories of a time gone by- both trainees and counselors. A kind of history if you will.

Enjoy.

GUMP's Trainees...... "Ghostrider 201, this is 202. All aircraft safely airborne." "Ghostrider 202, roger." Pauses. "Ghostrider 204, this is 201. Check our six, will ya?" A moment passes. "Ghostrider 201, this is 204. I show our tail clear, and all six aircraft nea...

Program Manager: Gump! What's the problem today? GUMP: Sir, I do not understand. I seem to have gained an extra trainee this morning. Program Manager: What do you mean? GUMP: I circled them up to count them, and I counted one more than usual. Program Manager: How many kids are on your team? GUMP: Th...

GUMP: Sir, there is a dead body on the Mach II Escape and Evasion Course. Program Manager: Did you see it? GUMP: No, sir. I did not see it. Program Manager: Then how do you know it's there? GUMP: Sir, there is a dead body on the Mach II Escape and Evasion Course. Program Manager: No, there isn't Gum...

SERGEANT MAJOR: GUUUUMMMPPP!!! WHAT IS YOUR SOLE PURPOSE HERE AT AVIATION CHALLENGE?

GUMP: To do whatever you tell me to, Sergeant Major!

SERGEANT MAJOR: GUMP, YOU ARE A GENIUS! THAT IS THE SMARTEST ANSWER I HAVE EVER HEARD. ONE DAY, SON, YOU ARE GONNA BE A PROGRAM MANAGER!

Well.....as many things as Spanky, Joker, Gordo, Fidget, Grunt, Doolittle and the rest of us did that changed the face of the Aviation Challenge program, I think I can be forgiven for getting the dates wrong. I humbly bow to Spanky's magnificence....at least he's still my best friend ten years after...

Actually when i was there in 96 there didnt appear to be any cafeteria remodelling going on at the time. The cafeteria was still the same as it had been in 91 and 93 there was no obvious work going on anywhere in there. We still ate breakfast and dinner at the space camp cafeteria. And it seems to ...

Your team eating in the wardroom during 1996 was an aberration. Only about six weeks of trainees experienced that during the cafeteria remodeling. There was simply no other way to do it. When I left, that building was converted into a massive storage facility by Top Kick for storing flightsuits and ...

I'd venture to say that AC from 1996-2001 is absolutely NOTHING like it was back then. Things will always change, and we always think things were better when we were involved. Yet, AC will always remain the most under-utilized program with the most potential. It's a shame that Space Camp has all but...

It has been ten years since the founding of the Black Knights. The tanker suits were a gift from one of Top Kick's scrounging runs to Fort Knox late that spring. It was the last year of Primary, Basic, and Intermediate. That fall we rewrote the programs - I took over Mach III. I haven't talked to Gr...

How many of you are still out there? This is for those Knights from 1996 to 2001, when being a Knight really meant something. You were awarded the squadron patch, you flew missions with the intent to train campers and not to punish them. And you didn't feel the need to play Navy SEAL or CIA operativ...

Spanky, where you been, man?

There was actually a television program for Discovery Kids filmed back in 2000 called "Blast Off!" It featured two teams of campers from around the world "competing" in events around Space Camp.