To restate from my DIY Research: The Basics post, the best way to start your Environmental Exposure research effort is to make a list. The factors — your exposures — to put on your list are those things that are causing you problems or even symptoms. I built my list based upon the following categories:
Specialties, jobs, trainings, and duties (drawn from your AFSC, MOS, etc)
Direct interaction (setup, maintain, repair, etc)
Indirect interaction (integration tasks or just being in the area)
Commands, squadrons, and missions
Vehicles, equipment, machines, locations, and buildings
Chemicals, fuels, vapors, materials, and signals (EMF)
You want to make a list of anything and everything with which you interacted, whether directly or indirectly.
Let’s take a representative set from my list and use these as our primary input:
Specialty: Inertial and Doppler Navigation Systems (AFSC: 328x4)
Electronics technician (maintain and repair)
Analog and digital components and circuits
Discrete components, sub-assemblies, shop units, line units
Navigation and air delivery systems (maintain, repair, and integration)
Nav Radio (TACAN: integration)
Weather Radar (X and KA Band: integration)
SKE Radar (Station Keeping Radar: integration)
Doppler Radar navigation (direct interaction)
Satellite (GPS) navigation (direct interaction)
Commands / squadrons / missions
Pope AFB, Fayetteville NC
Adverse Weather Air Delivery System (AWADS)
Rhein Main AFB, Frankfurt, West Germany (USAFE)
Military Airlift Command (MAC - 435th TAS)
Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC - 7th SOS)
Offutt AFB, Omaha NE
Strategic Air Command (55th AMS)
Airborne Mobile Command Post (SAC-HQ)
Beale AFB, Marysville CA
Strategic Air Command (9th AMS)
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO, et al)
Vehicles / equipment / machines / locations / buildings
MC/EC/RC/C-130
EC/RC/WC/KC/C-135
E-4A/B
SR-71 Blackbird
AG330 Start Cart (SR-71 engine starter)
GPU: diesel power generator (Hobart)
APU: aircraft power generator (varied)
GHU: ground heater unit (varied)
Test benches
AWADS
INS
Doppler
Celestial
Others
Integration test
Doppler Radar
X & KA Band Radar
TACAN
SKE
ECM
Side-Looking Radar
Circuit board repair stations
No fume hood(s) — open air on tables, etc
Fuel and ISO Dock hangars
All the above listed items are words, terms, and phrases we can use when searching on the internet.
Next, I will be breaking down the steps you can use to create a list and document the environmental exposures you encountered as indirect and direct interactions. For the steps, I’m placing this behind the paywall because this is something I created myself. First and foremost, become a free member and you will be able to read all of my public posts. To benefit from a deeper look into my experiences, techniques, insights, musings, and writings, become a paid member.
Special Note: if you are a veteran, the spouse of a veteran, or the parent of a veteran who is suffering and you just cannot figure out a way to do this, reach out to me directly and lets get you access. Register as a free member, then reach out to me and we’ll get you goin’, Ok?!
And now, the paywall…