Baugher, Andrew, Maj

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE MARINE CORPS.
I saw the Thunderbird demonstration team at an airshow in Des Moines Iowa at about 8 or 9 years old and was hooked on flying. After high school and being denied entrance into the Air Force Academy (all for the better) met an Officer Selection Officer in our college commons area with a fighter pilot helmet and things took off from there.

WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHERE DID YOU GO TO BOOT CAMP AND WHAT UNITS, BASES, SHIPS OR SQUADRONS WERE YOU ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
Went through Platoon Leaders Course (PLCs) Juniors and Seniors starting my freshman summer of college 1998. Good thing cause your base pay start date will be logged as this first summer, so go early in college. Got commissioned as a Second Lieutenant with 3 years off the bat in 2001. Went to The Basic School November of 2001 to May 2002. Checked into Pensecola for Aviation Primary Instruction July 2002 to September 2002. PCS'd to Enid Oklahoma for primary flight training October 2002 to March 2003. PCS'd to Kingsville Texas for advance jet training April 2003 to March 2004. PCS'd to Miramar California for F/A-18 Hornet Fleet Replacement Squadron 101 from March 2004 to April 2005. PCSd to MCAS Beaufort SC and checked into VMFA-115 from May 2005 to July 2007. Deployed to OIF July 2007 to Feb 2008. Sat at MAG-31 from Feb 2008 to July 2008. PCSd to Quantico VA for Expeditionary Warfare School from August 2008 to May 2009. PCSd to MCAS Beaufort SC to be Company Commander of MWSS-273 Air Operations Company from June 2009 to October 2010. PCAd to MAG-31 November 2010 to present. Currently on IA from MAG-31 in support of 2d MAW (FWD) OEF 11.1.

IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY?
OEF. I've been planning many operations requiring assault supports, escorts and fixed wing or rotor wing CAS. I was invited and went on a patrol with special operators on Key Leader Engagement mission.

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
Miramar California: It was the easiest going time in my life as a young 25 year old fresh F/A-18 Hornet pilot can't get much better than that.

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
Carrier qualification in the T-45 Goshawk on the USS Harry S. Truman and Carrier qualifications day and night in the F/A-18 Hornet on the USS Nimitz. Then returning to the USS Harry S. Truman as a fleet Hornet pilot with VMFA-115.

OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR OTHER MEMORABILIA, WHICH ONE IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
Gold Naval Aviator Wings. Represents 3 years of hard work without giving up or loosing hope.

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
LtCol J.D. Covington. He was the most honest, concerned, respected leader I've had experience with in all my career. He was not jaded and naturally new how to serve his Marines and Officers. I've not seen quality on his level in leadership for sometime.

CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
A Fellow Officer Candidate thought it would be correct to say he wanted to be an astronaut when asked by the Sergeant Instructor. Then they proceeded to order him into a wall locker and start counting down from ten. When the candidate got down to 3..2..and 1, both Sergeant Instructors started shaking the wall locker as if he were blasting off with him in it. A fellow pilot claiming he saw a UFO when flying.

WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY?
MOS 7523 F/A-18 qualified aviator.

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
Navy Mutual Aid Association: Life insurance and loan.

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE MARINE CORPS?
Learn how to deal with difficult personalities and how to know when conflict with a superior is detrimental to your career and work. Ask to me moved to another section if the conflict in personality will hinder your performance.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.

TWS and the US MARINES

Allowed me to keep contact with fellow members whom I've served with and see where they currently are in career paths.

DS 8/5/16