On your trip, just take it easy enjoy your self and dont worry.
"Dont worry be happy".
Take an extra fan belt with you, I always hated forgetting something on those long trips,and fan belts where one of them!

 

Thats interesting bc in the past 9 years i have worked with over 20 individuals that came from other branches of the military into the air force. and the airmy is not much bigger than the other branches, the army has 495,000; navy 388,760; air force 390,000; marines 174,000.

 

Best advice I got is to take your time and have fun!! Last September I drove from Metro Detroit to South Lake Tahoe, Ca stopping overnight in Des Moines, and Salt Lake. Was a nice drive just wish I had taken a bit more time to see some sights.

On the way back though I went the southern route....drove down the coast of Cali, through Az, NM, TX, Ak, TN, KY, OH, then home....took a couple extra days but got a lot more memories!

 

My guess is all you will need is lunch money and your camera... but it never hurts to be safe.

Do you have a full size spare?
I'd carry some fuses, relays, code reader(and trouble code cheat sheet), thermostat with gasket, rad hoses, few jugs of water, fullsize spare, proper sized bottle jack (what size tires you running anyways?) and hit the road.
You already said you are packing a tool box, so, I'd make sure I had RTV, thread lock, razor blades, zip ties, bailing wire and the typical basic tools in addition to breaker bar, extensions, universals and of course gloves and hand cleaner (fast orange).
As for engine, tranny and diff fluids, you can inspect those at every gas stop, and act accordingly.
I'd add an old blanket (for laying on the ground) and lots of rags.

At 131K if you are still running the original water pump and fan clutch I'd toss those in as well.

 

During OIF 1-4 the airforce accepted prior service. everyone did. I believe you. Not anymore. And historically they haven't unless you have a specific skill. In some instances Warrant officers from the army have gone over to be commissioned air force officers but rarely.

I've spent 27 months over two extended combat deployments. Boots on the ground breathing the same dust as my enemy. Airforce does 3-9 month deployments generally 6 in great accommodations. I have nothing against the airforce. Fast movers provide some great support along with the a-10, spectre and some other great things. One of the reasons we are the greatest fighting force in the world because of total air superiority.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Militar...n_each_service

If you include the amount of training space, the amount of equipment, the amount of DOD contractors and support we are bigger then all three. I don't know how to confirm this but I was told by a navy guy when I was in kuwait at thier naval base that the army has more boats in the water then the navy, and more planes in the sky then the airforce. Though they are all logistical, not combat oriented like the navy or airforce rigs.