I had just completed ABGD(Air Base Ground Defense) school at Ft. Dix, NJ. It was January and in the middle of winter. I was from Michigan so I thought I would be used to the cold. Boy ! Was I in for a surprise. I flew into Minot International Airport on a North West flight. The flight attendant opened the door and a rush of freezing cold air came into the plane. She told us that we had to depart the plane via the stairway. What the hell was this sh#t ! Then when I was walking to the terminal I spotted the Bartles & James guy driving a tractor to pick up the luggage. The thoughts that were going through my mind at that time. Did I make the right decision to swap from Grand Forks to here? Darn it's cold here. A lot colder than Michigan. What if this place sucks and I have to spend my entire AF career here ? Darn it's cold! I gathered my things and I tried to telephone my sponser. I finaly got a hold of him and he told me to stay over night at the Holiday Inn. I knew I was in trouble when I got there. On the wall was a photo of the rock group Ratt. Well if it was good enough for them then this place is good enough for me. The next morning my sponser picked me and we drove to the base. I couldn't believe it. The base was over 16 miles from the city and there was no trees at all. On the way there I saw the famous Snow Snakes as they weaved across the roadway. We entered the base and I read the sign that stated that Only the Best Come North. Well time will tell if that was true or not.