 Bushey then served as the Assistant Aircrew Division Officer for the Aircraft Ferry Squadron Thirty One in Norfolk, Virginia.While serving with VRF-31, he qualified as an overwater navigator in several aircraft, as flight engineer for P-3 Orion aircraft and bombardier/navigator for A-6 Intruder aircraft.Bushey was selected to attend the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy in Fort Bliss, Texas in January 1980 and while there received the General Ralph E. Hanes Jr. Award for outstanding research.