As a teenager in 1959, Babbitt joined the surf rock group the Ventures, just before the band gained fame with their huge hit "Walk Don't Run" in 1960. Babbitt had to drop out because he was not old enough to play the nightclubs and bars the band was beginning to work in.[2]
On March 1, 1998, while on active duty as 4-star general, he played live in uniform on drums with the Ventures.[3]
Air Force
Babbitt was commissioned in 1965 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the University of Washington. He trained as an aircraft maintenance officer and served as officer in charge of fighter flight lines in the United States, the Pacific and Europe. He twice commanded aircraft maintenance squadrons and was deputy commander for maintenance of a European F-15 wing.
Prior to assuming command of Air Force Materiel Command, Babbitt was director of the Defense Logistics Agency at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Other assignments include deputy chief of staff for logistics, Headquarters U.S. Air Force; deputy director for materiel management, Defense Logistics Agency; director of supply, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, and director of logistics for both Headquarters Air Training Command and Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe.
August 1973 – January 1976, support equipment and spares manager, B-1A System Program Office, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
January 1976 – January 1978, deputy program manager for logistics, Precision Location Strike System Program Office, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
January 1978 – July 1978, student, Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia
July 1978 – August 1980, maintenance officer and later, commander, 1st Aircraft Generation Squadron, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia
August 1980 – September 1981, commander, 36th Aircraft Generation Squadron, Bitburg Air Base, West Germany
September 1981 – July 1985, assistant deputy commander for maintenance and later, deputy commander for maintenance, 36th Tactical Fighter Wing, Bitburg Air Base, West Germany
July 1985 – June 1986, student, Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
June 1986 – June 1990, division chief and later, deputy director of logistics plans and programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
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United States Air Force 
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