Headed home!! The days were long and the weeks flew by. It's impossible to believe I came with zero hours of experience and left without having to repeat a single sortie! Christ was obviously sufficient in my great deficiencies! And it feels great to be done but then I realize that wasn't even the beginning. It was simply the screening process to see if I could even make it to he beginning. Tryouts.
Some things in the next phase will be similar but the greatest difference will be time spent in visual contact with the sun. I now feel like I've always under-appreciated windows. I love windows.
One similar component we will also receive at UPT is the standup emergency procedure. It's the air force's own public humiliation version of the grade school spelling bee. You're stood up in front of the entire flight and given an in-air emergency situation. You must-in great detail (going as far as what your fingers will be doing)-explain how you will bring the airplane from the emergency safely to the ground. If you are in your seat watching this take place the whole thing is very simplistic. But the moment you stand up all cognitive abilities are lost and all you really hope is that the IP realizes your ignorance sooner than later and calls someone else up to take control and relieve you from your stupidity. "It's a cup...with dirt in it. Just give me an F and move on."
I do think IFS has prepared me well for the next phase and I feel like I'm now on a more level playing field with some of the other guys who have prior flight time. As of yesterday I am the proud owner of 17.9 flight hours, 0.4 of which are solo and 0.1 is counted as night flying (the ONLY perk of getting up at 3:25am (please note that while it was a perk it in no way came remotely close to making up for getting up at that unholy hour)).
A year ago I read this from Isaiah, "I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them." This is what the Lord has done for me. This verse has become real to me. I did not know how to get here but I did know it would be hard. And I don't know how to get where I'm going but I know it will also be difficult. But now, after these past few weeks, I know this is what the Lord has for me because I can see clearly how He brought me here. So I can run with confidence into it. Not confidence that I will succeed but confidence that this is what the Lord wants me to do and these are the people the Lord wants me to be with. What great comfort!
My only fear is that I will forget this when training becomes tough and my focus will drift from God's direction to striving for success. That sounds exhausting just thinking about it. I don't want this to be a year of exhaustion, something I merely endure to see what's next. The people that will be in my class are already complaining about the long hours we'll have and all the stuff we'll have to memorize but I want to be able to enjoy it. Pray for joy for me. Because, honestly, when they make me get up to attend a 4am formal brief (that's night not morning (I'm confident 4am formal briefs come straight from the devil)) it will take a heavenly intervention to keep me from misery.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Finally, getting up in the morning
Last week I had to get up everyday at 3am to be at formal brief. I'm of the persuasion that anything before 5am is not morning but the dead of night. So I'm ecstatic the this week I get to wake up in the morning with actual sunshine and not only lamplight (thought I can't even see the sunshine until I get to our briefing room because there's no windows any where else (but still it's the thought that other normal people are up too)).
The downside to getting up "late" (6am is still a far cry from "late" and it's a shame I consider this sleeping-in now) is that your flight gets the later flights in the day. The later in the day the worse the weather. Winds pick up and there's a greater chance of rain. Today I flew out to an auxiliary airfield to do some pattern work (touch-and-go landings) and on my first approach when I was about 6 feet above the runway I encountered some wind shear (drastic change in wind direction or speed or both) and immediately dropped straight down to the runway. 6 feet may not seem like much in a 747 but in the Mighty Katana (sarcasm) it hurts and is enough to make you lose bowel control it's so scary (fortunately though the latter did not occur).
Even though the winds were horrid and I had some terrible landings I passed this ride (evidence of the grace of God) which means I'll get to solo tomorrow. It's cause to be excited but mostly it's a little freaky for someone with zero experience. Every time until now there's always been an extra human on board to divert the plane from it's seemingly imminent informal greeting with the ground when I really screw things up. So if you think about me tomorrow around 8-10am mountain time pray for the Holy Spirit to physically intervene in my life because I still need that extra pair of hands!!
The downside to getting up "late" (6am is still a far cry from "late" and it's a shame I consider this sleeping-in now) is that your flight gets the later flights in the day. The later in the day the worse the weather. Winds pick up and there's a greater chance of rain. Today I flew out to an auxiliary airfield to do some pattern work (touch-and-go landings) and on my first approach when I was about 6 feet above the runway I encountered some wind shear (drastic change in wind direction or speed or both) and immediately dropped straight down to the runway. 6 feet may not seem like much in a 747 but in the Mighty Katana (sarcasm) it hurts and is enough to make you lose bowel control it's so scary (fortunately though the latter did not occur).
Even though the winds were horrid and I had some terrible landings I passed this ride (evidence of the grace of God) which means I'll get to solo tomorrow. It's cause to be excited but mostly it's a little freaky for someone with zero experience. Every time until now there's always been an extra human on board to divert the plane from it's seemingly imminent informal greeting with the ground when I really screw things up. So if you think about me tomorrow around 8-10am mountain time pray for the Holy Spirit to physically intervene in my life because I still need that extra pair of hands!!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Hasn't Even Been a Week
The weekend is not any less filled than a weekday. I got up at 8 Saturday and - with the exception of meals and a couple of other short breaks - studied the whole day. Academics are rigorous. Two days ago we were given a 114 page document we have to more or less memorize within a couple of days. It's hard to say if I (as a zero hour guy) could be more prepared besides having flight time. I memorized all the emergency procedures before I came and I don't think anyone else has done that but I wouldn't say I'm ahead of anyone. It'll be one less thing I have to focus on in an ocean of numbers, checklists, principles, maps and schedules I'm required to know.
Meal times are the most enjoyable parts of the day. No one counts the total number of academic classes we have left, instead it's how many classes til lunch. Eating breakfast b4 5am, a stomach gets hungry when lunch finally comes at 12.
Some of the classes are monotonous and hard to follow but others are interesting and fun to listen to. One instructor in particular is very animated in both gestures and voice. The way he talks reminds me of the scientist puppet from the muppets. His voice cracks a lot but he keeps on going waving his arms, throwing a large styrofoam airplane at us, and making sarcastic remarks about flying and dying that leave us unsure of whether to laugh or quit.
And a German instructor with a thick accent taught our Communications class.
Our first written test (there's two) is on Tuesday. We have to pass it (85%) to be cleared to fly later that day. So there's a temptation to solely study for the test btwn now and then, but right after the test we're taken on our first flight (the "dollar ride") for which we are supposed to know the procedures, radio calls and basic flight maneuvers. There's a balance but right now it feels like balancing a huge weight while walking on a thin rope or treading water with weights tied to my feet. But first things first; breakfast is tomorrow.
Meal times are the most enjoyable parts of the day. No one counts the total number of academic classes we have left, instead it's how many classes til lunch. Eating breakfast b4 5am, a stomach gets hungry when lunch finally comes at 12.
Some of the classes are monotonous and hard to follow but others are interesting and fun to listen to. One instructor in particular is very animated in both gestures and voice. The way he talks reminds me of the scientist puppet from the muppets. His voice cracks a lot but he keeps on going waving his arms, throwing a large styrofoam airplane at us, and making sarcastic remarks about flying and dying that leave us unsure of whether to laugh or quit.
And a German instructor with a thick accent taught our Communications class.
Our first written test (there's two) is on Tuesday. We have to pass it (85%) to be cleared to fly later that day. So there's a temptation to solely study for the test btwn now and then, but right after the test we're taken on our first flight (the "dollar ride") for which we are supposed to know the procedures, radio calls and basic flight maneuvers. There's a balance but right now it feels like balancing a huge weight while walking on a thin rope or treading water with weights tied to my feet. But first things first; breakfast is tomorrow.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
IFS TD-0
Finally at a place where I'll get to do something! Got here this afternoon with a bunch of other Lts. In the airport and on the bus here the main point of conversation was Field Training. That happened two years ago for most (three for me) and people still talk about it like last summer. It's a horrible syndrome with afrotc cadets. I think it's because it's the only experience we know we all have in common. So every time two or more cadets gather field training will be discussed, and it's never anything new. I refuse to participate.
We were given our schedule for the first 6 class days:
Lots of class time starting early in the morning (and tomorrow we have a physical fitness test at 6 (AFTER breakfast (dumb))), but I'm excited to be doing something. Everyone is given a laptop when they get here. I think it's going to be used in lieu of textbooks, which I'm fine with. Classrooms, auditoriums, lounges, the dining hall, bedrooms, shopette, barber shop, workout facilities and gym really are in one building though, so it will be entirely possible to go a few days without seeing the sun. The bedrooms are nice. I have my own (lots of people have to share a room (hotel room) with someone they don't even know) so I won't have to retreat to a bathroom to have quiet time. There's a minifridge and microwave and TV (not as big as mine but it does have 52 channels (and 52 more channels than I have)). Also we were given ID badges so we look official.
We were given our schedule for the first 6 class days:
Lots of class time starting early in the morning (and tomorrow we have a physical fitness test at 6 (AFTER breakfast (dumb))), but I'm excited to be doing something. Everyone is given a laptop when they get here. I think it's going to be used in lieu of textbooks, which I'm fine with. Classrooms, auditoriums, lounges, the dining hall, bedrooms, shopette, barber shop, workout facilities and gym really are in one building though, so it will be entirely possible to go a few days without seeing the sun. The bedrooms are nice. I have my own (lots of people have to share a room (hotel room) with someone they don't even know) so I won't have to retreat to a bathroom to have quiet time. There's a minifridge and microwave and TV (not as big as mine but it does have 52 channels (and 52 more channels than I have)). Also we were given ID badges so we look official.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Canoes
This week is going by unusually slow and I've been busy. In the weeks since I've been here I usually get all my stuff done in the morning. But this week I've done stuff in the afternoons as well so when I look back at all I've done I think that it must at least be Friday. But, it's only Wednesday.
Monday I had an actual job again. Three other guys and I had to go through each room in the unoccupied dorm building that's being renovated. In every room we had to change light bulbs, put up curtains and blinds, a few other rando things. There were about 60 rooms and it took us a little over 2.5 hours. I felt like I was actually earning money. After going through those dorms (which are old and haven't been lived in for a few months) I am extra thankful to be in the new building. Not only did those rooms look smaller but they were filthy (which was in part because they've been renovated somewhat but not cleaned (cleaning ladies come through next week)). The bathrooms were the worst. Dirt and mold in lots of places and things living in the toilet. I don't care how much those rooms get cleaned I would never live in them. And, coincidentally, all the Air Force Academy grads get here in a few weeks and those are the only dorms available. Ignorance is bliss, though, I guess. I'm def not trading.
That was Monday morning/early afternoon. Afterwards I went to pick up my check. Usually it will be direct deposit but they didn't get me in the system fast enough for this one to go through electronically. So the guy at Finance told me to go to "the cage" in the building across the street. It wasn't intense enough to be called "the cage". Apparently some other guys went as a group later and they said it felt a little like getting a check out of Fort Knox.
At 4pm that afternoon I had to show up with a bunch of other Lts and Airmen outside of HQ for "formal retreat". I guess they do it every once in a while for photo ops. We had to wear short sleeve blues (which we wear on Mondays anyway) and show up at 4. We were set and ready by 4:05. Unfortunately nothing happened until 4:30. So for 25 minutes we had the privilege of standing in direct sunlight while sweat tried its best to evaporate through our shirt and scratchy pants in 80% humidity (mostly the sweat just stayed there). Then the commander came, they lowered the flag, and we went home. Good job team.
That was Monday. Tuesday was a busy day of checking email, then it turned into Wednesday. So last night my friend from Wisconsin told me he and a couple of other guys wanted to go fishing. I've been wanting to fish so I said yes definitely. I was looking forward to sitting in a folding chair on the shore under some sweet sweet shade. Then later he mentioned that they were thinking about renting a boat. Well, there goes the shade. But I could make due. Then this morning I found out that all the boats were gone so it was kayaks and canoes. Now this is wear it started to sound like work. But I had already committed so, whatever. Still could have a nice time, leisurely floating on a lake. 4 hours, 9.5 miles LATER down a RIVER we finally made it to here:
where we dropped one of the trucks off beforehand. No, that is not our tent but it did look like someone lived there. And fortunately we made it back just before it started doing this:
You can't tell but it was really raining hard. Thankfully, we found shade most of the time we were paddling (and I should really call it working because now I'm tired and I'm sure I'll be sore in the morning) and there was a breeze so we didn't roast to death. I didn't bring enough water and the only other supplies the other guys brought was beer, so they were happy. The first three hours was quite nice. A couple of guys caught fish (two fish) and we hit the occasional current. Had to paddle most of the time. The last hour I went into a dazed zone til we finished. Not the lazy fishing trip I was hoping for. I'll ask more questions next time like, "will I have to do any work?"
Friday, July 15, 2011
Had to go to the medical clinic today to get some shots. I was sitting in the waiting room waiting my turn with another Lt from UGA while another Lt from Wisconsin was getting his shots. Wisconsin came out and we started talking and after a bit he sat down. UGA asked him about the TB shot and Wisconsin just stared at him funny, made a "uuhhhh" noise and started to lean to the side. The stare became a glare and the lean became a fall. We quickly grabbed him before he hit the ground and called the nurse in to help. She stood him up and walked him back to the exam room so he could lay down.
So UGA and I are waiting for OUR shots and we ask the nurse if we switch career fields now will we still have to have the shot Wisconsin got. Turns out he has always passed out when giving blood. He was fine after a few minutes.
My shots went fine and now I have these band-aids.
So UGA and I are waiting for OUR shots and we ask the nurse if we switch career fields now will we still have to have the shot Wisconsin got. Turns out he has always passed out when giving blood. He was fine after a few minutes.
My shots went fine and now I have these band-aids.
Cushy Government Job
I started playing Escape From Monkey Island again because I couldn't think of anything else to do. Towards the beginning of the game you have to convince two pirates to join your crew but they're unwilling because last time they helped you they ended up stranded on a desert island. So this time you have to find a way to bribe them. Fortunately your wife is the Governor of the island and there are government contracts lying around your house. One of them is a regular government contract job. You show that to the two pirates and they are not impressed. So you go back to your house and find a "Cushy" government job contract form, offer that to the pirates and they join immediately. All that to say playing Monkey Island has made me realize I have a cushy government job.
I calculated how much I'm working and figured this month I'm getting paid about $40/hour PLUS benefits and a free military email account I can check on base everyday. Not too bad. It's slow but it really is nice. I wake up any time before 10am so I can sign in and that is literally all I have to do everyday. That and checking email. It could be much worse. One friend, Brad (who's in the same position I'm in), got tasked with urinalysis checker. We all dreamed of coming here and regaling our friends and family at home with awesome stories. Brad gets to call home and tell his friends he watches grown men pee into a cup. Best of all he had to go to training for the two week job.
And now I have a TV! I had no intention of getting one so soon but there was one on Woot.com the other day for a ridiculous price and I knew I wanted one before football season started. It came yesterday and I was so excited that I managed to reschedule the rest of my day just so I could set it up. I took it out of the box, cleared the space where I was going to put it, plugged it into the outlet, and realized that's all I had to plug it into. No dvd player, no hdmi cord, and no cable (I won't be here at all next month so I figured I wouldn't waste a month's cable bill). Granted, I knew this would be the case when I bought the TV it just really hit me when I set the TV up. Having nothing else to do (because I rescheduled my day (not because there's never anything else to do)) I still turned the TV on, switched to different inputs, set up the clock and then just watched the white fuzz for a while...but in 42" of HD fuzz!!! Then I checked my email.
I calculated how much I'm working and figured this month I'm getting paid about $40/hour PLUS benefits and a free military email account I can check on base everyday. Not too bad. It's slow but it really is nice. I wake up any time before 10am so I can sign in and that is literally all I have to do everyday. That and checking email. It could be much worse. One friend, Brad (who's in the same position I'm in), got tasked with urinalysis checker. We all dreamed of coming here and regaling our friends and family at home with awesome stories. Brad gets to call home and tell his friends he watches grown men pee into a cup. Best of all he had to go to training for the two week job.
And now I have a TV! I had no intention of getting one so soon but there was one on Woot.com the other day for a ridiculous price and I knew I wanted one before football season started. It came yesterday and I was so excited that I managed to reschedule the rest of my day just so I could set it up. I took it out of the box, cleared the space where I was going to put it, plugged it into the outlet, and realized that's all I had to plug it into. No dvd player, no hdmi cord, and no cable (I won't be here at all next month so I figured I wouldn't waste a month's cable bill). Granted, I knew this would be the case when I bought the TV it just really hit me when I set the TV up. Having nothing else to do (because I rescheduled my day (not because there's never anything else to do)) I still turned the TV on, switched to different inputs, set up the clock and then just watched the white fuzz for a while...but in 42" of HD fuzz!!! Then I checked my email.
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