Officers Training School...Around the Corner

Tomorrow is officially my last day here at Wright Patterson AFB...it's going fast! That gives me about a week and a half to enjoy some time down on Hilton Head Island in SC with my family before I drive to Montgomery. At this point I'm pretty much ready to go except for ironing some more uniform stuff and working on polishing my boots. I should be good to go once OTS starts. My digital camera came by FedEX yesterday, so now I'll be ready to take pictures as these new events in my life come about. I hope I have time to update this page often! I have one more party here in OH planned for Friday, April 4th the evening of the day I swear in at the MEPS in Columbus. I'm going to miss a lot of people, but above all of that I'm ready to step "into the blue." In case I don't get a chance to update my page again before OTS starts, thanks for following my progress this far. Keep me in your prayers...

America Goes to War

Last night was a very tense time for the USA. I was watching Star Search on TV when it was interrupted by a special news report on ABC stating that explosions and anti-aircraft fire had started in Baghdad. Along with that sirens could be heard loud and clear, which meant coalition planes were on their way or bombing had begun somewhere. It had been said that the CIA had received Intel on the whereabouts of some Iraqi leaders, and they were a "target of opportunity." Reality set in with a sense of excitement and nervousness on my part knowing that one day I could be over there flying in a war serving the country. Most people expect that the bombing campaign the US has planned in the opening moments of the war will get underway within the next couple days as night falls on Iraq.I'm VERY thankful we have George W. Bush as our president at a time like this. He's a man of God and a man of his word...thank the Lord he's leading us! He's got character and doesn't take crap from anyone...that's my kind of leader!I don't think this will have much of an effect on my OTS training, but they may alter some things if we're on higher alert at Maxwell AFB. Plus, the war will be so fresh in everyone's mind that I'm sure they won't be able to help creating a different atmosphere that is typical of peace time training. I'm still ready to get the ball rolling.

More Preparation and Relaxation

Well, yesterday marked exactly 3 weeks until I start driving down to AL. I know the time is going to fly by! This past weekend I was able to make it home to Adrian, MI to hang out with friends and family. It was a good time to see everyone on Friday night at my place, and it worked out well because some of my friends who are away at school were home. I think the most fun I had was riding the 4-wheeler my dad bought over Christmas. There was just enough snow to make things interesting along with a huge water hole just deep enough to get through. My best friend and a couple of my brothers and I tore around for a few hours...I'm surprised the thing still works! Saturday was cool too. My best friend and I got up about 6:45 and headed over to my old high school (Lenawee Christian School) for a work out called Pump-n-Pray. It's set up with about 40 different stations you do for 45 sec. each with 15 sec. in between to rotate stations. It's a great overall workout. After that we improved our being in shape even more by stopping by the local doughnut shop. HA-HA! =) Later on in the afternoon we drove to Western Michigan Univ. to watch my sister's vball team play in the state finals...they kicked rear and won!I'll be picking up the last of my uniforms from the alteration shop next Tues. I decided to have by Battle Dress Uniforms (BDUs...camos) dry cleaned and starched so they're ready to go. I'm also having the pockets sewn shut so that they lay nice and flat...it'll be one less thing to get in trouble. In about a week and a half I'm I'll be leaving my job on base so that I can have a week with my family down in Hilton Head, SC. That's going to be awesome, and a good time to relax some before OTS starts. I'm going to try and get my butt out of bed early and do some PT just so my body is a little more used to getting up. Overall things are coming together well. I know with the current situation our nation is in people are nervous, but God's in control. If we're still at war in about 3 or so years, then that's when I'd be involved somehow as a pilot. Until then I'll be training my butt off! That's all for now, more later...

Good Info

This past Monday when I was getting my uniforms, I forgot to mention I ran into a girl that had just graduated from OTS back in February and had her first assignment here at Wright Patterson AFB. We exchanged contact information, and ended up talking about OTS for two hours yesterday over in the B-2 System Program Office (SPO) where she works. It was a good time for her to explain what to expect and spill some of the inside "tricks of the trade." A lot of things I had heard or read about, but there was still a lot of good info for me to pick up. We're going to meet once or twice more before I head out for the same reasons. I'll take all the inside gouge I can get to make my transition into the program as smooth as possible...I've heard the first 2-3 weeks are the hardest. I don't think meeting her was chance...I'll chalk that one up to providence! My workout schedule has been going pretty well, and I've been sticking to the plan for the most part. I was able to run outside finally yesterday since the weather is starting to warm up here in OH. I'm going to try my best to be in the 400 Club on all of my PFTs while in training...we'll see what happens. I've been told the 400 Club are those that are at the top when it comes to physical conditioning. Alright, I'm headed home this weekend (Adrian, MI) to see my family and have a party with some friends. It should be a good time since that will be the last time I'm home with people I grew up with. I'm out for now...

Preparations...

Since last Tuesday, I've been working on getting prepared for OTS. I've set up some bills for automatic withdraw from my checking account, ordered a digital camera to take a long and started the necessary paperwork in order to leave my job here at Wright Patterson AFB. I also will be purchasing as many of my OTS uniforms as I can today...I'm meeting my recruiter at the military clothing store this morning for that purpose. I've been told to prepare to spend about $1700 for my uniforms and other necessary things, $700 of which is paid for by the Air Force. Getting a lot of this out of the way now will make the first week or two a lot less hectic and stressful if I don't have to worry about uniforms, alterations and getting my name tags sewn on. I'll be meeting with my recruiter tomorrow as well to go over some last details on my paperwork and to sign some things. When that's done, I'll have a copy of all my paperwork (in case somethings lost along the way) and will be ready to head to the MEPS in Columbus, OH for swearing in April 4th at 5:30 AM. I will be enlisted (E-5) for the three months I'm in training before I'm commissioned as a 2nd Lt. Over the past week or so, I've also met some of my future classmates on the OTS message board. Some of us are going to be meeting the night before we head to Maxwell at Outback Steakhouse in Montgomery, AL to relax and enjoy each other's company before the training begins. Some are also meeting earlier in the day for golf...I might do that if I'm down there in time.Well, I guess that's all for now...check back in a few days.

Physical Conditioning

It's always good to be better prepared for something that not be be prepared enough right? That's what I think at least, and that's why I've become a regular in the gym here on base. I guess I've always been one to lift and run a lot just because I feel lazy otherwise. Now I have a better reason to be doing so other than just staying in shape and to keep from getting fat. I want to be able to perform my best at OTS not only mentally but physically.

This month (starting yesterday) I've put myself on a little stricter routine in the gym that will consist of the following throughout the week (subject to chance a bit =):

Monday: Run 4 miles
Work on abs and lower back for another 30 min.
Do a few light sets of push-ups

Tuesday: Work on chest - flat, incline, decline bench and cable crossovers
Work on abs and lower back
Work on biceps/triceps

Wednesday: Run 4 miles
Work on abs and lower back
Do a few light sets of push-ups

Thursday: Work on legs - leg press, calve raises and leg curls
Work on upper and middle back - pull ups, pull downs and rows
Work on shoulders
Do a few light sets of push-ups

Friday: Run 4 miles
Work on abs and lower back
Do a few light sets of push-ups

Saturday: Work on chest only doing some hard sets of push-ups (since that's all the chest workout I'll be getting for 3 months) - regular, wide arm and diamond push-ups.
Also, I'll do some with my feet raised on a bench...probably one set of each.
Work on abs and lower back (there's no real reason for doing these every day...just has become a habit)

It may not be the best workout plan there is, but at least it will help me get prepared for OTS. I will increase the running or at least the amount of time it takes over the few weeks ahead.Sometime before I head out, I'm going to meet again with my recruiter to go over any last details before leaving. I also have to go back to the MEPS for some paperwork and other things. Soon, I'll be on the road!! I guess that's all for now...I'll try my best to update this when I have time. Thanks, and God bless!

Getting Ready For OTS

First of all, I have to attend Officer Training School (OTS) in order to be commissioned into the Air Force as a 2nd Lieutenant with my gold bars. This process is approximately 12-13 weeks long, and takes place at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, AL. This is what some may refer to as "boot camp," but there will also be a lot of class time spent learning AF doctrine, history and customs and courtesies. Each day will start at 5:00 AM with PT and end at 10:30 PM after homework and preparing for the next day. From what I've heard it's a huge lesson in how to organize and prioritize the amount of time you have in a day to get the important things done. It's just one step towards getting my wings...

Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training (SUPT)

For those of you who don't know much about Air Force pilot training, I have tried to summarize the program on this page. First of all, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training (SUPT) is approximately 1 year in length and is divided up into three phases called Phase I, II and III accordingly. Phase I is 6 weeks long in which the time is spent in the classroom doing ground school and learning all there is to know about the first trainer flown in Phase II. Part of this includes learning how the ejection seat works, how to parachute by doing some parasailing behind a truck (sounds fun!!) and understanding the effects of altitude on a person without Oxygen. You gotta be ready to hit the flight line running! At this point, the Air Force is flying two primary trainers in Phase II, the T-37 Tweet and the T-6 Texan II. The T-6 will has almost completely phased out the T-37 because it's been around since the 50's. So, depending on which training base a pilot is assigned to determines which plane they'll be flying.

As Phase II draws to a close at the end of about week 30, each student will "track select" and head into Phase III. This process determines which track each student pilot will take for the next 24 weeks, and is dependent upon a few things. First, each student fills out their "dream sheet" listing in order of priority which trainer they want to fly next. This will either be the T-38 Talon for the fighter/bomber route, the T-1 Jayhawk for the cargo/tanker route, the T-44 Pegasus for the C-130 route or the UH-1H Huey for the helicopter route. Phase II for the helicopter guys takes place at Ft. Rucker, AL, and for the C-130 guys at Corpus Christi, TX. Second, the rank of each student in the class is taken into account and is based upon how they're doing in the classroom and in the air. Those who have been kicking butt in the classroom and flying great in the air will be at the top and have a better chance of getting their first choice. I've also heard there is another factor...instructor input. If they like you, they'll be more willing to "go to bat" and help you pursue your dreams.

The process at the end of Phase III is similar to that of Phase II where another "dream sheet" is filled out and the class ranking and instructor input are taken into account. This time the order of priority is for which platform the student wants to fly for the rest of their time in the Air Force...there may be a chance to fly a different aircraft later on of course. For those who fly the T-38, there are five fighter jets currently being flown and three bombers. They are the A-10 Thunderbolt, the F-15C Eagle, the F-15E Strike Eagle, the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the F-22 Raptor. The F-22 is already replacing the F-15C and the F-35 Lightning II will begin to replace the F-16 around 2012. Overall each of these planes has it's own specific mission, or in other words was designed with a specific purpose (i.e. air-to-air, air-to-ground, close-air-support). The bombers include the B-1 Lancer, the B-2 Spirit (Stealth Bomber), and the B-52 Stratofortress. The F-117 Stealth Fighter has been retired. If the T-1 track is taken there are also a number of cargo and tanker planes out there, although not as many. These include the C-5 Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster III, the C-21, the KC-10 Extender and the KC-135 Stratotanker. The C-5 and C-17 are the cargo planes, the C-21 is a "bigwig" taxi for Generals, and the KC-10 and KC-135 are the tankers.

For those that track into flying C-130s, there are many different models they can fly once finished at in TX. The AC-130H/U Gunship is one of them, which is used for special ops type missions. Overall I think there are around 4-5 different models equipped for different missions. After completion of the Huey track, there are a few different helicopters they can fly once finished at Ft. Rucker. These choices include the HH-60 Pave Hawk, MH-53 Pave Low and the UH-1N Huey.

What track do I have hopes of getting you ask?! Well, I first want to say that I will not be dissappointed with flying any of the aircraft for the best Air Force in the world! But, if I had my dream this is what track I'd like (at this point...it may change as I talk to pilots and find out more of what the lifestyle is with each plane). T-6, T-38, F-15 or F-16, and then if I'm fortunate enough either the F-22 or F-35. A lot of that will depend on if I end up doing something like Test Pilot School down the road. So, there you have it...altogether I can plan on 2-3 years until I'm a fully operational Air Force pilot flying the friendly blue skies. That includes Water Survival Training in Pensecola, FL and Combat Survival Training out in Seattle, WA. Whenever you guys think of it, keep me in your prayers as I go through this. It's going to be some of the most memorable years of my life and the hardest. I'm glad I have this awesome opportunity to serve the USAF like this, and I hope I can make a positive difference...GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!

Added Nov 2008:

Sadly, I have to added a little more to the SUPT process...I'm not exactly sure how it's working, but I do know guys are now getting unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) directly from pilot training. The three types of UAVs possible are the Global Hawk, Predator and Reaper. Again, I don't know how it's all working, but be prepared for this. If you work your tail off in pilot training, you should be ok!