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...