Last Flight At Shaw

Today I flew my last flight here at Shaw AFB.  This was my third fini flight (Aviano fini / Kunsan fini).  Seems just like the other day Lana and I drove in the front gate, the two of us, and now we're departing for Germany as a family of four!  It's tradition that the squadron pilots wrestle those flying their fini flight to the ground, duck tape their hands and feet, and then spray them with water.  Lana, Liam, and Lilli were there as well to celebrate a great assignment here in South Carolina.

Tomorrow Lana and I will put our final cleaning touches on the house (renters move in on Monday) and I have some outprocessing appointments to attend before leaving next week.  Next Monday I have my final out appointment where I finalize all the departure paperwork...Tuesday we're on a Lufthansa flight, flying business class to Munich!  Before that day arrives, our dinner plans are booked each night with friends as we say one last goodbye.  Thanks to all those who make this assignment a good one...fly safe, check six!

Family Visits One Last Time

Since Lilli was born and because we're leaving for Germany soon, most of my family has been able to make it down for a quick trip.  It's been great seeing everyone and look forward to hopefully having them visit Europe!

Short Trip to Hilton Head, SC

Two weeks ago we sold Lana's car and this past Friday we took our BMW to the Charleston port for shipment to Germany.  Thanks to our neighbors and friends from church for letting us borrow their cars!  Since we were already at the coast, we decided to make a short holiday out of it and spend a couple days in Hilton Head, SC.  It was our first trip as a family of four and an enjoyable time.

While there we rented bikes for a ride on the hard sandy beach, had great food, and enjoyed relaxing by the pool (until storms arrived).  This was our last trip in the USA for a few years while we're living in Germany.  We move to Germany in only two short weeks!

Selected For Major

Today I received word I was selected for the rank of Major.  Along with that, I was also selected to attend Air Command and Staff College (ACSC) in residence (some accomplish this online only).  Major is a little different in that I won't pin on the rank for another year or so.  The Air Force can only have so many Majors, so I have to wait until either enough retire or get promoted to Lt Colonel.  It was June of 2007 when I pinned on Captain rank while stationed at Aviano (click here).

As a Major, I'll continue to do my Weapons Officer job at Spangdahlem for the next three years.  After our assignment in Germany is when I would attend ACSC and then do a staff job (usuallt no flying) after.  It is also the point I could get out of the active duty Air Force and join the Air National Guard or Air Force Reserves either part or full time.  After I completed pilot training in January of 2005 I incurred a 10 year commitment to the active duty Air Force, which is up in 2015.  So, we'll see where God leads us in the future...more traveling and seeing the World in the meantime!

Germany Soon...

In a little less than a month we will be on our way to Spangdahlem, Gemany to start our next assignment, enjoying Lufthansa business class enroute (Lana is still on flight attendant maternity leave).  Before then, we have to drop a car at the Charleston, SC port, pack up our house, and receive Liam and Lillian's passports in the mail.  Thankfully, the extent of our packing is essentially organizing our things for the moving company to pack.  We have three different shippments starting the 3rd of April and our house should be empty by the 11th.  Thankfully we already have renters for our house, who move in on the 16th of April.

Lana and I are really looking forward to being in Europe again and look forward to the many travel opportunities.  Castles, the Alps, gasthof's, schnitzel and more await us!  Our first stop will be in Munich to visit Lana's family there.  I'm taking three weeks off so that we can relax a bit and spend some time in the German Alps before getting back into the work routine.  I think I mentioned this previously, but it is a blessing to be stationed at Spangdahlem.  I know of other F-16 pilots who have not been to Europe at all, and we'll have been at both European F-16 bases.

Once at Spangdahlem, we will be living on base until we're able to find a house off base we like.  So far Lana and I have a town we think we'd like to live in, but we'll have to see what it's like in person first.  We'll also be buying a second car...we just sold Lana's this past Sunday after advertising it on the internet for one day.  The Air Force will only ship one of our vehicles overseas.  Once we're somewhat settled, I'll start flying in the 480th Fighter Squadron and eventually take over as their Weapons Offcer sometime mid summer.  My job title will be "Chief of Weapons and Tactics."  While here at Shaw I've been instructing a lot, but have not been a squadron "patch" yet.  As the schedule stands right now, I have 3-4 flights left here at Shaw before we move...the time is passing fast!