Lana, Liam, and I just returned from a long and relaxing weekend in Arizona. Last Wednesday we departed for the Grand Canyon, and then made our way to Ft. Tuthill military recreation area in Flagstaff. This was Lana's first time seeing the Grand Canyon and my third, but it's still just as impressive as the first time I saw it!
The next day we made our way down to Phoenix for Thanksgiving lunch with some friends of our from our previous time at Aviano Air Base, Italy. Both of our families have grown since then and it was a nice time to catch up. The following day we drove from Ft. Tuthill alone the Oak Creek Canyon Highway to the town of Sedona. The drive almost made us feel as though we were back in Europe again; winding roads and rock faces thousands of feet high. The red rocks of Sedona are quite the sight to see with it being the first time for both of us.
We spent Saturday as a family relaxing at Ft. Tuthill and went on a short hike back in Oak Creek Canyon. It was a great way to celebrate Weapons School being essentially over, with two more flights left. We'll be on the road home in about two weeks!
More Pictures:
Grand Canyon & Sedona
This coming spring, Lana and I will be moving to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany where I'll be the Weapons Officer of the 480th Fighter Squadron Warhawks! It was a surprise to us, and the news came about in the course of 2-3 days. We're excited at the chance to live in Europe again, especially Germany since Lana is from there.
We'll be leaving Shaw AFB around mid April to arrive at Spangdahlem the beginning of May. Lana is due 19 Feb with baby #2, so this will give us time to get the passport for our flight over. We have enjoyed our time at Shaw, and can hardly believe it's been almost 2 years since we arrived. We're moving about 10 months early according to the 'normal' 3 years time on station military members usually have at a particular assignment.
Well, I need to get ready and head to work...3 more flights in the Weapons phase here at Weapons School, and then a nice long Thanksgiving weekend with the family!
Weapons School graduation is about one month away, and it's hard to believe we're already at this point in the program. The days 'fly' by when going 100 mph from the time you walk in to the squadron until leaving 12-14 hours later. After a quick dinner, trying to figure out exactly what to brief for the next day's flight and some sleep, it's time to do it all over again the next day. The days go slow when you desire to spend more time with your wife and child. I'm looking forward to a nice long break over the Christmas holiday with them and family!
I have three more flights in the Weapons Phase before Thanksgiving his here. The flying has been better than any other I've done, and will be the part I miss the most after WIC is done. Just yesterday I planned, briefed, and lead a destruction of enemy air defenses (DEAD) flight consisting of 10 x F-16s, 4 x F-15Es, 3 x EA-18Gs, and 2 x B-1s...it's the best training in the world. The flight went well too, which is always a bonus after the long hours of preparation. God is good!
For the long Thanksgiving weekend, I'm taking Lana and Liam to Ft. Tuthill military recreation center in Arizona from where we plan to visit the Grand Canyon and Sedona. It'll be a nice break together after completing Weapons!
Since the last post we have entered the close air support (CAS) phase of Weapons School. This type of training prepares pilots who execute this mission in situations where the Army needs over watch by fighters ready to employ weapons on the enemy. CAS has been what F-16s have been doing in Iraq and Afghanistan for the last 10 years, but that is in a very low threat environment. Here at Weapons School CAS takes place with multiple surface to air threats we have to avoid while still providing support to the ground troops referred to as high threat CAS. At the end of this next week CAS will be over and we'll be on to our last phase: Weapons.
Weapons is the final phase where all the different platforms integrate on every mission working together to accomplish the mission. Lots of long days and hard work ahead, but the light at the end of the tunnel is getting a little brighter. I just finished my research paper this afternoon as well...35 pages!
Lana and Liam arrived earlier this month and are staying with friends of ours we met while stationed at Aviano. It's great having them here, and it's amazing how much Liam changed while we were apart. Lana is 5 months with our #2, who is due in February. We spent last weekend in San Diego at the Navy base on North Island across the bay from downtown. It was a nice and relaxing time for us after the time apart.
Lana and Liam will be here in a couple weeks. Three months was long enough!
