WE'RE ALMOST DONE!

Finally, we're done with all the stuff that we have to pass in order to graduate...what a load off! I passed my final PFT with a 447 (90 push-ups, 90 sit-ups, and 9:16 1.5 mile run), a satisfactory on my final briefing and a 96% on the CWT. Overall, not a bad week. To celebrate, a bunch of us are going off base to Smokey Bones Grillhouse to relax and enjoy some time together without the academic stress of this place on our shoulders...yeah baby!

I forgot to mention one thing we had this week that makes for one of the better times here at OTS. It's called Leadership Reaction Course. It's basically a bunch of different obstacles that we as a flight have to make it through in 20 minutes with someone in the group as the designated leader. In each obstacle there are a limited amount of supplies (ropes, boards, etc.) and there are also certain areas of the obstacles you can't touch...these are designated by being painted red. Anyway, it's a good time to be outside and it usually takes three days for everyone to get the chance to lead once. We kicked butt on most of them, and I was able to get my team through when leading. I came out of it with a high satisfactory grade, so I'm good to go. To clarify the grading system...it goes unsat, low sat, sat, high sat, outstanding.

This coming week we're going to have an awesome time at our Mobility Operations Exercise (MOE). It's a simulation of what it takes to get ready for deployment and then what it's kind of like during deployment. We'll end up packing our ruck sacks full of stuff for 3-4 days and then hike however far it is out to the Blue Thunder site...a mock tent city much like you'd see out in the desert or somewhere like that. While there we'll be participating in more leadership stuff and different exercises. Finally we'll be getting dirty for a few days...what I've been wanting to do the whole time I've been here. The classroom gets old after awhile. The first evening of the exercise we get to take a C-130 ride (HOOAH!!), which is going to rock. Then towards the end we get to do a confidence course (ropes/obstacle course) before heading back here to campus. It should be a good time to relax, let our "hair" down a bit and meet some other classmates we don't really know yet.

It's very hard to believe that our graduation is only a few weeks away because it seems like yesterday that I was pulling in all nervous about OTS. Now we're almost out of here and on to bigger and better things...for some of us that's FLYING!! My FTO told me yesterday that the ENJJPT board met this past Tuesday and I should know before I head out to MOE...man, I'm anxiously awaiting. I'll be so blessed if God allows me to get into that program. I'll be sure to let everyone know as soon as I find out what the deal is. Keep it real, and I'll be back soon...

OTS Air Show

We had an awesome surprise today here on base. This week the officer's at the Air War College here on base graduated. To liven up the atmosphere a little with all this going on, they arranged to have a small air show with some awesome aircraft. They had a B-1, C-130, F-15C, F-15E, F-16, T-6, T-37, T-38, AWACS (if you have no idea what those are, check out my post from 15 Oct 2002) and some others sitting out on the flight line. Thankfully they let us out of class a little early to check them out and take some pictures. To top that off, about 1745 there was a B-2 flyover followed by a T-6 and F-15C demonstration...talk about being pumped up for pilot training!! It definitely made my OTS experience that much better.


On another note, next week is another big week here at OTS. We have CWT and PFT #3 along with our last briefing/presentation. After that, all our graded measures will be done and we'll only have a couple weeks left until graduation! Tonight I'll be getting a good start on the briefing, which is given on Monday, so I can take some time to head off base again. We're all planning to go out Saturday night for dinner. Overall, things have bee going very well for me here at OTS. It's where God wants me, and that's an awesome feeling and it gives me confidence to press on and give it everything I have.

Next Assignment: Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi

I finally got my orders today...I'll be headed to Columbus AFB, MS for pilot training at the 14th Flying Training Wing if I don't get into ENJJPT, which I won't find that out for another few weeks. Columbus is one of many bases in Air Education & Training Command (AETC), with the patch above. It wasn't my first choice (Moody AFB, GA was), but it's better than Oklahoma or Texas in my opinion. No matter where I'm training I'm pumped to have a pilot slot! I'll be flying the good old T-37 Tweet and then hopefully the T-38C Talon. HOOAH!! While I'm on casual status at Columbus, not in UPT yet, I'll be working on getting my private pilot's license (IFT). That will be a good time to relax some before hitting it hard. It won't be long before I'm out of here and on my way. Bring it on!

After graduation I have to report to Brooks AFB in San Antonio, TX for another pilot physical...my report date is July 6th. This is the last big medical screening pilots go through before they head to their pilot training base. After leaving Brooks AFB on the 8th, I have until the 15th to get to Columbus AFB...fun times. I'll be driving around like a crazy man for a couple weeks, but it's all good. More later...

Lower Class Arrives

Man, talk about a hectic and tiring week!! If feel like I've been living two lives with making sure my new lower class flight (Flight 4-10) is where they need to be as well as looking after my own schedule. Overall, they're doing very well and have been picking up their procedures quickly; something their FTO will be expecting of them come next week. It's game on from here on out! We have 5 navigators in my flight...most of who will be trying to get into nav training at Pensacola Naval Base in FL in order to fly in the F-15E or the B-1.

I'm definitely glad we have a long weekend...Monday is Memorial Day, which is sweet because this is the first weekend we get to drive off base and hang out!! Finally, I can leave the OTS environment and relax for a few hours. I'm not sure what we're going to do, but it'll be fun regardless. Today we have our second briefing, and this is the first one that's graded. I'm not too nervous since I was able to get some good practice in this morning while 4-10 was in class. I'm giving my briefing on General Muir S. Fairchild...he's largely responsible for starting Air University right here Maxwell AFB. But, I'm sure you could care less so I won't bore you. It's kind of interesting, but history isn't really my bag.

After today we only have two more weeks of graded measures!! HOOAH!! After that we'll have our mobility exercise in "tent city" here on base to simulate a deployment. We also have the Vigilant Warrior Course, which is an obstacle course we'll all have to get through as a flight. So, there are some good times ahead. Soon after that I'll be looking forward to seeing my family and my best friend Kendall down here for my graduation! Time is flying by...Well, that's all for now. I should be a good OT and go practise my brief a few more times before I head out for drill competition practice. I'll be carrying our squadron's guidon (the pole with our squadron's pennant at the top) our in front of the formation for our parade, so I need to be on the ball for that.

Upper Class Graduation

Well, in a few short hours our upper class will be out of here at 2d Lts. It's been a pretty awesome day so far to see then get commission...something I'm looking forward to VERY much. I can't wait to get to pilot training and serve the great USA! This morning I was asked to sing the National Anthem in two commissioning ceremonies, and both went well. I was a little nervous, but since I've sang quite a bit growing up it wasn't bad at all. I'm also glad week #6 is over with! It's by far been the most hectic week so far. Here's a brief list of what I had to do (and I'll probably forget some things since my brain is a little fried right now).

- PFD #2 on Monday morning (I scored a 442 this time...HOOAH!)
- ENJJPT memo due to FTO on Tuesday (that takes longer than it may sound so it sounds good)
- News brief on Wednesday
- CWT#2 on Thursday (I dropped a bit to a 90%...kind of sucks!)
- Family Night stuff for the upper class from about 1100 to 2130 on Thursday
- Singing the National Anthem in 2 ceremonies this morning...one at 0700 and the other at 0815
- This was in addition to all the regular classes, memos, and other things that happen regularly.

But, now it's OVER. After I'm done here, I'll be heading out the other parade grounds for the graduation parade and that should be a good time. Gives me chills just thinking about how awesome our graduation is going to be...if you think that's retarded well think again. You need to be more patriotic!!Alright, that's it for now...keep pressing forward and don't give up! God's in control.