We got the drop from the ENJJPT board today, and I didn't get selected. I was really hoping to get picked up, but it's still all good. I have NO room at all to complain since I've been totally blessed to get a pilot slot in the first place! Before I talked to my FTO I told the guys I was sitting with that if God wants me in ENJJPT then I'll be there, and if not I won't...end of discussion. So, it's obvious where He wants me to be. The cups always half full in my life because it makes things a whole lot better!I'm looking at it this way...since I'm gunning for the fighter/bomber track, I'll be flying the upgraded T-38C at Columbus which is the only base at this point that has them. It's got the new "glass" (LCD's and the whole 9 yards) cockpit along with some upgrades to the intakes and engines. I'm not complaining at all. I still have a slight chance the I may get into Moody AFB to fly the new T-6 for pilot training since the guy who was the ENJJPT select had orders there...we'll see what happens. Anyway, I wanted to let everyone know the latest from down here. I'm down a bit just because I like to kick butt and do my best, but everything is in His hands...right where it should be. Oh, I wanted to mention that I saw a couple guys down here that I went to college with. One is here in the OTS Commissioned Officer Training (COT) School, which is for the medical and lawyer types, and the other I saw at the Cadet pool yesterday afternoon. He works at Wright Patterson AFB where I came from, and is down here for Aerospace Basic Course (ABC). And yes, I said the pool. They have a really nice pool here on base that we can use on the weekends...it helps get ride of the nice farmer's tan most of us have going on these days. It was good to see a couple guys from home to catch up on what I had been missing while away.
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...
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.
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...
The time has flown by and soon Class 03-06 will be graduating! It's kind of hard to believe the time has come, but when you're so busy all the time you don't realize it. It's been a great time and a good experience, but I'm ready to move on to Columbus AFB. I plan to arrive at the base around the 12th of July after spending some time with friends and family. I'm actually doing to be at a wedding in Michigan the day after graduation, but the drive won't be too bad since my best friend Kendall will be heading back with me. Most people (even the bride to be) doesn't know I'll be there, so it'll be a good time.
The most memorable part of our time at MOE was the C-130 ride we were able to take. We were all pretty pumped when we got the word because our upper class wasn't able to take one. Since the MOE site is located pretty close to of the taxiways and runways, it was pretty easy for us to jump in the back and strap in for the ride. Being close to the runway was also cool because we were right there to watch the C-130's here at the base practice some touch-n-go's along with the T-37's and T-38's that did the same thing while we were out there. Pretty cool stuff. Anyway, the ride lasted about 20-30 minutes during which time the pilot took us through some pretty simple banks and turns. We were also allowed to get up and walk around for a part of it, and check out the cockpit as well. Once the load master on board had us take our seats for landing, the pilot brought us in low and fast over the airfield and banked hard to the right about 45 degrees...I would guess about 2-4 g's. It was a good time, especially for those of us heading to pilot training soon!
The last day of MOE we had the chance to do an obstacle/confidence course as a flight...the kind of stuff I had been waiting for. It's called the Vigilant Warrior Course and was made up of 15 different obstacles. They all varied in difficulty, and for the most part everyone was able to make it through. It was also one of the better times during that week, and was a good thing to end on.
Well, the OTS section of my website will be ending pretty soon and I'll be on to Introductory Flight Training at my next duty station (Columbus AFB, MS in case you forgot). I hope those of you who've been able to read my site have enjoyed it and have gotten something out of it...especially those who are looking into OTS alone, or OTS and SUPT. I'll have one more post on this specific page with info from graduation and that will be it for OTS. The journey's just beginning and I'm having a good time so far...I'm excited to see where God's going to take me over the next 10-20 years!
