Officers Training School...Around the Corner

Tomorrow is officially my last day here at Wright Patterson AFB...it's going fast! That gives me about a week and a half to enjoy some time down on Hilton Head Island in SC with my family before I drive to Montgomery. At this point I'm pretty much ready to go except for ironing some more uniform stuff and working on polishing my boots. I should be good to go once OTS starts. My digital camera came by FedEX yesterday, so now I'll be ready to take pictures as these new events in my life come about. I hope I have time to update this page often! I have one more party here in OH planned for Friday, April 4th the evening of the day I swear in at the MEPS in Columbus. I'm going to miss a lot of people, but above all of that I'm ready to step "into the blue." In case I don't get a chance to update my page again before OTS starts, thanks for following my progress this far. Keep me in your prayers...

America Goes to War

Last night was a very tense time for the USA. I was watching Star Search on TV when it was interrupted by a special news report on ABC stating that explosions and anti-aircraft fire had started in Baghdad. Along with that sirens could be heard loud and clear, which meant coalition planes were on their way or bombing had begun somewhere. It had been said that the CIA had received Intel on the whereabouts of some Iraqi leaders, and they were a "target of opportunity." Reality set in with a sense of excitement and nervousness on my part knowing that one day I could be over there flying in a war serving the country. Most people expect that the bombing campaign the US has planned in the opening moments of the war will get underway within the next couple days as night falls on Iraq.I'm VERY thankful we have George W. Bush as our president at a time like this. He's a man of God and a man of his word...thank the Lord he's leading us! He's got character and doesn't take crap from anyone...that's my kind of leader!I don't think this will have much of an effect on my OTS training, but they may alter some things if we're on higher alert at Maxwell AFB. Plus, the war will be so fresh in everyone's mind that I'm sure they won't be able to help creating a different atmosphere that is typical of peace time training. I'm still ready to get the ball rolling.

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.