spectre56

My post got deleted! Oh well, still pretty amusing!

So, we got here to Travis this morning at 1 AM...ugh, what a drive. We left monday and made it to Albuquerque in about 9 hours. Left at about 10 AM and finally made it to our new home for a couple years. I don't have to check in until monday, so i'm relaxing and exploring the area as best as I can and trying to find a place to live. If any of you have any suggestions about where to live around here, feel free to let me know. There's a thread on the forums specifically about Travis, but any other suggestions are welcome. I probably won't post anything else until monday or something more interesting starts happening. I get to start the "fun" process of checking in monday, so i'll probably put something on here about that as there will probably be something very frustrating happen in all that. We'll see!

Thanks, I'm getting excited to start somethine (again), finally!

Thanks, i'm sure our 4 year old will love it!

Well, I haven't been updating this lately (for the few who are still reading this) because there hasn't been anything worth mentioning going on. I've just been biding my time waiting to either move or go take that FAA test in OK City. I guess the move came first! I'm not sure what's going to happen with that test, but i'll definitely keep you updated on that. The movers came and packed our stuff yesterday and took it away today, off to California. We're going to stay a week or so with some family in Dallas before heading off to our final destination. Stay tuned!

I carpooled with my buddy when I went up there. Yeah, it was a risk at the end, but it worked out great for me. They seemed like they would work with us if one of us got done first.

Fair enough...I always like to find out the nuts and bolts of why things are the way they are, when I can. Sometimes you never find out. This may be one of those times; but more power to you if you do! I would have as well, but still would have signed my life away (again) had I not got it. This may be something you have to ask the folks at Maxwell.

While I appreciate your sentiment about bucking the system, it seems like it boils down to whether you want to commission to be a pilot, then an officer or to be an officer, then a pilot. Everyone who applies for a pilot/nav/abm slot in ROTC knows that there is a chance that they won't get it. You don't even find out whether you got it until spring break or so during your 300 year (as I recall). I would consider myself an average ROTC dude who wanted to be an officer and also wanted to be a pilot and I didn't get any scholarship or anything while I was in ROTC. As it turns out, I received a pilot slot, but even if I hadn't (I can't be a pilot) I would still have served as an officer until they kicked me out. I'm just trying to figure out why this a problem for you...you sound like you want to be an officer no matter what job you get, but in the back of your mind, there's doubt if you don't get an active duty pilot slot. Just wondering.

I know it's been a while since i've written anything...sorry. I've been bored out of my mind without much to do. I got my new set of orders and i've been busy outprocessing all the agencies on base that i've never been to, plus the 2 or 3 I have. Still no word on when i'll be going to Oklahoma City. I guess it's still being worked out with the FAA. Maybe I won't go...at least not at this rate! I'll keep yall posted!

I will get controller certifications, so I'll be able to control from time to time; but i'll mostly be the guy in charge dealing with more of the management of the airfield aspect of things. I will have to control from time to time to keep certifications, though. By the way...thank you and everyone else for reading this stuff. I don't know who else is reading it, but you sir, are a very dedicated reader of my drivel!

When I went last year (6 weeks), I was "allowed" 1 day of travel per my orders from Dyess to Pueblo. I took 2 and there was no problem. You're allowed 350/400 miles (can't remember which one) for a travel day by car. I had no problems claiming 2 days of travel and neither did my buddy I went with who came from Pensacola. Hope that helps just a little.

Ya knew it was going to happen! Well, dates are still the same, but we'll be moving up to Travis AFB instead of Oregon. Still pretty excited about the move; even a little moreso now that we'll be at an actual base with all the amenities therein. I will be sent to Oklahoma City for a day or so to take an ATC aptitude test to see if i'm "worthy" to be an ATC dude. I guess a lot of people have been washing out of the program so the AF wants to implement this test to nip these things in the bud. I liken it to IFS for the pilots: if you can pass this, then you should be good to go for the rest of the training. I have to go through the rip and orders process again so probably won't get orders for another week or two. Oh well!!

Klamath Falls is in the southern part of the state more or less right in the middle as far as east-west goes. Looks like a nice area, and if there isn't any skiing around where we are, there's always california and washington pretty much right there! So far no more checking! <knock on wood>

Haha, pecker checker...every so often people get randomly chosen to perform a drug test (pee in the cup, yadda yadda yadda). Well, someone has to be there to ensure that they don't cheat and pour some other liquid in the cup. We, as casual students, get the dubious distinction of being the checker...hence the name! Yeah, it really is a bummer that so many of our flight are going away. Just found out today that one of the other guys that had a major medical issue will not be continuing (collapsed lung). 4 gone out of 14 originally...it's a shame, but I guess that's the way it goes. We're all keeping positive attitudes about the whole thing. I keep hearing from everyone I talk to that Oregon, Washington, et al is gorgeous for a good portion of the year. I'm really looking forward to going up there! Plus there's skiing!!

I agree in theory, but there is something that gives enlisted types the impression that AF 2LTs aren't quite as capable and don't deserve as much respect as, say a Capt or Maj. Maybe it's ignorance on their part and/or maybe it's stupidity on 2LT's part, I don't know. I don't think any student pilot in any branch of the military leads platoons/flights/whatever while in training, but in the Marines, the pilots (after pilot training) not only fly, but they are in charge of entire mx shops (we had close to 100 folks in mine) (JarheadBoom clarify where needed) whereas AF 2LTs out of training aren't in charge of a whole lot that i'm aware of.

Well, got my RIP this past friday and looks like i'll be heading up to Oregon in June. I'm still super excited about it and can't wait to start. Otherwise, things are going well. I got to be a pecker checker the other day which was no bueno, but I got through it. That's about the most work i've done in the past week or so (knock on wood). Also, out of all the other folks that were on CR, 3 or 4 have gotten the boot and, surprisingly, one guy just got reinstated! I'm pretty happy for him. The other folks are taking it in stride and should find out what their new jobs are in the next couple of days. There are still 2 or 3 from my class waiting for the word and they should find out in the next couple of days whether they're in or out.

2 on spelling. As a 2lt, it's about respecting the rank, not necessarily the person. While I don't expect a Master Sergeant to "respect" me because of my vast amount of experience (sarcasm), I do expect them to extend the proper customs and courtesies to respect the rank that I have achieved. I will, in turn, extend them the proper respect that they deserve for the rank that they have achieved. And while I will concede that many have f-d it up for the rest of us, I don't think this treatment you speak of is warranted whatsoever. I haven't experienced that too much where i'm at...it's more of a salute and their face says, "yeah, what's up dude". Back on topic, blues monday seems to be hit or miss here. I could wear ABUs and not get in trouble...and i'm ok with that!

I'm really looking forward to going up there and experience a part of the country I haven't been to yet. As far as the others that were on CR: 2 of them so far have gotten kicked out (one was having flying issues and the other was puking) so that sucks for them, but they're taking it well. The rest of them are still waiting on the word from the man. Had our reservist from McChord AFB having issues now, too. He's supposed to do an 89 ground eval tomorrow or sometime in the near future so that's no bueno. I'll keep yall updated on things!

It is the same ribbon that you get when you qualify w/ the M-9, with a star on it to denote the fact that you received both that and M-16 qualification. That would be pretty sweet (in my book) if yall got to qualify with the M-16.

Well, looks like I'll be heading up to Oregon soon! I have been told that I should receive my orders in a week or two, so hopefully about a month after that we'll be heading up to the northwest. If anyone knows anything about Klamath Falls, let me know. I start part of my training at Keesler around mid November, there for about 3 months, then head back up to Oregon for 2 years to train alongside the F-15s up there. I'm pretty excited and can't wait to move on!

Yeah, they've been hooking 89 rides for the little stuff that will hook you immediately: basically safety of flight stuff. They are not unsafe inherently, just getting slow on final and things like that. Yep, 2 years. I think it's mainly air traffic control stuff...not positive, though. I'm sure there's some airfield management stuff in there somewhere, but as soon as I find out, i'll let ya know! For casual duties, last week I got to shred some paper; today and tomorrow I get to sell tickets for a BBQ going on downtown on saturday. Probably mundane stuff usually, i'm actually hoping that if they put me to work that i'll get to work the RSU or something worthwhile.

Well, still waiting on word on where and when i'll be going. Little bit of good news today, though: learned that i'll find out when and/or where i'll be heading either friday or next week sometime. Bad news about that is that, since the school is 2 years long or so, and each of the 10 guard bases where the training occurs can only accommodate 4 trainees each, i'll be sticking around here for another 2-3 months. Not bad in the grand scheme of things, but it would be nice to leave sooner rather than later. Found out another few people from my class are on commander's review for flying stuff. 3 more of my class got added to the CR process within the last week. Yikes! Hope everything is well with yall who are reading this...I'm doing good, just a little bored: wish I could be some sort of training! Till next time!

Yes they can. My father in law has been retired (Capt) for quite some time and he gave me my oath. Cap-10 summed it up in his post above.

It really is as hard as they say...harder for some than for others unfortunately. It is what it is!

So, still sitting around waiting on a RIP or some orders to move on to the next stage of my life/career. On a different note, it seems like our class is getting knocked out like flies! We have another person on Commander's Review for flying stuff, one guy on the edge for puking 3 times after solo and someone else on med hold for eye problems. I really hope for the best for these guys...they are really good people and are busting their asses to do the best they can in this tough program. Oh well. I get to shred papers tomorrow for my "casual" job. Oh joy </sarcasm> Take care, i'll keep yall posted!