I finally made it to Lakenheath! I know it has taken some time for me to update this thing but in my defense I have had very little down time and very limited access to the public internet in the last 2 weeks. However, I will do my best to play a little catch-up on the last week or so of COT. When I get some time, I will add some pictures as well.
Lets see...the last week of COT was pretty laid back. Most of it focused on parade practice and out-processing. We actually watched a lot of movies during the day in our flight room when there was nothing else to do to pass the time. The last Friday was graduation day. Heather came to campus that morning & got to see where I had been spending the previous 5 weeks. She met some of my flight-mates and then saw me march 50 people around the parade field for about 20 minutes. Then, everything was over!
We spent the weekend in New Orleans in a hotel right off of Canal street. Most of the time, we just walked around the French Quarter, did a lot of people watching, and a lot of eating. The food was fantastic and live music was everywhere. It was a very nice and relaxing weekend. On Monday morning, we drove back to San Antonio. On Tuesday, I unpacked, did laundry, and re-packed. On Wednesday, I got on a plane to come to the UK.
Traveling here was a bit chaotic. My flight from San Antonio to Dallas was delayed almost 3 hours due to weather north of the metroplex. This caused me to miss my original flight from DFW to London. I managed to catch the last flight out of Dallas that night, but we arrived in London so much later than planned I was unable to catch the military shuttle from Heathrow to Lakenheath. This meant my only option was to hail a cab oustside the airport. A 300 pound cab fare ensued. Whats more, the poor cabbie's credit-card machine kept rejecting my card. In the end, 2 majors and a captain from the base legal office had to drive to an atm and loan me the cash to pay off the cabbie. It was a fun way to meet people from the office for the first time. Fortunately, all the travel costs are fully reimbursable. That was my Thursday.
On Friday, I went into the office and starting getting my life set-up. Everyone from legal is helpful and welcoming. One of our Captains drove me around the base. At one point, we had to drive across a taxi-way for the planes here and we ended up waiting on 2 F-15s to pass us by. Watching sitting there watching the F-15's taxi by is when it hit me, wow...I am in the Air Force.
Because our base mission is to maintain operational readiness for an F-15 squadron, and our office is right next to the flight-line, approximately 20 time a day we hear them flying by. It becomes so loud, you have to stop talking in the court room for 30 or 40 seconds because nobody will hear you. Everyone says it gets old real quickly but I still think it is pretty cool.
So, that brings me to today. Last night, a guy from our office offered to bring me to his house in Cambridge this weekend so I wasn't stuck on base with nothing to do. We met up with another JAG who works at RAF Mildenhall. This is definitely a fun town and London is only 40 minutes away. I think this is where Heather & I will put down our roots for the next 3 years.
That should bring me up to speed. As soon as I get a chance, I will try to get some pictures posted up here. Until then, I will update this site as soon as I can get regular access to the internet!
08 August 2009
19 July 2009
It's All Downhill (So They Say)
Ok, it has been a while since I have been able to post an update but I have definitely been a little busy. Our regular hours have been 04:40 - 23:00 or so, depending on when you actually get to bed. On top of that, I am staying on a side of campus where other training programs are in full swing and their hours are slightly different than ours. Every morning at about 0400, I get jolted awake but the sound of Reville & the sound of 500 boots slamming downstairs so the BOT kids can start their days. Sadly, we have all pretty much adjusted to long days and short nights.
This last week, we had our first graded academic test, a 3 hour land navigation exercise, 40 hours of lecture, our first graded PT test, and a 5-9 minute briefing presentation. To put that into perspective, the average trainee here got between 20-25 hours of sleep. In addition, we have our last graded academic test coming up on Monday.
The academic tests actually aren't too bad but you do have to put in the time to pass. They focus on 3 different areas: history of airpower & application of airpower throughout the major conflicts of the 20th century, teaching leadership techniques, and "the profession of arms" which basically covers how to be an officer in the military.
The PT also isn't too bad aside from the fact that it is at 0500. The field exercises are a lot of fun and we all agree that 3 hours playing with a compass is better than 3 hours sitting in a large lecture hall sleeping with your eyes open as someone drones on about the proper placement of your nametag on your blue shirt and why that is important. The only downside to the field exercises are the MREs we have to eat for breakfast. I never considered beef rigatoni to be a breakfast entree before nor would I have personally decided to pair that dish with some jalapeno cheese spread and a package of skittles, but I guess that is just me. Incidentally, you would think the omelet MRE would be a good choice for breakfast but it turns out that an MRE omelet has a much closer likeness to jello than to eggs.
I won't complain too much about it because it has been a fun experience. My flightmates are a great group of people and we always manage to make light of most of the challenging situations. We all earned "second-class privileges" this weekend and we were allowed to go off base for dinner last night. In fact, I am sitting in a Panera Restaurant right now as I finish this post and enjoy a cup of fresh coffee for breakfast.
This week, we have a 2 day long field exercise coming up where we will be simulating our deployment to a forward area. It's basically going to be like camping for a couple of days so I will let you all know how it goes. Wish me luck, we only have 2 weeks left!
-Jeff
P.S. I found out yesterday that I will have a major role in our graduation parade. I will be a squadron commander, which means I will be commanding the marching of a group of about 55 people! It wil be a little daunting but should be pretty fun. Maybe we can Heather to tape part of it!
This last week, we had our first graded academic test, a 3 hour land navigation exercise, 40 hours of lecture, our first graded PT test, and a 5-9 minute briefing presentation. To put that into perspective, the average trainee here got between 20-25 hours of sleep. In addition, we have our last graded academic test coming up on Monday.
The academic tests actually aren't too bad but you do have to put in the time to pass. They focus on 3 different areas: history of airpower & application of airpower throughout the major conflicts of the 20th century, teaching leadership techniques, and "the profession of arms" which basically covers how to be an officer in the military.
The PT also isn't too bad aside from the fact that it is at 0500. The field exercises are a lot of fun and we all agree that 3 hours playing with a compass is better than 3 hours sitting in a large lecture hall sleeping with your eyes open as someone drones on about the proper placement of your nametag on your blue shirt and why that is important. The only downside to the field exercises are the MREs we have to eat for breakfast. I never considered beef rigatoni to be a breakfast entree before nor would I have personally decided to pair that dish with some jalapeno cheese spread and a package of skittles, but I guess that is just me. Incidentally, you would think the omelet MRE would be a good choice for breakfast but it turns out that an MRE omelet has a much closer likeness to jello than to eggs.
I won't complain too much about it because it has been a fun experience. My flightmates are a great group of people and we always manage to make light of most of the challenging situations. We all earned "second-class privileges" this weekend and we were allowed to go off base for dinner last night. In fact, I am sitting in a Panera Restaurant right now as I finish this post and enjoy a cup of fresh coffee for breakfast.
This week, we have a 2 day long field exercise coming up where we will be simulating our deployment to a forward area. It's basically going to be like camping for a couple of days so I will let you all know how it goes. Wish me luck, we only have 2 weeks left!
-Jeff
P.S. I found out yesterday that I will have a major role in our graduation parade. I will be a squadron commander, which means I will be commanding the marching of a group of about 55 people! It wil be a little daunting but should be pretty fun. Maybe we can Heather to tape part of it!
04 July 2009
Training Week 1
It is July 4th and I am still alive! The last week has definitely been an interesting experience.
When I arrived at COT on Training day 0 and first walked up to the building to check in, a Military Training Instructor (Drill Instructor) asked me to hastily place all of my luggage against the wall and then kindly showed me how to stand at the position of attention. We then spent the next 2 hours standing at attention in long lines as we were in-processed. After that, we had about 10 minutes to get our luggage to the dorms, pick up our camel backs (a backpack-like device with a long straw for carrying drinking water), and report downstairs where they marched down to the base uniform store. I picked up a few things and was then sent back to the dorm because I purchased my uniforms before arriving. That is by far the best advice I received before coming because it saved me about 4 hours of waiting in line. The rest of that evening was spent setting up our rooms, computers, etc. We managed to get to bed around 2245.
The next morning, Training day (“TD”) 1, our MTIs came in and woke us up at 0415. We were given about 2 minutes to shave, brush our teeth, put our shoes on, and line up to file downstairs and start the day. Most of that day consisted of more in-processing, blood samples being taken, mandatory drug testing, shot records, etc. Again, I was sent back to the dorms after lunch because I already purchased all uniform items.
Our real training began on TD 2. We woke up at our usual time of 0440 and reported downstairs in Uniform by 0450. We spent the next 2 hours out on the drill field learning the basics of marching. From there, we went to breakfast. Meals here are not the most enjoyable experience. The food is decent enough but because we are new trainees, we must eat “tight meals.” All trainees must sit at the position of attention with feet at a 45 degree angle. Your back must not ever touch your chair and you are only allowed to bend forward at the waist to prevent spilling. Of course, there is no talking. You have up to 20 minutes to eat but we always manage to finish in about 7. Also, every trainee must drink a minimum of 3 8oz glasses of water with every meal. This process is pretty intense on your digestive tract.
After breakfast, we spent time in a lecture hall receiving instructions on various subjects. Lunch and dinner were both pretty much like breakfast and we had planned activities until about 0900. Thursday, TD 3, was pretty much the same as Wednesday, however, we finally got broken down into flights. Our training class has 330 people in it which is ENORMOUS when compared to the typical class of 200 or so. We are broken down into groups of 15 to 16 people called “Flights.” These will be the people I will spend the majority of the next 4 weeks with.
Friday, we had off and today, all we had was a little test over our operating instructions. It was open book, multiple choice, and pretty easy. That is a pretty quick run-down of how things are going. Lots of drilling and lots of studying coming up. Next week we have our first physical fitness test, an assault course, and something called Project X. We don’t know what that is but it sounds exciting! In addition to all that, we will have about 6 hours per day of classes and another 3-4 hours per night to study and prepare. This next week should be much more indicative of how the rest of my time will be here. I hope that the next message I get to post will be good news (meaning we have earned a few privileges so my lovely wife won’t have to post this from my emails to her!).
When I arrived at COT on Training day 0 and first walked up to the building to check in, a Military Training Instructor (Drill Instructor) asked me to hastily place all of my luggage against the wall and then kindly showed me how to stand at the position of attention. We then spent the next 2 hours standing at attention in long lines as we were in-processed. After that, we had about 10 minutes to get our luggage to the dorms, pick up our camel backs (a backpack-like device with a long straw for carrying drinking water), and report downstairs where they marched down to the base uniform store. I picked up a few things and was then sent back to the dorm because I purchased my uniforms before arriving. That is by far the best advice I received before coming because it saved me about 4 hours of waiting in line. The rest of that evening was spent setting up our rooms, computers, etc. We managed to get to bed around 2245.
The next morning, Training day (“TD”) 1, our MTIs came in and woke us up at 0415. We were given about 2 minutes to shave, brush our teeth, put our shoes on, and line up to file downstairs and start the day. Most of that day consisted of more in-processing, blood samples being taken, mandatory drug testing, shot records, etc. Again, I was sent back to the dorms after lunch because I already purchased all uniform items.
Our real training began on TD 2. We woke up at our usual time of 0440 and reported downstairs in Uniform by 0450. We spent the next 2 hours out on the drill field learning the basics of marching. From there, we went to breakfast. Meals here are not the most enjoyable experience. The food is decent enough but because we are new trainees, we must eat “tight meals.” All trainees must sit at the position of attention with feet at a 45 degree angle. Your back must not ever touch your chair and you are only allowed to bend forward at the waist to prevent spilling. Of course, there is no talking. You have up to 20 minutes to eat but we always manage to finish in about 7. Also, every trainee must drink a minimum of 3 8oz glasses of water with every meal. This process is pretty intense on your digestive tract.
After breakfast, we spent time in a lecture hall receiving instructions on various subjects. Lunch and dinner were both pretty much like breakfast and we had planned activities until about 0900. Thursday, TD 3, was pretty much the same as Wednesday, however, we finally got broken down into flights. Our training class has 330 people in it which is ENORMOUS when compared to the typical class of 200 or so. We are broken down into groups of 15 to 16 people called “Flights.” These will be the people I will spend the majority of the next 4 weeks with.
Friday, we had off and today, all we had was a little test over our operating instructions. It was open book, multiple choice, and pretty easy. That is a pretty quick run-down of how things are going. Lots of drilling and lots of studying coming up. Next week we have our first physical fitness test, an assault course, and something called Project X. We don’t know what that is but it sounds exciting! In addition to all that, we will have about 6 hours per day of classes and another 3-4 hours per night to study and prepare. This next week should be much more indicative of how the rest of my time will be here. I hope that the next message I get to post will be good news (meaning we have earned a few privileges so my lovely wife won’t have to post this from my emails to her!).
29 June 2009
Training Day 0
Well, it is 09:43 on 29 June 2009. In just over 15 minutes, the reporting window opens up at Maxwell AFB and Training Day 0 Officially Begins. It has been a long wait.
Waiting, waiting, waiting. I feel like that is all I have been doing since December. Now, the big day has finally arrived and I find myself sitting here surprisingly calm. I am anxious to be sure but mostly it is excited energy. I am excited to find out what my commitment to the Air Force is all about.
I feel like I have prepared as well as I can for this day - I have done plenty of running/push-ups /sit-ups, I have read the operating instructions a few times, purchased my uniforms, had alterations done and name-tapes sewn on, and I even got my ID card. For the last 2 days I have been in Montgomery getting myself mentally prepared. And if all of that isn't enough, I found an episode of JAG on USA and as I write this, I have it playing in the background. So, what more can I do?
Yesterday I drove around Maxwell AFB and found where I am supposed to go to check in. So, I suppose all I have to do now is show up. Wish me luck. I have a feeling it's going to be a long week.
Waiting, waiting, waiting. I feel like that is all I have been doing since December. Now, the big day has finally arrived and I find myself sitting here surprisingly calm. I am anxious to be sure but mostly it is excited energy. I am excited to find out what my commitment to the Air Force is all about.
I feel like I have prepared as well as I can for this day - I have done plenty of running/push-ups /sit-ups, I have read the operating instructions a few times, purchased my uniforms, had alterations done and name-tapes sewn on, and I even got my ID card. For the last 2 days I have been in Montgomery getting myself mentally prepared. And if all of that isn't enough, I found an episode of JAG on USA and as I write this, I have it playing in the background. So, what more can I do?
Yesterday I drove around Maxwell AFB and found where I am supposed to go to check in. So, I suppose all I have to do now is show up. Wish me luck. I have a feeling it's going to be a long week.
27 June 2009
A Long Day
It is 10 minutes until 11 pm, or 22:50 for those of you keeping score in military time, and I am now sitting in my home for the next month. Well, in the interest of full disclosure, I am actually sitting in a hotel room and not in my actual home for the next month, but that is neither here nor there. The point is, today was a long day.
At 6:15 I said good-bye to my wife and started the long trek from San Antonio to Montgomery. It was about a 700 mile trip without ANYTHING exciting to see along the way. I-10 East is basically one long corridor of trees with 4 lanes carved out; end of description. So, if you are going to make a trip down this stretch of I-10, I highly recommend having some form of entertainment planned out ahead of time.
Side note: Cracker Barrel rents books on CD. The process works like this: go in to any Cracker Barrel in the country, select out the book(s) you want to listen to (they have several new releases available), pay the full retail price at first, and then return it to any Cracker Barrel anywhere in the country. They refund all your money except for a weekly rental fee of like $3. It's a great deal - I managed to get through 2 books today while enjoying tree alley.
Anyway, I managed to make this exotic 700 mile journey in just under 14 hours - I think I could have made it in 13 hours but I had to endure the obligatory "I am driving on an interstate so at some point all traffic must come to a complete stop for 30 minutes in some random location for no apparent reason whatsoever." Today's random interstate congestion occurred about 20 miles outside the booming metropolis of Beaumont where there was no accident, no construction, no hazardous waste spillage, and NO REASON TO COME TO A COMPLETE STANDSTILL FOR A HALF HOUR! But I am over it - 14 hours is still pretty reasonable I attribute this respectable time to the utter lack of anything remotely stimulating along the way.
But, at least I made it to Montgomery without incident and should sleep well tonight!
At 6:15 I said good-bye to my wife and started the long trek from San Antonio to Montgomery. It was about a 700 mile trip without ANYTHING exciting to see along the way. I-10 East is basically one long corridor of trees with 4 lanes carved out; end of description. So, if you are going to make a trip down this stretch of I-10, I highly recommend having some form of entertainment planned out ahead of time.
Side note: Cracker Barrel rents books on CD. The process works like this: go in to any Cracker Barrel in the country, select out the book(s) you want to listen to (they have several new releases available), pay the full retail price at first, and then return it to any Cracker Barrel anywhere in the country. They refund all your money except for a weekly rental fee of like $3. It's a great deal - I managed to get through 2 books today while enjoying tree alley.
Anyway, I managed to make this exotic 700 mile journey in just under 14 hours - I think I could have made it in 13 hours but I had to endure the obligatory "I am driving on an interstate so at some point all traffic must come to a complete stop for 30 minutes in some random location for no apparent reason whatsoever." Today's random interstate congestion occurred about 20 miles outside the booming metropolis of Beaumont where there was no accident, no construction, no hazardous waste spillage, and NO REASON TO COME TO A COMPLETE STANDSTILL FOR A HALF HOUR! But I am over it - 14 hours is still pretty reasonable I attribute this respectable time to the utter lack of anything remotely stimulating along the way.
But, at least I made it to Montgomery without incident and should sleep well tonight!
22 June 2009
Prologue
I suppose it is best to start with introductions: my name is Jeff Starnes and I am a newly commissioned 1st Lt in the United States Air Force JAG Corps. I have been assigned to RAF Lakenheath and in December, my wife and I will move to the United Kingdom for the next 3 years!
My wife's name is Heather. She is also an attorney (but has not joined the Air Force). We met the first day of law school and were married on May 30 of this year. We are very excited about the opportunity to live overseas and, I think it's fair to say, a little nervous about moving halfway around the world.
In less than one week, I will take the first step towards beginning my new career as an Air Force officer. I will be leaving my wife and must report to Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, Alabama for 5 weeks of Commissioned Officer Training.
We decided to set up this blog to document our experiences and to give our friends and family a way to keep up with us and share in our adventure. Neither one of us has had much experience with journals or blogging, so we hope this process, and perhaps a little encouragement here and there, will keep us keep a record of our journey.
My wife's name is Heather. She is also an attorney (but has not joined the Air Force). We met the first day of law school and were married on May 30 of this year. We are very excited about the opportunity to live overseas and, I think it's fair to say, a little nervous about moving halfway around the world.
In less than one week, I will take the first step towards beginning my new career as an Air Force officer. I will be leaving my wife and must report to Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, Alabama for 5 weeks of Commissioned Officer Training.
We decided to set up this blog to document our experiences and to give our friends and family a way to keep up with us and share in our adventure. Neither one of us has had much experience with journals or blogging, so we hope this process, and perhaps a little encouragement here and there, will keep us keep a record of our journey.
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