In the swing of things

What a stupid saying: “swing of things”.

Things this week were much more mundane. The mundane, however, is far from it. As I described last week, everything we do is crammed into a time slot about 75% too little. While there may be 1.5 hours for breakfast, we really have 1.5 hours to get from the PT (physical training) pad to the dorms, to our class rooms, then to breakfast, and then back to the class rooms. We have to march everywhere we go. So to get from PT to the dorms takes 30 min, then we have maybe 15 min for 2 people to shower (not together) and change (putting on the uniform takes some time). Then we have to line up as a group (another 10 minutes), get to our classrooms (b/c books and backpacks aren’t allowed in the chow hall), then line up again to march the 25 feet to chow hall. At this point we have 20 min to go through line with 112 other people IAESPM, eat (w/ 3 glasses of water) and get back to the classrooms with a couple minutes to spar. Don’t even possibly consider the possibility of being even a minute late to anything in the military. The dance that is ‘breakfast’ is typical of our entire day.

Personality conflicts have subsided to a degree or at least we have started getting used to each other. Even though we still have 3 weeks to go, I think that for most, the end is in site. At this point, things haven’t gotten ‘easier’, they have just become more routine. This week was also packed with academics. We generally have about 8 hours of classroom instruction a day.

The true challenge is getting enough sleep and getting all of your work done. When the duty day ends at 1700, you race to eat, study, iron and polish. In addition, everyone has unique responsibilities in the wing (the student body). This past week was busy for me because I had to arrange getting everyone’s BDU (camouflage) shirt to alterations to have name tapes sewn on and then picked up, and done all over again for the second shirt. I also ran a blood drive on Sat. If we’re lucky, we’re in bed around 2400 and then up between 0350 and 0415 so we can do it all over again. I finally got 8 hours of sleep last night.

This weekend I got a chance to go bowling and see a movie. It was really funny to be in civilian clothes with my classmates. Whenever you see them you’re like, who is that? I didn’t know that most of my classmates had first names. Hopefully next weekend we will have off-base privledges and I can go get a decent meal and maybe a beer too.

So for now, that’s about all I have… Oh, one more thing… after a substantial survey conducted among the males at COT, we have determined that there might be ’something in the water.’  I have linked a site dedicated to debunking the myth of ’saltpeter’. http://www.snopes.com/military/saltpetr.htm

I’m slightly less okay

Wow, this is getting old real quick…

I have been here 5 full days now. My typical day: wake up at 0400 so that I can be ready by 0445. It takes time to get on a uniform. Then get yelled at to get out of my room, and get down stairs… but it has to be done in an ever so perfect manner (a theme that will continue… I will abbriviate with IAESPM). We then get outside and have to line up in specific groups IAESPM. We then are called to attention (not a comfortable position), and have to march (much harder than you might think). Sometime we march across campus, sometimes we march 25 feet. The point is that you have to march where ever you go and again, not as easy as you might think.

We march to the PT (physical training) pad by 0515. PT is actually nice because you just get to work out. Nobody yelling at you for not doing it right. That lasts an hour and then its time to march again. Usually, back to the dorms so we can change into our BDUs (camo). We have all of about 37 seconds to change and make it back down stairs so we can line up IAESPM and march to the Dinning hall. Now you might think, phew, I get to eat, but not so quick… You have to line up outside the Dinning hall IAESPM and go through the line IAESPM. We then get to the table and have to sit IAESPM with silverware IAESPM. We also must drink 3 full glasses of water during all meals. We have about 7 minutes to finish. It is doing horrible things to my colon. Oh yeah, no talking and must sit at attention.

After eating we then have to leave the table and stack the trays in IAESPM. Then line up again outside and march to flight rooms for class. Again getting into a building and into your classroom and in your chair must all be done IAESPM. Class is nice because we’re at ease and can relax.

We generally have about 4 or 5 hour long classes a day, and a couple hours of Drill (marching instruction). The duty day is over by about 1800. But the day is really not over.

When we get back we have to study (about 100 pages a day), take care of all administrative and leadership responsibilities we have for the day (often a major pain), shine boots about a 45 min process, press our uniform and lay out all necessary materials for the next day. All of this usually keeps us up till 2400.

The point is… they are testing us. They want us to have to handle stress, handle people we don’t necessarily get along with, deal with being uncomfortable, etc. I am handling this all fairly well during the duty day. It is after the duty day has ended that has been getting to me. I am really sick of unnecessarily long meetings, and ‘leadership’ that is really just bossing, etc.

Yesterday, I was actually got very homesick. I couldn’t figure out why I left my very happy life for this. I really like (and of course love) my wife, my friends, my home, my animals, my life. Its hard to justify to myself why I left all that for this. Obviously, in the end it will all be worth it, and a good decission. But right now, its just fairly miserable.

I think over time everything is going to get better. We will get more privledges and slightly less work. We will have a 3 day deployment excersize, sleeping in the woods, guns ablaze etc. We also do all of the obstical courses, gas chambers, etc. That should all be challenging but fun.

In short, this isn’t a very pleasant expirience, although its not supposed to be. It will be over soon enough, and I can proceed with my enjoyable life. I will write when I can. Call me if you’d like 773-480-9712. I have my phone far more than internet.

He’s Okay!

I received a phone call last night from the Lowly Maggot letting me know that he is okay.  So far he has had to stand in a long line with his arms at his side.  If you know Andy you understand how difficult this must be for him.  He has had to march.  He has eaten a tasty dinner of very dry Salmon patties accompanied by three glasses of water.  Everyone has to drink at least three glasses of water at every meal.   He has his own dorm room currently but he is not certain if this will continue to be the case.  And he is expecting to be awakend at 4:45 a.m. to begin his first full day of training.  I will write more as I know more.  

The Lowly Maggots wife        

Polished my shoes

Ok, well I have a little nervous energy… I spent 2 hours polishing my shoes this morning.

I have about two hours before I report. Definitely a little anxious.

The beginning

Hello all! If you are reading this, you are probably family, friend, or some random person who googled my name. Either way, I wanted to create a blog to let you all know about my experiences at Air Force Officer Training and JAG school.

First, at the risk of being cheesy, I want to thank everyone for their warm wishes. I got to see so many people this week to say goodbye and catch up on each others’ lives. I truly hope that despite the distance I am able to keep in frequent contact with everyone.

That being said, I left early today (Monday Jan. 15), on my way to Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, AL. I will be at Maxwell for 1 month for Commissioned Officer Training (COT) and then 2 months of JAG school (JASOC). COT is the officer equivalent of boot camp. While I have been assured nobody will push my face in the mud while making me do push-ups, it is going to be a fairly grueling experience. Hours are regularly from 0500 to 2300 (yup, I’m working on military time now). As much as I have joked to people that this is like boy-scouts or camp (and while in some respects it may be), I am going in with a very serious attitude and am hoping that attitude will help me get through without much shock. Worse case scenario, I am ready to have people yell “LOWLY MAGGOT” at me.

I arrived in Montgomery mid evening, and had time for a decent dinner, etc. Right now, I’m just anxious to finally get it started, and get a better understanding of what my commitment to the service is really going to mean.

I hope to be able to post regularly, although it will likely only be on the weekends. Please email me if you would like, and I will write back whenever I have the opportunity.