Life

[DirtyWhiteBoy]

dude that is outstanding!

I look back at my time in the military and it seems sooooo long ago! All you need to do is work hard and enjoy the ride!!!

Congrats!

[Caveman Tony]

I'd actually like to apply as a Combat Rescue Officer. It's a very hard career field to even be considered for, but it kind of fits with what I want to do. I may apply for a rated slot, but I don't really have my heart set on flying for the Air Force. Flying is cool and I am certainly passionate about it, but I know people who want nothing else in life but to fly for the AF. I would rather that they get the slot if there is one.

On the other hand, maybe I'll see if I can get my commissioning date moved up a year and apply as a maintenance officer at David-Monthan to spread all the wisdom my four year degree gave me.....

Oh, and Tony- I took the plunge and I am now driving and V8 powered 1996 Tahoe.

I know a lot of guys who ended up in maintenance when their flying/rescuing/navigating/combat controlling plans fell through. Start with those, maintenance is easy to get into if you don't like the other stuff.

Or were you just BS'ing me about maintenance because I was there? And because I'm a gullible goof?

[Caveman Tony]

Walt, a couple things about CRO dudes:

1) They have (or are issued) GILLS. You better know or learn how to breath underwater. Especially when someone else who does have gills is trying to kick your ass like a shark in a feeding frenzy inside a tsunami.

2) You can run. Check.

3) Take some Biology or EMT courses. It'll help get you into the 'neighborhood' of parachuting paramedics who don't require air underwater like most humans.

4) I'm sure someone has counseled you on exactly how few and far between those slots are. Be prepared to use your fallback plan as a steely-eyed fighter pilot. Just 'cuz those other guys want it, doesn't mean they shouldn't have to EARN it, namely by being better than the next guy (you!)

[PatricksDad]

Sounds like you've earned whatever you want to attempt.

You've certainly earned my respect. Good work.

[Caveman Tony]

A good AF buddy of mine who went through Rescue "water survival" training. He used to tell me how more than once he "went to see the wizard".

That's water survival instructor-speak for "required removal from bottom of pool, and subsequent resuscitation"

He was a USAF academy varsity athlete, and a general athletic badass.


I met him in Maintenance Officer school, lol...

Either way... Walt, you definitely have the brains, and the ability. Go for it, and don't settle just 'cuz some other guy has a shine for something.

[oletrux4evr]

Congratulations Walt!!

[Beagle]

Walt, you may think I'm a dink cuz I've teased you a bit over the years. My favorite was still suggesting a huge weight loss via a giant hole int he gas tank of the Escort. I remember when you were showing the PVC cold air on that dude, and doing the red and white paint.

I'm proud of your accomplishments, moreso of your dedication towards getting there. Take that in whatever sense thou wilst... congratulations.

[BOOOGHAR]

walt + air force = danger zone

[Beagle]

I'm sorry to say all of your cars will have to go. No self respecting AF officer would be caught driving anything except some kind of sporty convertible.

maybe a sliding canopy for the experimental would do...? Hey Walt, how is the plane coming along?

[JOES66FURY]

On the other hand, maybe I'll see if I can get my commissioning date moved up a year and apply as a maintenance officer at David-Monthan to spread all the wisdom my four year degree gave me.....

.

Funny thing I heard the other day from our CO...he said that as a young LT he was having a discagreement from an old Chief that had been around since Vietnam...He said he tried to pull rank on the Chief...apparently it did not go over very well...he ended up getting his ass reamed by 3 different chiefs and his CO at the time...

A good MX officer is few and far between. Right now I have an academy grad and he is pretty damn good, the one before whose daddy was a Chief...he sucked and the 3 before him sucked. They try to come in and reinvent the wheel as soon as boots hit the ground...the good ones STFU, listen and learn, then suggest changes slowly....

Either way, youre gonna do great Walt, I can tell by your attitude and your drive and determination.

And Scott, the old days are gone AF officers are nerds now,,,,the drive fuel efficient family cars...Suberus and Nissans are the vehicle of choice...lame

[TheSilverBuick]

And Scott, the old days are gone AF officers are nerds now,,,,the drive fuel efficient family cars...Suberus and Nissans are the vehicle of choice...lame

Walt, you new mission is to bring cool back to the Air Force Officers.

[JOES66FURY]

Walt, you new mission is to bring cool back to the Air Force Officers.

there is one Officer down at the Rescue Group who drives a warmed over Shelby GT500...red, white stripes and drag radials. I was eye balling it yesterday.

[Scott Liggett]

Funny thing I heard the other day from our CO...he said that as a young LT he was having a discagreement from an old Chief that had been around since Vietnam...He said he tried to pull rank on the Chief...apparently it did not go over very well...he ended up getting his ass reamed by 3 different chiefs and his CO at the time...

A good MX officer is few and far between. Right now I have an academy grad and he is pretty damn good, the one before whose daddy was a Chief...he sucked and the 3 before him sucked. They try to come in and reinvent the wheel as soon as boots hit the ground...the good ones STFU, listen and learn, then suggest changes slowly....

Either way, youre gonna do great Walt, I can tell by your attitude and your drive and determination.

And Scott, the old days are gone AF officers are nerds now,,,,the drive fuel efficient family cars...Suberus and Nissans are the vehicle of choice...lame

Last time I was at Travis AFB with Mom, I could spot the AF Geeks and the AF Flyboys a mile away. A flight suit was not necessary.

[JOES66FURY]

If you're at a party, how do you know there is an Air Force Pilot in the room?


Wait for it......


He'll tell you.

[98ciHemi]

Walt, a couple things about CRO dudes:

1) They have (or are issued) GILLS. You better know or learn how to breath underwater. Especially when someone else who does have gills is trying to kick your ass like a shark in a feeding frenzy inside a tsunami.

2) You can run. Check.

3) Take some Biology or EMT courses. It'll help get you into the 'neighborhood' of parachuting paramedics who don't require air underwater like most humans.

4) I'm sure someone has counseled you on exactly how few and far between those slots are. Be prepared to use your fallback plan as a steely-eyed fighter pilot. Just 'cuz those other guys want it, doesn't mean they shouldn't have to EARN it, namely by being better than the next guy (you!)

Yeah, getting CRO will be hard. The call it superman school for a reason. My running is about at the level I need it to be, but that is moving a runner's body. I have good upper body burst strength, but my push up/pull up strength fades after about 70 push ups and 10 "perfect" dead hang pull ups. Swimming is my current weak area. I can swim 25-30 meters underwater without surfacing, but on the surface I can't maintain more than maybe 5-10 minutes of swimming. Of course I only swim about 5 times a year now. I plan on trying to take swimming lessons as a class up here so I can learn to swim right and hopefully develop the necessary ability to do that.

The airplane is waiting on me to get home. Right now we have the build table assembled, and we will have most of the tubing needed to start welding the airframe up when I get home. In order to prep for field training I will be working to adjust my sleep schedule to put me in bed around 8 and getting up around 3 (9pm to 4am is the field training sleeping time, so 8-3 eastern time). Since no one else will be up yet I plan on using 3am - 6am to work on welding up the fuselage and get my daily run in.