Friday, June 29, 2012

So.....It's been a loooooooooooooooooooooong time

Okay so I haven’t blogged in …. well, since the start of pilot training. Sorry about that, guess there’s a lot to catch you up on. So…. let’s start right at the heart of the blog…UPT. Truthfully, there is no comparison I can make to try and relate how much of a rollercoaster it is. One day you could be on top of the world and then next you could be like that commercial of the guy waking up in a ditch. I love it, I hate it, but I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
I guess looking back on it, the reason I really haven’t been writing blogs about UPT is that 1) I haven’t really had time because I am, or should be studying. 2) I’m having a really bad day/week and don’t want to smash the dreams of others by dissing the program. Or 3) I’m just so tired from the week that I rather sleep and try to prep for the coming week so I won’t be as worn out the next week…. Those are the main reason why I haven’t been writing. However, since the end of phase two is drawing near and I feel more like a big kid in the program and not like a two year old trying to fly a plane, guess it’s time to write....
Here is an update that I did for the Leroy Homer Jr. Foundation about "A Day in the Life..." of a student in UPT.  It pretty much covers the basics of the past 6 months that I’ve been in pilot training. http://www.leroywhomerjr.org/media/blog/ is the website its found on, or you can just keep reading.




As a student in Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) no one day is ever like the next. Sure, the variables remain the same: flights, simulators (sims), academics, stand-up and formal briefs; but there is always something new, something different and exciting to add to the mix.
Starting out there are three phases to UPT. The first phase is purely academics and last about a month and a half. During this time we are introduced to a majority of aspects of the T-6A Texan 2, from systems, to aerodynamics, to the basics in instrument and navigation. From there we hit the flightline for phase two, which places us in flights in a squadron and involves all the flight training we do in the T-6. Phase two last about four months and concludes with a tract select, in which you track either T-1s preparing you to fly heavy aircraft such as tankers or transports, T-38s which prepare you for the world of fighters, or helicopters. T-1s, T-38s and helicopters are phase three and last the remaining 6 months of our pilot training experience.
Being in phase two, our days usually begin with a formal brief that covers everything from the current weather and runways, to a brief emergency procedure of the day. As the students, we run the majority of the morning brief, however our instructor pilots (IPs) oversee it and love to ask us questions, especially about typos on our PowerPoint and flub-ups in reading the METAR and TAF -information on weather. During the first 15 days on the flightline, these formal briefs were the most dreaded part of our day and could last up to an hour due to the tedious process of memorizing checklist and procedures and having to recite them word for word. Now that we’ve been on the flightline for a few months, these briefs are just as they’re meant to be… brief.
After formal brief, we break up and prepare individually for our flights and sims for the day. Our simulators are instructed by government contracted retired Air Force pilots, whom fondly remind me of what it would have been like to be taught how to fly by my grandfather. One thing is for sure: when you’re flying with a sim IP, you are bound to hear some great stories that mainly start with the phrases “So there I was…” or “Back in my day…” In total we log about 38 hours in the simulator while flying the T-6. Today I completed my formation simulator and have just my low-level simulator left before I am sim complete for the T-6!
Our actual flights in the T-6 are a whole other beast to tackle. Flights usually last 1.3 to 1.5 hours and take many more hours than that to properly prepare for them. We usually meet up to brief with our flight IPs an hour prior to takeoff. In our brief, we go over the profile that we are flying and any special syllabus items that need to be covered as well as anything that may affect the flight for that day, such as winds, weather, NOTAMs (notice to airmen), etc. You name it, we brief it. A half hour prior to our takeoff time we move to the stepdesk where we are assigned a tail number for the flight and briefed on any important happenings going on in the squadron or in the air that may affect us. Then we continue on to life support where we put on our G-suit, harness and test our helmets before we step to our jet. When we get to our assigned plane, we go over the books and do a preflight inspection of the plane, if everything is good to go, we both strap-in and start running the before take-off checklists. For a beginning student, these checklist could take up to a half hour to run from start to take-off, however the more familiar you become with the jet, the faster things go and with the weather starting to really warm-up, its best to keep your IP happy with fast checklist to get the plane’s AC up and running.
The flights themselves are always challenging and if you adequately prepared, they can be a lot of fun too! My most memorable flights have been my initial solo in the T-6, and my two area solos, where I got to take the plane out by myself and preform aerobatics until I couldn’t see straight. It was amazing! Going cross-country was also a great confidence builder and was the point where instruments really clicked for most of my class. The last block of rides in phase two are formation rides, which act like a capstone to the program. My formation dollar ride (first ride) is tomorrow and I’m so excited. I haven’t decided if I want to go fighters or heavies yet and I hear that formation is usually the deciding factor for most people.
With the end of phase two drawing near, our UPT class also faces a lot of changes, besides the obvious of switching to a new aircraft. Our UPT base is joint and we have Internationals, Navy and Marine officers in our class. Our Navy and Marine officers only stay up through the end of phase two and then do the remainder of their training with their own service. Our whole class is very close and it has been a great experience sharing these exciting and challenging times with our water loving brothers and sisters. However, I know in the end of the day, we’ll all be up flying in the same skies and will sure to cross paths again. So far UPT has been a ton of work; there have been good days and not so great of days, but I feel truly blessed to be given the opportunity to both serve my country while following my dream.
Okay so hopefully I can keep this updating thing up.  Maybe if people actually read this I might ;)



Tuesday, January 31, 2012

UPT Week 1

And so it begins!
Here's your "first day of school" picture Mom!

Well, it actually began two weeks ago when our class had its first official meeting at none other than the Flight Doc’s office. We were poked, hearing tested, eye tested, foot printed and then sent on our way with a bag full of sleeping pills.  The pills are known as ground trials, which we were instructed to test now, before we hit the flight line, so we know what works and what doesn’t for future use.  In all I can tell you I slept more that following weekend than I have in a while thanks to the Air Force!
My class is a diverse bunch of awesome individuals.  Most of us are Air Force with at least 10 being USAFA grads. However, we also have 4 Navy guys & 2 Marines, with at least 3 of them being from the Naval Academy, 2 exchange students from Saudi Arabia, 2 Guard pilots and we range anywhere from Lts to Capt in rank. In total we have 26 people, 3 of which are female. As I said before, we’re a diverse bunch.
Our first official day of pilot training was Wednesday the 25th; however we actually began on Monday (day -1) with death by PowerPoint. It was a typical day of meet and greet briefings with all the base leadership as well as a layout of expectations. Day 0 was supposed to be a similar day, however the Air Force’s AETC commander decided to have a down day in response to the increase in suicides; so we had “Resiliency Day,” which was pretty much another day of briefings and PowerPoint, just about a subject other than UPT. Day 1 took on all the things that were supposed to get accomplished on Day 0, such as pictures in Service Dress for our commanders, more briefings, publications issue and page counts. However, since it was the official start day of training we got to begin our day with a PT test. By the end of the day we had worn 3 different uniforms and were all exhausted! 
Time to hit the books!
 By far the coolest thing about beginning pilot training was getting my helmet, mask, G suit and harness.  I grew up trying on my Dad’s helmet and it’s so cool to now have one of my own! Since the helmet is fitted specifically to our heads we get to keep it, no matter what airplane we end up flying. That’s an awesome souvenir! However, we did get briefed that we’re not allowed to paint or sticker our helmets, so I guess I’ll have to wait to put lightning bolts down the sides until after I graduate =)

We’re currently in the Aerospace Physiology block and have already had our first 2 test in it.  We’ll continue with Aerospace Phys through this week, ending it with a flight in the altitude chamber.  We also had our Fighter Aircrew Conditioning Test (FACT) on Friday which is a test mainly made up of weightlifting different percentages of our body weight.  For men it’s not too difficult; however all the girls had been warned to train for it because you have to pass it if you want to fly fighters. Well after training and a ton of protein shakes, I put that test behind me when I scored in the outstanding category. It was a great way to start the weekend and was a weight lifted off my shoulders… get it?
Last week was very busy and emotionally stressful, and truthfully I don’t think it has set in that I actually have started UPT yet.  I know that there will be good days and bad day, heck I’ve already had them in just this past week.  But I have faith that God will lead me through this journey and use me as an instrument in his plan.  I’m so thankful for all the support that friends and family have provide me with; it truthfully is an amazing blessing to know that there are people out there who are watching and care. The person that I have to thank the most though is my husband. Without Greg I don’t think I could get through this next year.  He already has been an amazing partner and supporter to me and I’m so thankful for him.  
The flowers that I came home to, that my mom and Greg bought for me on my first official day of UPT.  I am truly blessed!

Saturday, January 7, 2012

18 Days and Counting

UPT starts in 18 days and it’s about time! Over the last month I have done a lot of soul searching. I took a trip home to California and a trip to Denver with Greg for Christmas and I realized how truly blessed I am. In the past I have often got caught up in the little meaningless things in life, like what he said or she said or what people think.  I realized that that is no way to live and that I have bigger things than that to concentrate on in life. Soon as this realization set in I was able to get a much clearer view of what I wanted in life.  I’m excited to start UPT because it’s what I’ve been dreaming of doing since I was little. I love flying and I know that I’m supposed to be a pilot, but I feel that God has more than just that in his plans for me.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. - Jeremiah 29:11-13
Fighter, heavy aircraft or FAIP (first assignment instructor pilot), it’s up to the Lord.  My goal is to do well enough in UPT that when the time comes to decide, that I am able to make the decision and that it isn’t made for me. I am beginning to see that all have their pros. Fighter, well no need to state the obvious. Heavy, I would hope to head back to Cali and be stationed at Travis or shoot for C-21s and fly the bigwigs around in their private jets. And FAIP, I could do what I love to do, teach others how to fly once again (just this time I get to do it in a plane that actually has an engine).  
I have so many great opportunities ahead of me and the next year of my life will put me in the exact spot that I am supposed to be.  All I have to do is do my best.  Sounds cliché but I realize that it’s that easy!  
In other news, here’s a little catch-up on life.  I burned most of my leave in December and headed out to California to see my family and friends before the holidays.  It was good to be home, I got to spend time with a lot of people that I have been missing a lot; but I was also solo on this trip, so I missed Greg and Tazer a lot too.  Greg’s sister Amy flew out to Oklahoma while I flew to Cali. She stayed a few days and then made the drive back to Denver with Greg and Tazer.  Tazer did NOT like the drive; he got sick and shook for most of the 10 hour drive.  I flew out to Denver on the 24th to spend Christmas with Greg’s family.  It was an eventful first Christmas as a married couple.  We woke up to Tazer throwing up that morning, and then Greg got sick later on in the day.  Poor guys, but overall it was a really nice Christmas and we enjoyed being there a lot. Greg and I drove back to Oklahoma on the 2nd (Tazer did better but still hated the drive) and started back into our usual routines.  I have the last day of my causal job at the HAWC this week and we have a last minute visitor flying out on Monday to spend the next week here with us… My best friend NICOLE! I’m so excited! I guess we couldn’t get enough of each other when I was home.  It’s perfect because this will be the last bit of free time I’ll have for the next year.  She’s also the person that I can always count on being there when I need to just have a good laugh and get my mind straight for the next big thing in life.  Greg should also be starting the Oklahoma Police Academy sometime this next month so it’s going to be a busy month for the both of us!  I’ll start posting more regularly now that life’s about to start speeding up and getting interesting.  Happy New Year!