Posts Tagged ‘training’

• One week down

  Date: 2010.08.28 | Category: Flying!, work | Response: 2

  Training will no longer be an annual requirement. For me it will be something that I live and breathe. My old career field spends a lot of time on simple tasks that we do ad nauseum. The Loadmaster career field demands that each member be fully trained and qualified (current and qualified) on all phases of their job. I understand why – it’s normally a one deep position that done improperly could cause serious injury or death or even cause a plane to crash. The job is important and the training is extremely thorough. I understand why it is done in this fashion.

  We had our first (of many) block tests yesterday. I passed the test without problems but I couldn’t have done that without studying. One of the airmen in the class failed the test. He said that when we had the review prior to the test that he got confused. If you really know the material how do you get confused? I hope that he spends the time needed this weekend to really study the material. If he doesn’t he will be eliminated. When it comes to my health and safety I really don’t want to work with someone that didn’t take fundamentals seriously. Would you?

• Training

  Date: 2010.08.25 | Category: Flying!, work | Response: 0

  We’re entrenched in academics and its all fairly standard stuff. For the past week they’ve constantly reminded the new airmen that if they fail, they’ll RTP (return to parent). There is no reclassification and there are no second chances. We actually had an airman come talk to my class about failing – he was headed home as soon as his paperwork was processed. Home to what?

  Why wouldn’t you simply put in the required time? I’m putting my time in – the standard for me is perfection. I’m doing my damnedest but I know if I had to I’ve still got a little more in me. I’ve got 48 hours prior to my first test and I’ve got 80% of the book memorized. I think I’ll manage this test with little difficulty.

  Our training hasn’t been exactly easy – we’ve had a hard time staying awake and we’ve had a hard time staying in class as the schedule is designed. The homework, on the other hand, is a piece of cake. We’ve had an issue over the past two days that has pulled our instructor out of the class for extended periods of time. Earlier this afternoon one of our class members left. An airman decided that aircrew and subsequently the Air Force was not for him. He’ll be returning to parent as soon as the paperwork is processed. I don’t know what his reasons were but some people aren’t cut out for the military. I think that he was one of those people that simply knew that he couldn’t cut it. In the end, he saved uncle Sam a couple hundred thousand dollars by raising the white flag.

• Flashbacks

  Date: 2010.08.19 | Category: Flying!, work | Response: 0

  Yesterday evening I arrived at Lackland, the home of basic military training for the Air Force. For the next two months I’ll be in class just like every basic training graduate. It’s back to basics for me. I’m retraining into the Loadmaster career field (1A2X1).

  Simply driving around this place has brought back long dormant memories. I saw the building that I lived in when I was just a trainee, the PT grounds that we all hated, and many of the other buildings we visited. It’s simply surreal.

  I’m a day early so I’ve got some time to kill. I think I’ll be able to manage that.

  I had to walk to the ATM this morning to grab some cash. I saw rainbows (brand new trainees that haven’t been issued uniforms) being yelled at, flights practicing marching skills, flights doing group runs complete with cadence, airmen being yelled at for sheer stupidity, and the next age group of Airmen ready to be molded and developed. It’s bizarre to see it again.

  I’m really excited about school – less than 24 hours to go. I can’t wait.

• The requisite gym update post

  Date: 2010.02.05 | Category: desert | Response: 0

  What would you do without the requisite gym update post? Probably continue through your life without skipping a beat – but, I feel the overwhelming need to write something new and the only thing on top of my head is my progress at the gym.

  First off, I should have done a better job taking care of myself when I was younger. I’m not old, but, some of the self inflicted injuries still come back and haunt me whenever I workout. Shoulders, knees, feet, and ankles seem to be the problem areas (notice the trend, all joints).

  Last time my only goal was to shred weight and I did that to the tune of 25lbs. This time, at the request my significant other, I don’t plan on dropping a ton of weight as I looked “like I hadn’t eaten.” The intensity level isn’t where I would like it but I’ve been pushing myself harder this week and I’m starting to feel the strain. I mix weight days (a variation of the P90x workout) with stationary bike days – I’m not up to full speed on the bike yet (averaging about 13mph). I want to push it to over 18mph by the time that I leave. I’ve got a long way to go but I think I can do it.

• Havoc in our day

  Date: 2009.12.18 | Category: Life as we know it, family | Response: 0

  Havoc – general destruction, devastation, desolation or wasting. In our case, its a little puppy that hasn’t destroyed anything as of yet. She does have a nose for socks and she always seems to find them. They can be off the floor but if we leave her unwatched for a minute or two she’ll come out with one. It’s like “hey, look what I found!”
  

  
  
  

  Jessica likes the puppy

  
  
  Puppy training is not without issues but it does help to be down to two dogs. She picks up alot from Duke and that certainly helps us out. Hopefully she doesn’t pick up any of his bad habits. She is crate trained (miraculously) but house training is still going to take some more time. Yesterday, for example, she woke up from a nap to follow us to the basement. When she got to the laundry room where we were standing she decided she had to pee. There was no warning – simply, I’ve got to pee. Great.
  
  
  

  They like each other

  
  

  She and Duke get along great – when I went to the back yard I found them snoozing in the same dog house. She follows him practically everywhere he goes. For the first week she slept in the same dog kennel with him and she snuggled right up to him. Now that she is in her own kennel I no longer get to sleep in. As soon as my alarm goes off she reminds me that she has a small bladder and that she needs to go outside. Reminding me is a good thing – not pooping on the floor is a good thing – and I’ll grudgingly take her out early in the morning as long as the arrangement continues.
  

  
  
  

  She really likes Duke