Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Air Force Academy Senior Year Excitement

I haven't written an update about Dan's life at the Air Force Academy in a while, and since he's a Firstie now (First Class Cadet -- otherwise known as a senior in college), life is getting pretty exciting!

Yesterday, Dan attended the official AFSC Briefing, where he learned about all of his job options. He, of course, is hoping to be a pilot, so he didn't need to know too much!

As of today, Dan can begin entering his top jobs, beginning with pilot! He will enter five other jobs, but each year, the top half of the cadet wing (or more!) receive pilot slots when they request them. Dan is in right about the top 10% of his class, so as long as he is medically cleared (so far, so good!), he should receive his job of choice.

He will find out his AFSC (job) sometime in October. I cannot wait for that moment; it will be SO GREAT to know for sure what he will be doing for the Air Force during his career.

This guy seriously looks dang good in a flight suit, so send him some positive vibes to get his job of choice!





Now that I've shown off my man enough (but seriously -- flight suit green must be his color!), I'll share the four possible base options for UPT (Undergraduate Pilot Training)... this is all assuming he gets a pilot slot. UPT will last about a year and a half, and since Dan has his private pilot's license, he will not need to attend IFS (Initial Flight Screening), which would otherwise take up about a month to a month and a half beforehand.

The four base options are: 

1. Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas
2. Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma
3. Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, Texas
4. Columbus Air Force Base in Columbus, Mississippi



Dan won't find out his base until sometime in December, and we will move there after our wedding and honeymoon next summer. The end of July is when his 60 Days will be over (the 60 days post-graduation are completely free for him with NO military commitments whatsoever -- can you say EXCITING?!?!?!), so that is an approximate time we will be moving to our first base together! If he doesn't receive a pilot slot, however, there are plenty of other base options for us... but things are looking up! 

16 comments:

  1. So excited for you guys! Senior Year has some pretty fun moments! :)

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    1. Thanks, Stephanie!!! I can't believe we are finally in this year!!! :)

      Janelle

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  2. Hooray! Everything will work out, have no fears. And I would kill for a 60 day break right now!! Enjoy it :)! And congrats to Dan, sending positive vibes...

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    1. Thanks so much, Lauren! It's so stressful, but I'm really happy he's almost finished! This has been SUCH a long process! Yes, 60 days free will be the most he ever has, so we are going to live it up in Europe on our (extremely long) honeymoon!! :)

      Janelle

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  3. So exciting! Can't wait to see what he selects and where yall end up! My husband was so worried about being medically cleared to fly because his eye sight isn't perfect, but they gave him glasses for the plane and told him he was good to go. That exam is so thorough though!

    XOXO
    Chelsea
    http://anchorsaweigh-ouradventure.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks, Chelsea!! Dan had the same issue but has gotten a waiver to wear his contacts during UPT and then get PRK done afterward! :) The physicals ARE intense, though. He has done one already, and I believe he has another to be officially pilot qualified! I hope to be able to share with you in October that he will indeed be going to pilot training! :)

      Janelle

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  4. Yay! That's so exciting - I'm sure you are so proud! And there is something cute about the flightsuit, right? My husband wore one for the last 4 years, but now that he's at a nonflying assignment he's just wearing his ABU's. {He preferred the flightsuit because it was so easy to put on!}
    I don't know A LOT about any of those bases, but we were just stationed in Oklahoma for the last 4 years (at Tinker) and I know that there is not a whole lot in Enid. But it's not TOO far away from from OKC & Tulsa which are pretty nice cities. True confession though: When we moved to Oklahoma right after we got married I HATED it. I cried and cried. But I learned to love it and love the people and the friends I made. And of course, I was super sad when we left last month! But learning to love the place your in is just part of the job! {As I'm sure you know!}

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    1. Thanks for sharing in my excitement! And yes, I am SOOO proud of him! :) I love the flight suit, but ABUs are actually my absolute FAVORITE! There's just something about them, haha... so lucky you! Yeah, Enid is small, but it's only six hours from "home" for us, so it would be nice to have that! I'm honestly okay with any of the options, though... as long as I can finally live with him, I'll be happy! :) Thanks so much for the sweet comment! :)

      Janelle

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  5. I spy the Snoopy patch. Is Dan on the USAFA flying team? Some of our best friends in the AF to this day were made during Alex's time on the team. Enjoy the firstie year! It will go fast but there are some great times and memories to be had!

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    1. Oh my gosh! Yes! Dan is definitely on the flying team and absolutely LOVES it! That is so great to hear. I have never met anyone else who had a cadet on the flying team - how exciting! They are a lot of fun to hang out with, and I'm sure he will keep these friends forever. They're such a small, tight group. What year did your husband graduate? Yes, this year is going to FLY BY, I have a feeling... but I can't wait to capture all the memories we will make during the process! :)

      Janelle

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  6. I am so excited for you and Dan! I cannot believe that he is already a Firstie. Seems like just yesterday I was bombarding your inbox with a million BCT questions!

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    1. Thanks so much, Jessica! I know, right? I can't believe it either! And I totally remember when we would talk about USAFA all the time a couple years ago... how funny! I hope you're doing really well! :)

      Janelle

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  7. yay so happy for you guys!! Your so close to being together and living that milso life :) Good luck to him!

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    1. Thank you so much! I am SO lucky that I was able to move to Colorado Springs only a year after him, so I've been able to see him a couple times a week, but I CANNOT WAIT to be married and able to live together!! AHH! It's so nice seeing support from so many milsos!!! :)

      Janelle

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  8. Soo exciting!! Such a fun time although nerve wracking too! Can't wait to watch your journey and see where you go! :)

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    1. Thanks, Rachel! It sure is both of those things. I am loving it so far, though! :) I will be happy to report back when we know his job for sure in October! :)

      Janelle

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