Wow has it been a looong time since my last post, life has been more then busy for me. Life in the AF has been a no small task, but it has been a good one. Basic was a lets say an experiance for me. I had to use all of my patients with the very larg group of high school aged "kids". Being the third oldest at 27 was not an easy task. But, I lucked out with a very good MTI (Military Training Instructor) that was a very good teacher. The 8 weeks flew by very fast and was a great growing experiance. The best time was thge CATM when we got to shoot the M16A2. BEAST week was a very stressful week for the whole flight, I think we wanted to kill each other by the end of the week ^_^ BUT! We all survived the great BEAST week with no casualties.
Tech school has goon by fast so far, which is good because it can get really boring around here during the off hours. Caroline and Ian have been a bleesing to me since they moved here. I spend alot of time off base during the weekends with them at the apartment away from the base and everyhing thats out there.
I do have to say that so far Tech school has been.... too easy? Hopefuly the next set of blocks will be better and more focused on my job. I start this week my first set of classes toward my carrer so im getting excited about it. Well I must run for now but i will be posting more offten now that I have access tot he Internet.
Dec 15, 2009
Dec 8, 2009
Second Sunday
Pat was told that family members can eat lunch at the chao hall every Sunday. So we decided to eat lunch with him and then went to church meetings on base only this week.
Ian is so happy to see his daddy. Every night when we are leaving is the most difficult time for him. He cries out "daddy! daddy!" every single time. So I have to tell him " Daddy got to go to school. We will see him tomorrow,ok?"
This week, there are more people attending church. There are also few married brethern whose wives are moving down also. Other than one, brother Thompson. His family will stay with the in-laws. Brother Thompson has the same job title as Pat's. Ans his brother served a mission in Taiwan Taipei Mission in 2000. He might served in my ward. The world is so small!!
This is the 14th day after Pat arrives Keesler AFB. That means he can phase up if he passes the room inspection tonight. Then he will be able to get off base and come to for a bit. Even though he still have curfews, it's better than in phase I. He said most likely he will be able to come home on weekends but not week days. He usually got released in between 5-6 pm and still need to do homeworks. And the curfew is 10:00 pm. So he won't have enough time to come home. Hey, we are happy whenever he can come home.
Ian's Sunday attire
Ian's standard pose for pictures
Look how happy Ian is with dis daddy!
Ian is so happy to see his daddy. Every night when we are leaving is the most difficult time for him. He cries out "daddy! daddy!" every single time. So I have to tell him " Daddy got to go to school. We will see him tomorrow,ok?"
This week, there are more people attending church. There are also few married brethern whose wives are moving down also. Other than one, brother Thompson. His family will stay with the in-laws. Brother Thompson has the same job title as Pat's. Ans his brother served a mission in Taiwan Taipei Mission in 2000. He might served in my ward. The world is so small!!
This is the 14th day after Pat arrives Keesler AFB. That means he can phase up if he passes the room inspection tonight. Then he will be able to get off base and come to for a bit. Even though he still have curfews, it's better than in phase I. He said most likely he will be able to come home on weekends but not week days. He usually got released in between 5-6 pm and still need to do homeworks. And the curfew is 10:00 pm. So he won't have enough time to come home. Hey, we are happy whenever he can come home.
Ian's Sunday attire
Ian's standard pose for pictures
Look how happy Ian is with dis daddy!
Dec 7, 2009
A different Thanksgiving
This is a very different Thanksgiving for us.
First, we were by ourselves without Nancy and Larry.
Second, Pat was still on Phase I that he could not get off base and had to wear his ABUs all the times.
Third, we had Thanksgiving "lunch" on base at chao hall.
That's a very interesting experience. Actually, the food there is great compared to the BMT. And it's cheaper than eating anywhere elsse. I had a plate of beef, turkey, corn and sweet potato, 3 glasses of soda and chocolate milk and a piece of pie for $3.50. Wow!!! That's amazingly cheap. We enjoyed our first chao hall experience.
For the rest of the week, Pat did not have classes because of the holiday. So we've been going to base in the mornings and then went home before lunch. Seriously, there is nothing to do on base. The only place we could go is the BX. But BX was close on Thanksgiving. So it's really boring there. But we got to spend time together. That's the most important part of all.
First, we were by ourselves without Nancy and Larry.
Second, Pat was still on Phase I that he could not get off base and had to wear his ABUs all the times.
Third, we had Thanksgiving "lunch" on base at chao hall.
That's a very interesting experience. Actually, the food there is great compared to the BMT. And it's cheaper than eating anywhere elsse. I had a plate of beef, turkey, corn and sweet potato, 3 glasses of soda and chocolate milk and a piece of pie for $3.50. Wow!!! That's amazingly cheap. We enjoyed our first chao hall experience.
For the rest of the week, Pat did not have classes because of the holiday. So we've been going to base in the mornings and then went home before lunch. Seriously, there is nothing to do on base. The only place we could go is the BX. But BX was close on Thanksgiving. So it's really boring there. But we got to spend time together. That's the most important part of all.
November 22nd---First Sunday in Biloxi
Larry and Nancy left on Wednesday morning. Thank them for their help to move us down and all thay had done for us in the past 4.5 years. We don't know how were we doing without them.
I went to my first church meeting on Sunday. Biloxi Ward is very small compared to 5th ward. There are probably under 100 people attending sacrament meeting today. When I got to go to Relief Society, there are 12 sisters there including the presidency. I was very surprised how low is the number. And they don't even have anybody who can direct the music or play the piano. So I volunteered to play the piano there.
Ian went in Nursery pretty well. He stayed the whole time until I went in to pick him up earlier to go on base.
Pat called couple days ago and told me that we could go eat at chow hall with him on Thanksgiving and could get on base to see him even on phase I. So we are going to attend his chuch meeting with hom on base today. His meething is at 2:00 pm. So I left Relief Society to go to base.
It's very interesting to attend the meeting on base. Because nobody wears suits. They either wear ABUs or civillian clothes. Not used to it yet. Pat had to wear his ABUs everywhere on Phase I. There were less than 10 people for the sacrament meeting. And even less for sunday school.
Ian was not happy to go for both ward. We had 4.5 hours of church meetings combined today. It's too much. We wwill not attend both meetings next week. We are just going to go to base next week.
I went to my first church meeting on Sunday. Biloxi Ward is very small compared to 5th ward. There are probably under 100 people attending sacrament meeting today. When I got to go to Relief Society, there are 12 sisters there including the presidency. I was very surprised how low is the number. And they don't even have anybody who can direct the music or play the piano. So I volunteered to play the piano there.
Ian went in Nursery pretty well. He stayed the whole time until I went in to pick him up earlier to go on base.
Pat called couple days ago and told me that we could go eat at chow hall with him on Thanksgiving and could get on base to see him even on phase I. So we are going to attend his chuch meeting with hom on base today. His meething is at 2:00 pm. So I left Relief Society to go to base.
It's very interesting to attend the meeting on base. Because nobody wears suits. They either wear ABUs or civillian clothes. Not used to it yet. Pat had to wear his ABUs everywhere on Phase I. There were less than 10 people for the sacrament meeting. And even less for sunday school.
Ian was not happy to go for both ward. We had 4.5 hours of church meetings combined today. It's too much. We wwill not attend both meetings next week. We are just going to go to base next week.
Tech School
After 8 hours driving, we arrived Biloxi, Mississippi.
We got the help of 6 Elders in this area and moved all the stuffs in both trailer and truck into the apartment. It is a nice community and very convenient. The apartment is big. I love it.
Pat will be in Tech school for 63 days. He will be on they called "Phase Program". There are 3 phases. The Phase Program begins on the day the recruit arrives at the technical school and (in most cases) ends when an airman graduates technical training and proceeds to their first permanent duty assignment.
Phase I----
runs from arrival at the initial Air Force technical training base through the 14th calendar day after arrival .During Phase I, Airmen
•Will remain on on base at all times. Training/operations group commanders may make exceptions on a case-by-case basis.
•Will not purchase, possess, or consume alcohol.
•Will wear military uniform on and off duty. EXCEPTION: They may wear civilian attire inside their dormitory only.
•Will adhere to a call to quarters (curfew) of 2200 (10:00 PM) to 0400 (4:00 AM) Sunday through Saturday. EXCEPTION: Training/operations group commanders will determine, in writing, call to quarters for Airmen assigned to shifts other than a traditional day shift.
•Will eat three meals per day, Monday through Friday, in a base dining facility (chow hall).
•Will not operate, ride in, or utilize a private motor vehicle (PMV).
•Will have their rooms inspected a minimum of once per week, but not on the same day every week. These inspections will be documented and kept for a minimum of 30 days. Airmen must keep their rooms according to local guidelines.
•Will make their beds with issue sheets and a bedspread or blanket. Personalized bedspreads or comforters are not authorized.
•Will not hang pictures of any kind on the walls or lockers. Note: Pictures in a frame, no larger than 8 inches by 10 inches, may be displayed on the Airman's desktop, but must not be of a sexually explicit or degrading nature.
•May have an alarm clock or radio alarm clock on their nightstand or desk.
•May not possess or use a television or stereo in their dormitory room. They may, however, use existing televisions or stereos located in dayrooms or common areas.
•Will march to and from all locations.
•Will participate in a formal open ranks inspection conducted by an MTL a minimum of once per week. Note: If a location does not have enough Airmen to conduct a formal open ranks inspection (two- to four-element formation), MTLs will perform a uniform inspection.
•May use a personal electronic device (cell phone, MP3 player, ect.) inside their dormitory during nonduty hours only.
•Will pass all required open ranks and room evaluations prior to progressing to Phase II. (Units will determine pass/fail depending on locally developed standards.)
Phase II ------
runs from the 15th calendar day through the 35th calendar day.During this phase, Airmen:
•Will remain in uniform and on station during duty hours. If Airmen go off station, they will wear the appropriate blue uniform combination and remain in the local area as determined in writing by the training/operations group commander.
•May consume alcohol if of legal age on base only, but not during the duty week or 12 hours prior to duty.
•May ride in and operate a private motor vehicle (PMV) after duty hours.
•Will adhere to a call to quarters (curfew) of 2200 (10:00 P.M.) to 0400 (4:00 A.M.) on evenings prior to duty days and a curfew of 2400 (Midnight) to 0400 on evenings prior to nonduty days.
•Will have their rooms inspected a minimum of one time while in Phase II. Airmen must keep their rooms according to local guidelines, but may personalize their rooms.
•Will march to and from all locations during duty hours.
•Will participate in a formal open ranks inspection conducted by an MTL a minimum of one time while in Phase II.
•May use a personal electronic device (such as cell phones and MP3 players) after duty hours only.
•Will pass all required open ranks and room evaluations prior to progressing to Phase III. (Units will determine pass/fail depending on locally developed standards.)
Phase III----
runs from the 36th calendar day through completion of all technical training and departure for permanent duty assignment.During this phase, Airmen:
•Will remain in uniform and on station during duty hours. Training/operations group commanders will determine, in writing, off-base mileage restrictions and weekend travel procedures.
•Will not consume alcohol 12 hours prior to duty.
•Will not possess or consume alcohol in the dormitory or immediate surrounding area. Those who choose to drink alcohol will do so responsibly and not bring discredit to the Air Force, in or out of uniform.
•Have no restrictions on the use of private motor vehicles (PMVs). Training/operations group commanders will determine in writing if Phase III Airmen are allowed to drive to and from school.
•Will adhere to a call to quarters (curfew) of 2200 (10:00 P.M.) on evenings prior to duty days. Training/operations group commanders will determine, in writing, call to quarters for Airmen assigned to shifts other than a traditional day shift.
•Training/operations group commanders will determine, in writing, if and when Airmen in Phase III are required to have their rooms inspected.
•Training/operations group commanders, will determine, in writing, if and when Airmen in Phase III are required to march while in uniform.
He said we can't even get on base to see him for the first 2 weeks when he is in Phase I. at least he call use his cell phone now. Better than nothing. But Thanksgiving is next Thursday. And I don't even know if he can come home for that or we can get on base to see him or not. So we will see.
We got the help of 6 Elders in this area and moved all the stuffs in both trailer and truck into the apartment. It is a nice community and very convenient. The apartment is big. I love it.
Pat will be in Tech school for 63 days. He will be on they called "Phase Program". There are 3 phases. The Phase Program begins on the day the recruit arrives at the technical school and (in most cases) ends when an airman graduates technical training and proceeds to their first permanent duty assignment.
Phase I----
runs from arrival at the initial Air Force technical training base through the 14th calendar day after arrival .During Phase I, Airmen
•Will remain on on base at all times. Training/operations group commanders may make exceptions on a case-by-case basis.
•Will not purchase, possess, or consume alcohol.
•Will wear military uniform on and off duty. EXCEPTION: They may wear civilian attire inside their dormitory only.
•Will adhere to a call to quarters (curfew) of 2200 (10:00 PM) to 0400 (4:00 AM) Sunday through Saturday. EXCEPTION: Training/operations group commanders will determine, in writing, call to quarters for Airmen assigned to shifts other than a traditional day shift.
•Will eat three meals per day, Monday through Friday, in a base dining facility (chow hall).
•Will not operate, ride in, or utilize a private motor vehicle (PMV).
•Will have their rooms inspected a minimum of once per week, but not on the same day every week. These inspections will be documented and kept for a minimum of 30 days. Airmen must keep their rooms according to local guidelines.
•Will make their beds with issue sheets and a bedspread or blanket. Personalized bedspreads or comforters are not authorized.
•Will not hang pictures of any kind on the walls or lockers. Note: Pictures in a frame, no larger than 8 inches by 10 inches, may be displayed on the Airman's desktop, but must not be of a sexually explicit or degrading nature.
•May have an alarm clock or radio alarm clock on their nightstand or desk.
•May not possess or use a television or stereo in their dormitory room. They may, however, use existing televisions or stereos located in dayrooms or common areas.
•Will march to and from all locations.
•Will participate in a formal open ranks inspection conducted by an MTL a minimum of once per week. Note: If a location does not have enough Airmen to conduct a formal open ranks inspection (two- to four-element formation), MTLs will perform a uniform inspection.
•May use a personal electronic device (cell phone, MP3 player, ect.) inside their dormitory during nonduty hours only.
•Will pass all required open ranks and room evaluations prior to progressing to Phase II. (Units will determine pass/fail depending on locally developed standards.)
Phase II ------
runs from the 15th calendar day through the 35th calendar day.During this phase, Airmen:
•Will remain in uniform and on station during duty hours. If Airmen go off station, they will wear the appropriate blue uniform combination and remain in the local area as determined in writing by the training/operations group commander.
•May consume alcohol if of legal age on base only, but not during the duty week or 12 hours prior to duty.
•May ride in and operate a private motor vehicle (PMV) after duty hours.
•Will adhere to a call to quarters (curfew) of 2200 (10:00 P.M.) to 0400 (4:00 A.M.) on evenings prior to duty days and a curfew of 2400 (Midnight) to 0400 on evenings prior to nonduty days.
•Will have their rooms inspected a minimum of one time while in Phase II. Airmen must keep their rooms according to local guidelines, but may personalize their rooms.
•Will march to and from all locations during duty hours.
•Will participate in a formal open ranks inspection conducted by an MTL a minimum of one time while in Phase II.
•May use a personal electronic device (such as cell phones and MP3 players) after duty hours only.
•Will pass all required open ranks and room evaluations prior to progressing to Phase III. (Units will determine pass/fail depending on locally developed standards.)
Phase III----
runs from the 36th calendar day through completion of all technical training and departure for permanent duty assignment.During this phase, Airmen:
•Will remain in uniform and on station during duty hours. Training/operations group commanders will determine, in writing, off-base mileage restrictions and weekend travel procedures.
•Will not consume alcohol 12 hours prior to duty.
•Will not possess or consume alcohol in the dormitory or immediate surrounding area. Those who choose to drink alcohol will do so responsibly and not bring discredit to the Air Force, in or out of uniform.
•Have no restrictions on the use of private motor vehicles (PMVs). Training/operations group commanders will determine in writing if Phase III Airmen are allowed to drive to and from school.
•Will adhere to a call to quarters (curfew) of 2200 (10:00 P.M.) on evenings prior to duty days. Training/operations group commanders will determine, in writing, call to quarters for Airmen assigned to shifts other than a traditional day shift.
•Training/operations group commanders will determine, in writing, if and when Airmen in Phase III are required to have their rooms inspected.
•Training/operations group commanders, will determine, in writing, if and when Airmen in Phase III are required to march while in uniform.
He said we can't even get on base to see him for the first 2 weeks when he is in Phase I. at least he call use his cell phone now. Better than nothing. But Thanksgiving is next Thursday. And I don't even know if he can come home for that or we can get on base to see him or not. So we will see.
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