03 Jan 03

Hi. I’m now finishing up Winter Break at Maxwell. The weeks leading up to it were busy as usual. Some of you are wondering what my days are like… We usually have Physical Conditioning in the morning, starting at 0500. It’s either a session involving a lot of muscular-strength training (push ups, sit ups, and their variants) or running (no more than 2 miles). Around 0600, we head back to the dorms to get dressed. (If we have enough time, we shower, too, although there’s a couple of occasions when we relied heavily on deodorant instead of showering.) This is going to change in January, when PC is moved to the afternoon due to the expected colder weather.

Breakfast is usually around 0700, and 20 minutes later we head back to the dorms to pick up our briefcases containing study materials. We have class starting at 0800 until 1230 or so. Subjects include leadership techniques, military history, and communication skills (such as military writing and briefings). I don’t have any choice in what classes I take because this is basic officer training; all officers go through the same training which, hopefully, trains us to be capable leaders. Class time also includes briefings with higher-ranking officers or getting paperwork processed en masse. 1230 is lunch and usually we start going back to class around 1300 (1300 - 1200 = 100 or 1 p.m.) or 1400 (2 p.m.). Our duty day ends around 1700. We usually head straight for dinner, then go back to our dorms. Around 1800 to 1930, we have mandatory study time. At 2300, it’s lights out and we have to go to sleep. The cycle repeats itself the next day. We also have details to perform such as manning stations throughout the OTS campus--very similar to working at a front desk or customer service area, but a lot more disciplined. Since the school is essentially run by Officer Trainees, most of us now have key leadership positions and an unofficial rank such as Captain or Colonel. I, myself, will be an Assistant Flight Commander and will be responsible for training the new OTs that will be starting OTS in the second week of January. My OT rank at that time will be 1st Lieutenant.

During the break, the few of us who are here are doing details or studying. Our duty day is not as structured as it was before, so if we’re not doing a detail, we hang out in our rooms, or roam campus to run errands or eat. After the duty day is over (after 1700), we have the option of leaving the base to eat, shop, whatever, as long as we’re back by curfew (0000). I’ve already seen a movie and done a little shopping. It’s nice to get off base and see what the rest of the world is like.

As for the other OTs who are staying here, only two are from my flight. The rest are from other squadrons (3 upperclass flights + 3 lowerclass flights = 1 squadron). We have a total of 6 squadrons at OTS. The other squadrons have mascots, too: Cobras, Hoyas, Goldhawks, Spartans, and Dragons. During the break, we all had to move into another building and temporarily share new roommates. Strange thing is that my XMas break roommate is from Hawaii. Weird.

For Christmas, I wasn’t able to attend Mass on base—I wanted to attend Christmas day Mass but there were no services scheduled. All they had was Christmas Eve services and I was working that evening. On Christmas Day, me and some other OTs had Chinese buffet for lunch—yes, they do have Chinese restaurants in Alabama. Best part was the food was actually pretty good. I ate four plates worth of food and was able to skip dinner because I was so full.

For New Year’s Eve, I had a nice dinner at a hotel with some other OTs. Pretty pricey: $25 per person. But hey, it was New Year’s Eve, so I might as well live it up a bit. Afterwards, stayed up and watched Cirque de Soleil on Bravo, watched the ball drop at Times Square, then switched back to Cirque de Soleil—there’s a big screen television in our break room at the dorm, so we can watch some t.v. during the Christmas break. New Year’s Day, I had to work for most of the day, then I moved all my stuff back into my old room. Pretty exciting.

It’s getting colder here. Seen a couple of 20-degree days and even had frost form up on my car. There was even some pretty severe fog. I doubt, though, that it will snow in Alabama. I’ll just have to wait and see. Also saw some lightning strikes near the campus. Never had to worry about that back in Los Angeles.

To those who sent ‘em, thanks for the care packages. Nothing like a package of goodies to make one the envy of the flight. I think I saw my approval rating jump up ten points every time I receive mail.

Some of you have asked if I get homesick and I have to say not really. There are some things I miss from Los Angeles as well as from Hawaii: the food, the warmer climate, etc. I miss my freedom as an unemployed writer, too, but I’m thankful I have a job that will hopefully spin off into a rewarding career. I started reading a Tom Clancy book about retired Air Force General Chuck Horner—"Every Man a Tiger." Horner basically planned the Desert Storm air campaign, and I distinctly remember a part of the book that I can relate to regarding his almost dying during flight training:

I know this sounds rather macabre, but I died last summer on my motorcycle in Alhambra. And through all that and the other events that ensued afterwards—car being stolen, recovered, then sideswiped; getting laid off—there has been a reason. I’m not sure what that reason is until some key, defining moment leads me to an epiphany about why I’m here. For the time being, I’m just trying to learn and grow. And that’s all we really need, when I think about it.

We start Week 7 of our training on 6 Jan. Only about six more weeks until I become 2^nd Lieutenant.

Tallyho!