I was able to do one of these. My video though is too long to post, and I don't know how to edit. ENJOY!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR6kPUFogr8
19 June 2014
Commissioning
Post #14
Commissioning
I wanted to make this post about commissioning because that is exactly what is going to happen tomorrow. I am beyond excited. I still remember the day that my dad and I went walking and were first talked about the option of the military. I was 9 years old. Here I am 24 years old and I am about to swear an Oath to support and defend the constitution of the United States of America, the best country in the world. It is crazy to think that it is all finally coming together. There were definitely nervous moments and scary moments throughout the process, but tomorrow is the day that I will raise my right arm and swear to go to the point of even potentially giving up my life to the aid of others. I am beyond being able to fully express the things that I am feeling. I can say that I am so grateful for everyone in that process that has helped me along the way. My scout leaders, to AFJROTC leader, teachers in High School, coaches, AFROTC cadre, fellow students, friends, Mom and Dad, and my beautiful and wonderful wife. There is absolutely no way that I would be graduating from College at BYU or commissioning into the world finest Air Force without all of these people. I am so grateful for the support and sacrifices that all of these people have made for me, and I look forward to repaying those sacrifices to providing that for the next generation as I move along in my career. Today a Cadet and Student. Tomorrow a 2nd Lieutenant and Pilot in the United State Air Force! FLY, FIGHT, AND WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Field Training
Post #13
Field Training
This is the first major away from home encampment. The details of field training are always fluctuating. When I went it was a 28 day program at Maxwell AFB, MS and Camp Shelby, AL. It was intense. There were a lot of things to memorize, ways to do things, tests of physical fitness, mental and spiritual and social. You are tested about being a leader in stressful situations. You are “deployed” temporarily and go over basic things like first aid, or camp organization, convoy procedures, fighting in a fire team or certain formations. It was an experience unlike any other and it was really trying.
The best was to get ready for this is to practice, study, and mentally prepare. You need to be in a mindset that you will be ranked amongst your peers, but they are also your team and you won’t make it through it without then. Practice the things that the upperclassmen will teach you and know them as good as any other class that you take. STAY FOCUSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You have to get through this before you can even apply to be a pilot which will happen the January (typically) after Field Training. You can do it, don’t lose focus or get distracted by college life.
AFROTC Experience
Post #12
AFROTC Experience
The AFROTC experience
is one unlike any other college experience I would have imagined. It is like
having a job on top of school and another job all at once haha. IT is CRAZY!!!!
But it is so rewarding and amazing. We had PT in the morning, and I decided to
join the Honor Guard Drill Team, we had practices every morning from 0600-0800
and performances during the day and at night all of the time. Freshman year was
great getting to know the program and having fun. I then went on my mission and
returned to my Sophmore or “200” year. This was preparation for Field Training
(I’ll explain in the next post). After field training I began to learn more of
what it takes to become an officer in the air force and to be a manger and
leader of other people. 400 year was senior year and it was a whole new ball
game. My second semester I was selected to be the Mission Support Group
commander, and it was a ride. Being organized, meetings, taking care of my
guys, being the example, making sure things got done right and on time, staying
within budget, overseeing 75+ guys. It was a thrill. I loved it. And now I
commission tomorrow in the US Air Force. I can’t wait.
Stay Positive
Post #11
Stay Positive
I remember
specifically the day that the letter came in the mail telling me that I wasn’t
going to the Air Force Academy. I was crushed. My best friend took my spot
there even though I thought he was going to be going to the Naval Academy. I
wasn’t too happy with him to say the least. Well, I fortunately had still
applied to BYU and for an AFROTC scholarship. I was blessed at this point. I
decided to pull myself together and enjoy what I got. It turned out to be a
huge blessing in my life. Heavenly Father was definitely taking care of me. At
the academy, I wouldn’t have been able to get married until after graduation. The
opportunity to serve a church mission would have been different in timing. I
wouldn’t have met my wife until later on in life most likely. I wouldn’t have
been able to experience a college education with a religious background to
things, and quite honestly I don’t know if I would have gone on a mission and
served the Florida people and learned Spanish if it wasn’t for my denial to the
AFA and the acceptance to BYU.
Long Story short, hang
in there. Don’t give up because one road closes, just keep looking and you will
find a way I promise.
Scholarships
Post #10
Scholarships
In the ROTC world, the
DoD doesn’t pay for your expenses and pay you on top of that like the academies
would do. You need to apply for a scholarship and do it early. Even if you are
applying to the academies, apply for an ROTC scholarship as a back up plan,
never take the risk of being wrong. TRUST ME!!!!!! It saved my dreams.
Scholarships range from Full Tuition to Half, to a certain number, and then
they range from Non Technical Degrees to Technical Degrees to Language Degrees.
The chances of getting a scholarship by applying for a technical degree is a
lot better. They want to pay people that are going to be going through the
maths and sciences. I got a Type 1 (Full Tuition, books, and stipend) for a
technical degree scholarship. It was great. I was making money for going to
school. Not a lot, but still extra money is always nice. I realized though that
I was not good at Math and Science stuff like I had originally thought, so I
had to get out of the scholarship and change to a different degree and start
paying myself. It was a little bit scary because I almost got kicked out
because I waited too long to change degrees, but the Lord took care of me in my
pursuits of my dreams. Think early about what you want to do and do your best
to stick with it. Decide after your first year in college if that is the degree
you really want, don’t wait in deciding.
College
Post #9
College
When looking into
colleges outside of the academy world of things, look for something that you
like of course, just like high school teachers will tell you, but you also need
to look for places that have a good ROTC program. I went to BYU. BYU’s AFROTC
program for example has always had higher percentages of acceptance rates for
the Pilot selection and for Field Training selection. You need to find schools
like this. ASU, Embry Riddle, San Diego State, Oregon State, Alaska State,
Colorado something (don’t remember). There are many options, start early to
learn more about each program. If you can, go into the building where the
program is, they can help you receive more information and you can ask
questions like that. If you get a Type 1 scholarship then you won’t need to
worry about tuition, but that is something to be concerned about of course.
Get-Togethers
Post #8
Get Togethers
I don’t really
remember the exact word for what they are called, but during the application
process to an academy you will need to get your senators or congresspersons
stamp of approval to get it. I’ll go into more detail about that later. The
Congress people usually have representatives that hold large get togethers in
auditoriums nearby where you are. My parents and I had to travel a little far
in order to get to mine, but it was totally worth it. There you can get more
information on the application process and the interviewing process for getting
a recommendation from your Senator or Congressperson. Don’t wait too long to do
this. Call the office of each person that could possibly endorse you, and they
will give you more information. At these meetings, DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK
QUESTIONS!!!!!!!! Get all the information that you can. This is one of the most
important parts of the application process to get in. In some states like
California or the bigger ones, it’s not so bad because there are many options,
but in a smaller state, the competition is fierce because there are only a limited
number of people that can give endorsements. You will need interview skills for
this too.
The interview
Post #7
The interview
Today I wanted to talk
about the interview, and you are probably wondering what I am referring to,
well let me inform you. Around your Junior year the application process takes
full swing. You will be filling out paperwork and more paperwork, and there
will be an interview. An authorized interviewer from the academy or someone
chosen to interview that was selected to do interviews will call you at some
point during the application process, and they will set up a time to meet.
I don’t remember too
much about my own interview, all I remember is being super unprepared and
intimidated. I remember getting asked a wide variety of questions, so to
prepare, just be sharp. Job interviews really help. Talk to some teachers that
can really help you get the ball rolling as far as interview preparedness goes.
Good luck and stay
calm. That is vital.
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