Here at the Air Force Academy you cannot maintain or own a car within 150 miles of campus until your junior year. About a month ago a purchased a 2006 Saturn Vue from my Uncle Pete. It was a great deal, car is in perfect condition, and low mileage. Well yesterday, my car started making its journey to me. Uncle Bob and Pop Pop Fiddler are driving it out to me for Parents Weekend. i am so grateful.
So 4-5 more days until I don't have to ask to borrow someone's car. 4-5 days until this leadership learning lab I call college become a lot better.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Basic is over and the school year has begun
The beginning of August marks a very important time for cadets at USAFA. Whether you're a Basic just finishing up BCT or a Firstie going into your final year, no one likes coming back on July 31st to report for duty while all of our friends are still lying out on the beach. The Acceptance Day parade was yesterday and afterward I pinned on 10 different Basics that I had trained. It was neat to see how much the respected me and how much they were thankful for what I did for them. It was a great experience to have. Later that night the class of 2012 had their commitment dinner and today when we walk into our first class we are committed and owe the next seven years to our great country. There's really not much to say about that, except I'm happy to be a junior, it's a weird feeling to be committed to the Air Force, and I can't wait to get my ring in a couple months. I'm having trouble attaching pictures so just check them out on Facebook.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Oh Basics....
I was called a Sir again today by Basic Avers...I told him to give me three reasons that weren't physical why I am a female. Here are his reasons and the conversation that followed after.
1. Ma'am when you bark orders at us you're voice is soothing.
2. Ma'am when you walk into a room it brightens up and smells better.
3. Ma'am you must be descendant of an Egyptian because you remind me of a goddess.
The other cadre members and I started talking about ring dance and Basic Avers asks me if he can ask a question. I say yes and he asks if he could take me to ring dance.
These basics are driving me crazy!
Dad expect a letter to be coming soon. I believe he's mailing it tomorrow. Love you all!
1. Ma'am when you bark orders at us you're voice is soothing.
2. Ma'am when you walk into a room it brightens up and smells better.
3. Ma'am you must be descendant of an Egyptian because you remind me of a goddess.
The other cadre members and I started talking about ring dance and Basic Avers asks me if he can ask a question. I say yes and he asks if he could take me to ring dance.
These basics are driving me crazy!
Dad expect a letter to be coming soon. I believe he's mailing it tomorrow. Love you all!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Dear Mrs. Fiddler
My name is Basic Cadet Emerson Woerner, and I am currently undergoing Basic Cadet Training at the United States Air Force Academy. Today, I mistakenly called your daughter, Cadet Senior Master Sergeant Samantha F. Berthiaume, "Sir." I would first like to apologize, because she is most definitely female. But, I was ordered to explain to you why she is a "Sir."
Sometimes, us actual men get to discussing who we believe are "real men." These "real men" are often considered such due to their courage, strength, and intelligence. Your daughter has more of these qualities than many physical males, so even though she is female, she could be considered a "real man" or "sir."
Once again, I apologize. She is really a great leader and sharp individual, and I am honored to be in her squadron.
Sincerely,
Basic Cadet Emerson Woerner
PO Box 2067
USAFA, CO 80841
A) This kid is a huge suck up
B) I'm impressed he didn't use any acronyms
C) Feel free to write him
Sometimes, us actual men get to discussing who we believe are "real men." These "real men" are often considered such due to their courage, strength, and intelligence. Your daughter has more of these qualities than many physical males, so even though she is female, she could be considered a "real man" or "sir."
Once again, I apologize. She is really a great leader and sharp individual, and I am honored to be in her squadron.
Sincerely,
Basic Cadet Emerson Woerner
PO Box 2067
USAFA, CO 80841
A) This kid is a huge suck up
B) I'm impressed he didn't use any acronyms
C) Feel free to write him
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Differences between Ma'ams and Sirs
Only the best of those I've heard...
- A Ma'am can wear a dress out on the town
- A Ma'am must wear tops and bottoms to the beach
- A Sir does not smell like perfume
- A Sir would not be invited to a baccalaureate party...unless he was the striper
- A Sir does not get in for free on ladies night
- A Sir statistically does not openly admit to liking "The Notebook"
- A Ma'am usually has multiple purses
- A Sir does not ask for directions for lost
- A Sir will not appear as a model for Victoria Secrets
- According to the NY times, Ma'ams make for better pilots than Sirs
- Statistics show that Ma'ams are less likely to get in larger car wrecks
- Ma'ams have a sweeter toned voice
- Females have a higher average BMI
- Females have a longer life expectancy
- Females have naturally stronger abs
- Females become intoxicated quicker
* Females have unique plumbing
- Females walk with grace
- Females smell like vanilla coco bean
* Females don't sweat, they glisten
* Females have the title "Ma'am" and will not be mistaken for a "Sir", "Sma'am" nor any other debauchery
- A Ma'am is pretty, a Sir is handsome
- A Ma'am cannot pee correctly standing up
- A Ma'am is more sensible than a Sir
- A Ma'am does not fart in public like a Sir
And the #1 difference....(that I've gotten today)....
A Sir would not go by the name of Samantha F. Berthiaume
- A Ma'am can wear a dress out on the town
- A Ma'am must wear tops and bottoms to the beach
- A Sir does not smell like perfume
- A Sir would not be invited to a baccalaureate party...unless he was the striper
- A Sir does not get in for free on ladies night
- A Sir statistically does not openly admit to liking "The Notebook"
- A Ma'am usually has multiple purses
- A Sir does not ask for directions for lost
- A Sir will not appear as a model for Victoria Secrets
- According to the NY times, Ma'ams make for better pilots than Sirs
- Statistics show that Ma'ams are less likely to get in larger car wrecks
- Ma'ams have a sweeter toned voice
- Females have a higher average BMI
- Females have a longer life expectancy
- Females have naturally stronger abs
- Females become intoxicated quicker
* Females have unique plumbing
- Females walk with grace
- Females smell like vanilla coco bean
* Females don't sweat, they glisten
* Females have the title "Ma'am" and will not be mistaken for a "Sir", "Sma'am" nor any other debauchery
- A Ma'am is pretty, a Sir is handsome
- A Ma'am cannot pee correctly standing up
- A Ma'am is more sensible than a Sir
- A Ma'am does not fart in public like a Sir
And the #1 difference....(that I've gotten today)....
A Sir would not go by the name of Samantha F. Berthiaume
Dear Major Fiddler...
Ma'am I apologize for losing focus and completely blowing it. I was on auto-pilot "sir" mode and not paying attention to the details which are so very important. I have never been yelled at so much in my entire 20 years nor have I even come into a situation where I have known so little. I know your daughter probably feels like she is trying to teach Helen Keller to play I spy or scrabble, but keep faith. I will learn to be excellent.
I also appreciate your daughter screaming at me to get things right. I know deep down she is showing that she cares. And last night her and her fellow cadres proved they love me.
Thank you Ma'am,
-Mitch "Helen Keller" Torrel
I also appreciate your daughter screaming at me to get things right. I know deep down she is showing that she cares. And last night her and her fellow cadres proved they love me.
Thank you Ma'am,
-Mitch "Helen Keller" Torrel
Sunday, June 27, 2010
A Flight is the Special Flight
A Flight, which will turn into 29, is our special flight in basics.
Story 1: Night one the flight staff and squad staff is introducing themselves to the basics. After the introductions are over we put them to bed. Once they all leave we notice a yellow puddle in the hallway. One of the basics had peed his pants.
Story 2: The basics are leaving Mitchell Hall when all of a sudden one of the basics throws up in the middle of the aisle and continues walking. He tells no one what he did.
Story 3: Shortly after story 2 takes place a basic is walking out of Mitch's. He steps in the puke, slips, and lands on his back. He gets up and continues walking.
Story 4: It comes across the radios that a Hellcat has puked and one has fell in it. We ask A flight if this was them and the puker and the faller put an arm out. The puker said he just ate too much. The faller said no excuse, we had both change and we continued on with the evening.
Story 1: Night one the flight staff and squad staff is introducing themselves to the basics. After the introductions are over we put them to bed. Once they all leave we notice a yellow puddle in the hallway. One of the basics had peed his pants.
Story 2: The basics are leaving Mitchell Hall when all of a sudden one of the basics throws up in the middle of the aisle and continues walking. He tells no one what he did.
Story 3: Shortly after story 2 takes place a basic is walking out of Mitch's. He steps in the puke, slips, and lands on his back. He gets up and continues walking.
Story 4: It comes across the radios that a Hellcat has puked and one has fell in it. We ask A flight if this was them and the puker and the faller put an arm out. The puker said he just ate too much. The faller said no excuse, we had both change and we continued on with the evening.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Day 3
Ma'am you are a Ma'am not a Sir Ma'am...this statement was said multiple times tonight. I have never been mistaken for a Sir so many times. Letters are being written to each of their mothers with 25 reasons why I am a Ma'am.
Tomorrow is a day full of testing so that means a lot of naps for the cadre.
I have no voice so tomorrow I will play the silent card.
Sorry this is short, but not much happened today. Just taught room standards and started training them.
Friday, June 25, 2010
BCT 2010...Day 2
0330 - wake up
0400 - roll call with all the cadre
0430 - first basic wake up (welcome to the jungle was played)
0500 - breakfast (not enough seats for the cadre)
0830 - swearing in ceremony
1400 - AFT
2030 - urinalysis
The first real day of basic has begun. According to my basics I am Cadet chief senior master sergeant Stephanie S Boerdle, how they came up with that I have no idea. B flight is currently in the lead with calling me a Sir 3 times followed by C flight with 2...A and D flight have yet to mistake me for a male.
Story 1: The squadron commader is talking to a flight of basics. At the same time the flight commander is correcting. The flight commander turns to the basic and yells size (line up tallest to shortest)...the basic responds with Sir the answer is large.
Story 2: We leave basic and realize one of the flights is missing one basic. We search Mitchell Hall and still can't find him. We assume he's joined another flight. At the same time A flight is walking away. A basic reports in, asks to make a statement and then proceeds with Sir this is not where I belong. The cadre thinking it's one of his basics responds with we'll talk about your 34 (drop out paper work) process later. The basic responds with Sir I don't want to leave the academy, I just am not part of your flight...this was the basic we had searched Mitch's for and he had in fact joined another flight.
Day 2 has come to a close. There was church tonight and it was nice to just sit and relax and not worrying about yelling. 2 Basics have already asked for form 34s, many have asked if this is as hard as it gets, and there are some that still don't understand their left from their right.
USA plays Ghana tomorrow, these basics will be keeping me from watching the game, but we're allowed to start training tomorrow! YAY! I'm going to go watch a movie and relax for a bit until the basics get back from peeing in a cup. Another late night and early morning tomorrow.
0400 - roll call with all the cadre
0430 - first basic wake up (welcome to the jungle was played)
0500 - breakfast (not enough seats for the cadre)
0830 - swearing in ceremony
1400 - AFT
2030 - urinalysis
The first real day of basic has begun. According to my basics I am Cadet chief senior master sergeant Stephanie S Boerdle, how they came up with that I have no idea. B flight is currently in the lead with calling me a Sir 3 times followed by C flight with 2...A and D flight have yet to mistake me for a male.
Story 1: The squadron commader is talking to a flight of basics. At the same time the flight commander is correcting. The flight commander turns to the basic and yells size (line up tallest to shortest)...the basic responds with Sir the answer is large.
Story 2: We leave basic and realize one of the flights is missing one basic. We search Mitchell Hall and still can't find him. We assume he's joined another flight. At the same time A flight is walking away. A basic reports in, asks to make a statement and then proceeds with Sir this is not where I belong. The cadre thinking it's one of his basics responds with we'll talk about your 34 (drop out paper work) process later. The basic responds with Sir I don't want to leave the academy, I just am not part of your flight...this was the basic we had searched Mitch's for and he had in fact joined another flight.
Day 2 has come to a close. There was church tonight and it was nice to just sit and relax and not worrying about yelling. 2 Basics have already asked for form 34s, many have asked if this is as hard as it gets, and there are some that still don't understand their left from their right.
USA plays Ghana tomorrow, these basics will be keeping me from watching the game, but we're allowed to start training tomorrow! YAY! I'm going to go watch a movie and relax for a bit until the basics get back from peeing in a cup. Another late night and early morning tomorrow.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
BCT 2010...Day 1
- was called a Sir four times
- was standing from 0640 to 2240 (21hrs)
- my middle initial is "OH F"
- my last name is Birddle
Those are the highlights of the day. Basic has begun and they all look so little. I am officially a senior cadet, there are four classes at USAFA. Tomorrow is a crazy day for the basics, but hopefully I'll be able to catch some zz's. The basics run the AFT tomorrow (1.5 mile) and they also swear in.
I'm dead tired and have to be up at 0340. As things pick up more I'll have more exciting stories to tell.
- was standing from 0640 to 2240 (21hrs)
- my middle initial is "OH F"
- my last name is Birddle
Those are the highlights of the day. Basic has begun and they all look so little. I am officially a senior cadet, there are four classes at USAFA. Tomorrow is a crazy day for the basics, but hopefully I'll be able to catch some zz's. The basics run the AFT tomorrow (1.5 mile) and they also swear in.
I'm dead tired and have to be up at 0340. As things pick up more I'll have more exciting stories to tell.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Basic Cadet Training 2010
2 years ago...
Sir, Basic Cadet Berthiaume reports as ordered. Sir, the seven basic responses are as follows. Yes Sir. No Sir. No excuse Sir. Sir may I ask a question. Sir may I make a statement. Sir I do not understand. Sir I do not know.
Blood, sweat, and tears came from those 6 weeks of BCT. I was in Cobras A-flight which fed into academic squadron 9. Those 6 weeks were the hardest and most rewarding ones of my life. My friends were partying in Ocean City and I was awake for 19 out of 24 hours a day and not allowed to sit or kneel in my own room. I never thought the day would come when I would be a BCT cadre, but that day has come, and that day is tomorrow...June 24, 2010.
Basics, all eyes on me. I am cadet senior master sergeant (C/SMSgt) Samantha F Berthiaume. I am your Hellcats Superintendent. You will never mistake me for a Sir and you will not mispronounce my last name. Do you understand?
This summer I am the Hellcats Superintendent. I am in charge of academic squadrons 29, 30, 31, and 32. These next three weeks will be the hardest and most rewarding ones of my life. My friends are partying in Ocean City and I will be awake for 21 out of the 24 hours. A cell phone and radio are attached to my hip and they will never be turned off. I have 132 members of the class of 2014, 20 members of the class of 2012, and 6 members of the class of 2011 looking to me for example and direction.
I will never falter and I will not fail. My job is to create the best possible officers and these next 3 weeks will challenge me in ways I never thought possible. I will record the stories, the memories, and the long nights...sit back, relax, be glad you're not me, and welcome to basic cadet training for the class of 2014
Sir, Basic Cadet Berthiaume reports as ordered. Sir, the seven basic responses are as follows. Yes Sir. No Sir. No excuse Sir. Sir may I ask a question. Sir may I make a statement. Sir I do not understand. Sir I do not know.
Blood, sweat, and tears came from those 6 weeks of BCT. I was in Cobras A-flight which fed into academic squadron 9. Those 6 weeks were the hardest and most rewarding ones of my life. My friends were partying in Ocean City and I was awake for 19 out of 24 hours a day and not allowed to sit or kneel in my own room. I never thought the day would come when I would be a BCT cadre, but that day has come, and that day is tomorrow...June 24, 2010.
Basics, all eyes on me. I am cadet senior master sergeant (C/SMSgt) Samantha F Berthiaume. I am your Hellcats Superintendent. You will never mistake me for a Sir and you will not mispronounce my last name. Do you understand?
This summer I am the Hellcats Superintendent. I am in charge of academic squadrons 29, 30, 31, and 32. These next three weeks will be the hardest and most rewarding ones of my life. My friends are partying in Ocean City and I will be awake for 21 out of the 24 hours. A cell phone and radio are attached to my hip and they will never be turned off. I have 132 members of the class of 2014, 20 members of the class of 2012, and 6 members of the class of 2011 looking to me for example and direction.
I will never falter and I will not fail. My job is to create the best possible officers and these next 3 weeks will challenge me in ways I never thought possible. I will record the stories, the memories, and the long nights...sit back, relax, be glad you're not me, and welcome to basic cadet training for the class of 2014
Suprise Visits Home
I was able to make two trips home since Spring Break. One came right after finals were finished and it was for three days. The second, a longer break, came when my summer schedule changed. I didn't end up going to Luke AFB for 3wks like planned, but I will be going to some other base next summer for the same amount of time. While home my dad was in Ireland making sandwiches and my mom was in Alabama learning how to become a colonel. Abby was still in school so my days were consumed with sleeping and laying by the pool while my nights consisted of being a single mom and going from school to tutoring to softball to band practice. It was a great break and now I'm ready to finish off my summer before my junior year.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Spring Break
My bags are packed...one more load of laundry to do...one more friend to see...spring break 2010 is coming to a close.
Looking back on this break I see that it hasn't been a break like those in the past. All my friends had SB last week so very few were around to hang out. The break was spent sleeping, hanging out with my sister, figuring out my new phone, and celebrating Pop's birthday. I had a great time and it was nice just relaxing and hanging out at the house.
I'll start where I left off...I took off from Boston and made it safely to Baltimore. Dad picked me up and him and I went to a BBQ with friends from his work (he makes sandwiches for the State Department) =D After that we stopped at a wedding and then finally made it home about 830pm Saturday night.
The rest of the week was pretty slow. The weather varied from beautiful to rainy from day to day. Monday night the missionaries came over for dinner and we had fun getting to know them.
Wednesday was a Sam and Abby day. I got my hair done and she got a manicure. We also went to visit the Krajewski clan and see the new baby (she's gorgeous). We then picked up Tommy and went to see a movie together...it was a really fun day.
The next exciting day was Friday. We surprised Pop for his birthday and took him out to Restaurant 213. We had a lot of fun, ate a lot, and laughed none stop. We then went to Aunt Sarah's were Pop quickly fell asleep and as tradition...took pictures and played dress up while he snored on.
Today is Saturday...my last day in East Coast time for a while. I'm not sure when I'll be back, but I know that when I return my family will be there excited to great me with open arms. I love the cow manure smell, the humidity, and the flat...but I'm excited to get back to USAFA and finish out this semester.
Looking back on this break I see that it hasn't been a break like those in the past. All my friends had SB last week so very few were around to hang out. The break was spent sleeping, hanging out with my sister, figuring out my new phone, and celebrating Pop's birthday. I had a great time and it was nice just relaxing and hanging out at the house.
I'll start where I left off...I took off from Boston and made it safely to Baltimore. Dad picked me up and him and I went to a BBQ with friends from his work (he makes sandwiches for the State Department) =D After that we stopped at a wedding and then finally made it home about 830pm Saturday night.
The rest of the week was pretty slow. The weather varied from beautiful to rainy from day to day. Monday night the missionaries came over for dinner and we had fun getting to know them.
Wednesday was a Sam and Abby day. I got my hair done and she got a manicure. We also went to visit the Krajewski clan and see the new baby (she's gorgeous). We then picked up Tommy and went to see a movie together...it was a really fun day.
The next exciting day was Friday. We surprised Pop for his birthday and took him out to Restaurant 213. We had a lot of fun, ate a lot, and laughed none stop. We then went to Aunt Sarah's were Pop quickly fell asleep and as tradition...took pictures and played dress up while he snored on.
Today is Saturday...my last day in East Coast time for a while. I'm not sure when I'll be back, but I know that when I return my family will be there excited to great me with open arms. I love the cow manure smell, the humidity, and the flat...but I'm excited to get back to USAFA and finish out this semester.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Spring Break Start
Spring Break is an amazing time for USAFA. All cadets are released for a week and given time to recharge. They come back ready to knock out the last 15 lessons and move on with summer schedules. Later on today I'll probably make a post about Recognition and a quick update on what I'm doing this summer :) But here is how my spring break started...
Its about 10:15 eastern time so 8:15 Colordo time. I'll give you a quick run down of my spring break thus far. Feel free to stop reading now if you'd like, but if you're not busy and would like to be slightly entertained...keep reading.
Woke up Friday (yesterday) morning at 6am to do a work out and do my laundry. Got done working out and felt horrible. I went to the clinic and ended up getting put on bed rest for the day (got out of water haze) because of the norovirus thing AGAIN.
Ended up leaving USAFA at 3...made it all the way to Denver with out a problem, but the roads in Denver were horrible. Took us forever to get to the airport (it was bumper to bumper traffic all through Denver).
Got to Denver ok but there was no one at my ticket counter to check my bags because I found out my flight was delayed from 1130pm to 230am. No big deal, went to the USO and chilled there with friends until about 1230am (7hrs).
Got to my gate and learned the plane was now delayed until 3am (still haven't slept since waking up at 6am). Finally get on the plane and then we sat on the tarmac for an hour and a half (22hr w/ no sleep and not feeling great). Plane finally pulls away and I'm asleep before the plane takes off and I wake up when they tell us to put up our tray tables (a good 3 hour nap).
Land in Boston...and here I sit...I have 5 hours before my flight to Maryland and then I have a 3hr drive to my house. This means 27hrs from the time i left USAFA to the time I get home will have elapsed.
If this is how my break starts it can only get better. I'm doing great. I can't wait for the rest of break.
Its about 10:15 eastern time so 8:15 Colordo time. I'll give you a quick run down of my spring break thus far. Feel free to stop reading now if you'd like, but if you're not busy and would like to be slightly entertained...keep reading.
Woke up Friday (yesterday) morning at 6am to do a work out and do my laundry. Got done working out and felt horrible. I went to the clinic and ended up getting put on bed rest for the day (got out of water haze) because of the norovirus thing AGAIN.
Ended up leaving USAFA at 3...made it all the way to Denver with out a problem, but the roads in Denver were horrible. Took us forever to get to the airport (it was bumper to bumper traffic all through Denver).
Got to Denver ok but there was no one at my ticket counter to check my bags because I found out my flight was delayed from 1130pm to 230am. No big deal, went to the USO and chilled there with friends until about 1230am (7hrs).
Got to my gate and learned the plane was now delayed until 3am (still haven't slept since waking up at 6am). Finally get on the plane and then we sat on the tarmac for an hour and a half (22hr w/ no sleep and not feeling great). Plane finally pulls away and I'm asleep before the plane takes off and I wake up when they tell us to put up our tray tables (a good 3 hour nap).
Land in Boston...and here I sit...I have 5 hours before my flight to Maryland and then I have a 3hr drive to my house. This means 27hrs from the time i left USAFA to the time I get home will have elapsed.
If this is how my break starts it can only get better. I'm doing great. I can't wait for the rest of break.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Recognition Season
As March 13th approaches the yelling and pushups are ramping up. It's been a year since I was the one getting yelled at for not saying Puryer's quote right, but the tables have now been turned. This past weekend we had a pre-Recognition training. Though this makes sense to few cadets we just shut our mouths and did what we were told.
Friday was dedicated to knowledge. It started with a retreat formation at 1640, was followed by an hour break for dinner, a quick SLAMI, a training session, and then two knowledge bowls. A SLAMI is a room inspection, but no matter how immaculet the rooms may be it will always look as if a tornado touched down. The training session was short and sweet. One hour of heavy physical training with some freshmen doing pushups in pools of sweat by the time they were finished. Our first knowledge bowl the other squad gave us the win so we proceeded to play freshmen verses upperclassmen. I'm proud to say that the upperclassmen won. Our second knowledge bowl was a little more of a let down. The opposing squadron showed up and the outcome wasn't as pretty. The night concluded with hygeine time for the freshmen and then we were all off to bed, ready to wake up at 0600.
We wake up at 0600 and are called to attention in Mitchell Hall (dining hall) at 0625. After breakfast I come back to my room to sleep. I sleep from about 0700 to 1000 at which time I get ready to train some freshmen. While I was sleeping the class of 2013 had watched a motivational video and then was trained by the seniors and then the juniors. At 1030 my class (2012) took over. We put a lot of them into the stairwell with a pair of sophomores at each level. They would gradually work their way up, only to be sent back down the stairs. About half way through we started playing ping pong. The upperclassmen were the paddles and the freshmen were the ball. I would tell a freshmen to go find Cadet (X) and tell them ping...minutes later they would return with a message from Cadet (X) of pong. This game continued until 1100 came. We finished with 29 Black Panther pushups and then called it a day. The upperclassmen quickly showered and then signed out for the weekend.
Went to Brett's sponsor's house and baby sat their kids for the night. They all were in bed and asleep by 1930! I watched some movies and fell asleep around midnight (The Hendricks' were already home). Woke up on Sunday, went to church, found a dress for the Black and White Ball (its this coming Saturday), and then went back to the Hendrick's for dinner. After dinner Brett quickly passed out on the couch while Mason and Taylor thought it funny that he was so tired that he wasn't waking up. The night concluded with Brett finding out he has the stomach virus that's going around the Cadet Wing.
Now I'm back at USAFA and ready to come head first into another week. This week consists of a GR, case study, oral presentation, escorting a prospective cadet, and 2 days of swimming GRs. It should be interesting because who knows what PEER issues will come up this week. Keep your fingers crossed that I don't get sick too and I do well on all my class work. This is the last week before midterms come out. This coming weekend is the black and white ball and my dress is aqua. Love you all!
C3C
Friday was dedicated to knowledge. It started with a retreat formation at 1640, was followed by an hour break for dinner, a quick SLAMI, a training session, and then two knowledge bowls. A SLAMI is a room inspection, but no matter how immaculet the rooms may be it will always look as if a tornado touched down. The training session was short and sweet. One hour of heavy physical training with some freshmen doing pushups in pools of sweat by the time they were finished. Our first knowledge bowl the other squad gave us the win so we proceeded to play freshmen verses upperclassmen. I'm proud to say that the upperclassmen won. Our second knowledge bowl was a little more of a let down. The opposing squadron showed up and the outcome wasn't as pretty. The night concluded with hygeine time for the freshmen and then we were all off to bed, ready to wake up at 0600.
We wake up at 0600 and are called to attention in Mitchell Hall (dining hall) at 0625. After breakfast I come back to my room to sleep. I sleep from about 0700 to 1000 at which time I get ready to train some freshmen. While I was sleeping the class of 2013 had watched a motivational video and then was trained by the seniors and then the juniors. At 1030 my class (2012) took over. We put a lot of them into the stairwell with a pair of sophomores at each level. They would gradually work their way up, only to be sent back down the stairs. About half way through we started playing ping pong. The upperclassmen were the paddles and the freshmen were the ball. I would tell a freshmen to go find Cadet (X) and tell them ping...minutes later they would return with a message from Cadet (X) of pong. This game continued until 1100 came. We finished with 29 Black Panther pushups and then called it a day. The upperclassmen quickly showered and then signed out for the weekend.
Went to Brett's sponsor's house and baby sat their kids for the night. They all were in bed and asleep by 1930! I watched some movies and fell asleep around midnight (The Hendricks' were already home). Woke up on Sunday, went to church, found a dress for the Black and White Ball (its this coming Saturday), and then went back to the Hendrick's for dinner. After dinner Brett quickly passed out on the couch while Mason and Taylor thought it funny that he was so tired that he wasn't waking up. The night concluded with Brett finding out he has the stomach virus that's going around the Cadet Wing.
Now I'm back at USAFA and ready to come head first into another week. This week consists of a GR, case study, oral presentation, escorting a prospective cadet, and 2 days of swimming GRs. It should be interesting because who knows what PEER issues will come up this week. Keep your fingers crossed that I don't get sick too and I do well on all my class work. This is the last week before midterms come out. This coming weekend is the black and white ball and my dress is aqua. Love you all!
C3C
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Future Academy Cadets
If anyone happens upon this blog and you're interested in coming to the Air Force Academy or another, feel free to comment on a post with any questions and I will do my best to anwer them for you.
Welcome...
I'm a little different from most college sophomores. I don't pay for tuition, room, or board with money...but with service. In about 5 months I will be making a commitment to carry on with this "free" education and promise to serve until at least 2017. I am a sophomore at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Sprigs, Colorado.
As a resident of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, the large accumulation of snow was as foreign to me as it was the rest of the eastern seaboard when they received 3 feet in about a week. Living at an elevation of 7258 feet it feels as if I am getting a constant work out and when I return to sea level I can run for miles. I wake up when most of my high school friends are going to bed and I'm given 28hrs worth of work each day. Life is tough here, but it's what I chose and it's something I love. I have never regretted my decision nor do I think I ever will. It's tough, but its worth it.
As a resident of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, the large accumulation of snow was as foreign to me as it was the rest of the eastern seaboard when they received 3 feet in about a week. Living at an elevation of 7258 feet it feels as if I am getting a constant work out and when I return to sea level I can run for miles. I wake up when most of my high school friends are going to bed and I'm given 28hrs worth of work each day. Life is tough here, but it's what I chose and it's something I love. I have never regretted my decision nor do I think I ever will. It's tough, but its worth it.
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