PIMA & fencersmother take over the world

fencersmother

10-Year Member
Founding Member
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Oct 10, 2007
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Ok, it's a little hyperbole, but can you imagine the fear and shaking going on in Texas tonight? PIMA & I both have sons headed to Dyess... together!

Seven years, differing paths, same destination.

PIMA - I'm bringing champagne to the party!

Thanks to all the SAF supporters, staff, and mods! Couldn't have done it without you!

To PIMA - Blue skies forever, Mom! hugs!
 
Guess they got C130J's :smile:
Congrats to both your families!
Condolences for being in scenic Abilene, TX (I live 2 hours east of there where there are trees and water - haha)!
 
Ok, it's a little hyperbole, but can you imagine the fear and shaking going on in Texas tonight? PIMA & I both have sons headed to Dyess... together!

Seven years, differing paths, same destination.

PIMA - I'm bringing champagne to the party!

Thanks to all the SAF supporters, staff, and mods! Couldn't have done it without you!

To PIMA - Blue skies forever, Mom! hugs!

Congrats to both DS's and their folks. Can't think of a better wedding gift for Brad and his fiancé than this..

Fencersmother, We haven't met but I noticed you were a founding member of this forum.....May you join Pima on the pedestal that I have built for her.

What else is there to say but ....WOW and THANK YOU
 
Congrats to both of you! It's so exciting to hear when all of their hard work pays off!

Stealth_81


Sent using the Service Academy Forums® mobile app
 
Ok, it's a little hyperbole, but can you imagine the fear and shaking going on in Texas tonight? PIMA & I both have sons headed to Dyess... together!

Seven years, differing paths, same destination.

PIMA - I'm bringing champagne to the party!

Thanks to all the SAF supporters, staff, and mods! Couldn't have done it without you!

To PIMA - Blue skies forever, Mom! hugs!

Congrats!
 
So to the ones who sons/daughters just graduated UPT - do they have off some leave time before reporting to their next base? If so, about how long? Ours is scheduled to wing later this year so wondering about time off to maybe go see family overseas.
 
So to the ones who sons/daughters just graduated UPT - do they have off some leave time before reporting to their next base? If so, about how long? Ours is scheduled to wing later this year so wondering about time off to maybe go see family overseas.

It is heavily dependent on the airframe that they get and when training slots are available. There are some short trainings that need to be done during this time, so it is also dependent on when they go to these. You won't find out the schedule until about a week after they drop their airframe (so about a week before graduation). Some of my son's classmates left the training base permanently only two days after graduation. Others were there for months with short trips to SERE school, water survival, and other trainings. The FAIPS went to Randolph right away to do instructor training. The heavy pilots went to Washington State for their water survival, the fighters went to Pensacola. My son stayed based at Laughlin for almost 6 months, but two months of that was TDY to Randolph for IFF, some was TDY to Fairchild AFB for SERE, and another week-long TDY to Pensacola. When he was back at Laughlin for more than a few days, he was expected to put time in working somewhere on base.

I am thinking it would be very hard to schedule a vacation in there unless you did it very short notice. Another thing is that many of son's class had their training schedule changed if slots opened up early. The AF doesn't waste an open slot if someone drops or changes their mind. They will move someone up to take the spot. Son went to SERE a week early with one day's notice.

Stealth_81
 
Thanks for the information. Graduation should be the middle of December so that might bode well for piggybacking on Christmas holidays. We will wait to make sure he wings... almost done with the T-6A - Texan II - only formation block left, 3 checkrides down, 1 to go.
 
As fencer said we are taking over the world...my avatar proves it! :shake:

Seven years later and I finally feel that the roller coaster ride has officially ended. However, like any amusement park, once off one, you get on another.

I can't begin to explain how you feel as a parent regarding the emotions. I know many of you will be experiencing HS/college graduations in the next few weeks, and I get the pride/relief factor of making it to that goal.
~~~ Been there, done that, but there still are more hurdles to come. No flaming, because I know our DS has a lot more to go as an ADAF officer. This for me was the first time I felt, as a parent, that he is passed the finish line. Like I said, 7 years.

As a military spouse that has sat through many guest speakers droning on, at our DS's (Fencer and mine) I never thought one second when will he end?
It was the most amazing speech ever.
~~~ They winged on the flight line, and as we all walked to it, Fencer and myself remarked how we cried only once. It was not when they walked into the auditorium, nor when the picture was flashed across the screen as their name was called, nor when they turned around to the crowd and everyone gave them a standing ovation that seemed to last forever.

It was the guest speaker, the OG, that told them, as an AF officer/pilot and a parent of a 17 yr old, that it is now time to go after your dreams, and their life was just beginning in the AF.

On a lighter note, Bullet and I spent the two days laughing, because we forgot about bases like Del Rio, and why it is commonly called a different name (play on the word DEL), The BX is about the size of your local lower end grocery store or maybe your Big Lots, the food court is Subway, and Subway only.

That is on top of driving for two hours to nowhere, after taking 2 planes because there is no direct flights to the town that is 2 hours away.

We were at his base for 38 hours, we traveled 27 hours(total). Cost, lack of sleep to be there.... Priceless.

Regret? Only one...should have been smart like Fencer and stayed one more day to relax before heading back.
 
PIMA... I stayed TWO days longer!

And it was worth every penny, every tear, every shock of fear, every shake of the head, every supportive phone call, every jump for joy... over these many years.

For me, it seems the blink of an eye. My little 18 year old, headed off to a place I had seen once, to learn things I could only imagine, to struggle, to sweat, to cry, to persevere, to succeed - and not just at USAFA, but at IFS, and UPT, even more so, it seems.

What a wonderful bunch of men and women were in 14-08! The very embodiment of American ideals. I was honored to meet them.

And, imagine PIMA in real life, and you KNOW her! She's actually even better IRL!
 
Just wanted everyone to know that The Other Twin got....


C5M Super Galaxy to Dover!!!!​

(And I still won't let him drive my car.)
 
Just wanted everyone to know that The Other Twin got....C5M Super Galaxy to Dover!!!!
(And I still won't let him drive my car.)
Congrats fencersmother to you and BOTH of your sons!
While he may not be allowed to drive your car......he could in theory fly your car....in the back of the C-5.
 
Vance had a good drop, so did Laughlin. The one thing in common for both classes were a heck of a lot of 135s. Both had 3 in each class. They also both had a 22.

Fencer, our DS will be swimming with the fishes next week. He left for water survival at Pensacola this a.m. He'll be one tan groom for the wedding...at least his face will be!

When does your DS go into the woods?
 
My Laughlin grad leaves for "camping" on the 16th of May, then direct to "swimming lessons" from there, then pop right into his own wedding!

Not sure of the schedule for my Vance guy.

We are driving to Oklahoma this weekend to spend time with Son#1 who works in Norman, then on to Enid for the graduation on Thursday (grad is Friday). Then, return to the Steeler Nation...

Then holding our breath for PIMAs son's wedding, then my Laughlin twin's wedding over the 4th of July.

BTW: I don't think I'm letting out any secrets here that my "Four Fans of Freedom" C130J twin is marrying a young lady from USAFA, who has posted here as "Nordic Skier." Woot woot!
 
Leaving tonight to go see Twin 2 graduate at Vance! He's got the C5M Super Galaxy and is pretty psyched! Dover - way closer to the Steeler Nation than Texas or Oklahoma or .. well, it's closer.
 
Happy travels.

One thing Bullet and I realized when downloading the pics on the flight line was we were always looking into the sun, hence squinting....should have stood in the otherwise of the plane:shake:

He may be closer to Steeper Nation, but I am betting he will be in Eagles or Baltimore Nation. To me Eagles fans are the epitome of the worst fans when it comes to other teams.

Okay maybe not the worst, I am sure Cowboys, Redskins and Giants are just as RABID!
 
OK, bragging mom here:

My C5M Galaxy PILOT got his wings, and won the Academic Award!

Missed only 3 of 845 questions.

I think my buttons burst all the way to Pittsburgh (which is a very VERY long ride, there and back, from Vance)!
 
OK, bragging mom here:



My C5M Galaxy PILOT got his wings, and won the Academic Award!



Missed only 3 of 845 questions.



I think my buttons burst all the way to Pittsburgh (which is a very VERY long ride, there and back, from Vance)!


You are certainly entitled to brag! That's an impressive accomplishment!

Stealth_81


Sent using the Service Academy Forums® mobile app
 
LMAO, DS is leaving for SERE tomorrow. Guess what other twin will be with him in the woods? What are the chances of him meeting/training with both twins?

if you don't think the AF is small, fencer and I are living proof it is. No way, shape or how did we think back in 07 with 17 year olds that our boys would cross paths, let alone train with each other.

At DS's winging a 15E pilot that flew with Bullet and works on the 35 at the Pentagon now had his own DS wing out of the same class as our DS.

Hornet was sworn in by Bullet back in 10, and he is at Del Rio.

ChristCorp's DS is at Rand now, an assignment that Hornet just left. I believe CC's DS will also be going to Del Rio as a follow on.

Just saying, food for thought on how small the AF is, and how 5,6,7 years later those posters become family.
 
It is somewhat unbelievable that PIMA's son was at Laughlin for a year at UPT with TwinA, now will be in the woods with TwinB, then will be stationed at Dyess (and maybe live next door, who knows!) with TwinA.

PIMA and I have already discussed our travel plans. Not for the faint of heart, but I think you guys (and gals) here might qualify for some of our fun. :shake::thumb:

ChristCorps, you should plan a Thudgate at Dyess!
 
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