Now that I have a date for BMT, I have to really start preparing. I have been running around 21 miles every week up to this point, and will continue that. We will be ending the lease at our current apartment at the end of April, and my wife will be traveling with her family to South Africa for the first half of May while I finish the last week and a half at my current job.
BMT is in San Antonio, TX at Lackland Air Force Base. It is 8.5 weeks long. There is a possibility that I will stay there for an additional 4 weeks for Aircrew Training before moving to Monterey, CA and the Defense Language Institute (DLI). I will likely be there for 64 weeks learning my new language. I do not know when I will find out what language I will be learning, but with my score of 137 on the DLAB, it will probably be Chinese, Korean, or Russian.
After Monterey, I will go to my job training which could be up to 19 weeks. Location and length will be determined by what airframe I will be working on. Finally, I will spend 3-4 weeks in Washington State for Survival Evasion Rescue and Escape (SERE) training.
After all of that I will be assigned to my first base. I do not know where that will be.
An Airborne Linguist spends the bulk of their time in the air, and I anticipate being sent on deployments frequently. They will typically be between 6-12 weeks long, with a similar time spent at home. Mostly it will be intercepting digital and radio transmissions from potential threats to our air and ground forces. I think it will be very interesting, and kind of fun too!
That's pretty much all I know at this point. Feel free to message me if you have any other questions, and I'll try to remember to update this as I continue along this journey!
Thursday, March 21, 2019
United States Air Force: Enlistment Process
If you are interested in what has been going on in the recent months, that is what this post is all about.
After I decided to enlist in the United States Air Force I got in touch with a recruiter in Denver to begin the process. This was in August, 2018. My recruiter has been my guide since. He initially had me take the PiCAT, which is essentially the At-Home version of the ASVAB. My first score from my Junior year of High School had expired since they are only valid for 2 years. I managed a score of 97/99 for Mechanical, 97/99 for Electrical, 96/99 for Administrative, and 96/99 for General. Anyone that has taken the ASVAB knows that these scores are pretty good, and would open up every job the Air Force has to offer to me.
I had 30 days to get to the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) to confirm those scores. Unfortunately, you have to get in to take that confirmation test WITHIN 30 days, and I arrived on the 30th day. I ended up having to take the FULL ASVAB once again, as well as the personality test, and a secondary electronics test all in one sitting. Not too bad, and I ended up getting the exact same scores.
After confirming my ASVAB scores were high enough, we started looking at possible jobs that I would be interested in. Two of the jobs stood out to me, or really two versions of the same job. One was a Cryptologic Language Analyst, and the other was the Airborne Cryptologic Language Analyst. Having the opportunity to learn another language and become a translator was exciting to me. As a language analyst you also learn the culture of the people speaking your language, which appealed to me as someone with a degree in Anthropology.
In order to qualify for a linguist job I had to take the Defense Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB), which was also at MEPS. I tried to study for this test, and used the Official DLAB Study Guide from Amazon. I'm not sure if that is the reason, but I did manage to get a 137/140 for this test. For context, everything I saw suggested that the average score for this test is around 87, and I needed at least a 110 to qualify to be a linguist for the Air Force.
137 did it for me, and, after consulting with my wife, decided to shoot for a job as an Airborne Cryptologic Language Analyst.
Throughout the testing process I was also submitting information for my background investigation, and all of my medical info. This is where my frustrations started.
The bulk of my medical information came from an injury I suffered in the Philippines. I broke my right leg in two places and had to have a screw inserted into the rear bottom of my tibia. This screw remains to this day. My documentation of this injury is a 30 page PDF that is mostly irrelevant information that was added by the Filipino Hospital. My medical pre-screen was rejected 5-6 times for various reasons ranging from a request for additional information and post-operative reports, to a page being "too light to read". It wasn't approved until November, 2018, when I finally got to go to MEPS to take my physical.
Everything for the physical went fine. I got to stay in the Sheraton hotel the night before, and took a bus to MEPS at 5:30am the following day. I passed every test they gave me, but because the screw is still in my leg, they informed me that I needed a waiver from the Surgeon General of the Air Force. We submitted that, and waited..
and waited..
After a month, they rejected my paperwork as they also said it was "too light to read". So we submitted the originals.. again.. And waited. Two more months went by before it was finally approved. Of course, by then the original medical pre-screen was over 90 days old and had expired, so I had to resubmit that thinking it would be a quick turnaround.
One month and one day later it was finally approved.
Last Tuesday I was able to go to MEPS once again for what they call an Inspect. Essentially they just check my weight and ask if there is anything else going on with me medically. After that I waited until noon to talk to the Contract Specialist, signed my contract, swore into the Delayed Entry Program of the Air Force, and chose my list of preferred careers.
I was finally in!
I spoke with my recruiter and he said there was one spot left for an Airborne Cryptologic Language Analyst, and he was getting me into it! This Monday I learned that I got the spot and will leave for Basic Military Training (BMT) on May 21st!
After I decided to enlist in the United States Air Force I got in touch with a recruiter in Denver to begin the process. This was in August, 2018. My recruiter has been my guide since. He initially had me take the PiCAT, which is essentially the At-Home version of the ASVAB. My first score from my Junior year of High School had expired since they are only valid for 2 years. I managed a score of 97/99 for Mechanical, 97/99 for Electrical, 96/99 for Administrative, and 96/99 for General. Anyone that has taken the ASVAB knows that these scores are pretty good, and would open up every job the Air Force has to offer to me.
I had 30 days to get to the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) to confirm those scores. Unfortunately, you have to get in to take that confirmation test WITHIN 30 days, and I arrived on the 30th day. I ended up having to take the FULL ASVAB once again, as well as the personality test, and a secondary electronics test all in one sitting. Not too bad, and I ended up getting the exact same scores.
After confirming my ASVAB scores were high enough, we started looking at possible jobs that I would be interested in. Two of the jobs stood out to me, or really two versions of the same job. One was a Cryptologic Language Analyst, and the other was the Airborne Cryptologic Language Analyst. Having the opportunity to learn another language and become a translator was exciting to me. As a language analyst you also learn the culture of the people speaking your language, which appealed to me as someone with a degree in Anthropology.
In order to qualify for a linguist job I had to take the Defense Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB), which was also at MEPS. I tried to study for this test, and used the Official DLAB Study Guide from Amazon. I'm not sure if that is the reason, but I did manage to get a 137/140 for this test. For context, everything I saw suggested that the average score for this test is around 87, and I needed at least a 110 to qualify to be a linguist for the Air Force.
137 did it for me, and, after consulting with my wife, decided to shoot for a job as an Airborne Cryptologic Language Analyst.
Throughout the testing process I was also submitting information for my background investigation, and all of my medical info. This is where my frustrations started.
The bulk of my medical information came from an injury I suffered in the Philippines. I broke my right leg in two places and had to have a screw inserted into the rear bottom of my tibia. This screw remains to this day. My documentation of this injury is a 30 page PDF that is mostly irrelevant information that was added by the Filipino Hospital. My medical pre-screen was rejected 5-6 times for various reasons ranging from a request for additional information and post-operative reports, to a page being "too light to read". It wasn't approved until November, 2018, when I finally got to go to MEPS to take my physical.
Everything for the physical went fine. I got to stay in the Sheraton hotel the night before, and took a bus to MEPS at 5:30am the following day. I passed every test they gave me, but because the screw is still in my leg, they informed me that I needed a waiver from the Surgeon General of the Air Force. We submitted that, and waited..
and waited..
After a month, they rejected my paperwork as they also said it was "too light to read". So we submitted the originals.. again.. And waited. Two more months went by before it was finally approved. Of course, by then the original medical pre-screen was over 90 days old and had expired, so I had to resubmit that thinking it would be a quick turnaround.
One month and one day later it was finally approved.
Last Tuesday I was able to go to MEPS once again for what they call an Inspect. Essentially they just check my weight and ask if there is anything else going on with me medically. After that I waited until noon to talk to the Contract Specialist, signed my contract, swore into the Delayed Entry Program of the Air Force, and chose my list of preferred careers.
I was finally in!
I spoke with my recruiter and he said there was one spot left for an Airborne Cryptologic Language Analyst, and he was getting me into it! This Monday I learned that I got the spot and will leave for Basic Military Training (BMT) on May 21st!
United States Air Force: Why I Enlisted
Good morning!
If you are viewing this post you may or may not know that I have enlisted in the United States Air Force. You may be curious as to why I have made this decision, what I will be doing, and where life will be taking me in the coming months/years.
I'll start at the beginning and go from there...
When I was a Junior in High School they had everyone in my class take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). I scored in the upper 70's and was almost immediately contacted by the United States Marine Corps about an opportunity to serve my country. This was the first time that I seriously considered joining the Armed Forces. I started the process then, but decided I needed to serve my Mission before I started my career. Unfortunately, it took me until I was 24 years old to complete that objective.
When I returned from the Philippines, I was determined to become an Anthropologist and began focusing my education to that end. Military service was still in the back of my mind, but my relationships and uncertain future kept me from making any commitments. Finally, I believed myself too old and gave up on the possibility of serving.
Three years ago I moved to Colorado to take a job in Colorado Springs with a software company as their Internal Technical Support/Systems Administrator. I work within view of the Air Force Academy and often see Airmen at the local shops and restaurants. I also have a co-worker who joined the Air National Guard. Over the three years I have been living here I began to understand myself more and what I needed to be successful. Structure, a clear career path, and something that I believe in.
I also learned that the Air Force recently increased the maximum age of enlistment to 39 years old. Suddenly serving in the military was a possibility again. I considered joining as an Officer since I already have a Bachelor's Degree. The process to become an Officer as a civilian is between 18-24 months, and after postponing this decision for so long, I was unwilling to wait.
I looked at my current financial situation with paying for rent and utilities, and discovered that after these things I was not bringing home nearly as much as I hoped, or needed to in order to do all the things with my life and for my wife that I want. With what little was left over, I was paying other bills and debts, and wasn't saving anything. I compared that with what I would be making as an Enlisted Airman, and discovered that I would be making MORE doing that than what I was currently doing.
Here was a job that would be putting more money in my bank account, had a clear career path, structure, the opportunity to travel the world, and the chance to serve my country and protect its citizens and Constitution. Our housing and health care would be taken care of, which means that we could take care of our future children without worrying about the crushing debt that mortgages and hospital bills bring with them.
Considering all of these things, I decided to talk to a recruiter and Enlist with the intention of becoming an Officer later.
If you are viewing this post you may or may not know that I have enlisted in the United States Air Force. You may be curious as to why I have made this decision, what I will be doing, and where life will be taking me in the coming months/years.
I'll start at the beginning and go from there...
When I was a Junior in High School they had everyone in my class take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). I scored in the upper 70's and was almost immediately contacted by the United States Marine Corps about an opportunity to serve my country. This was the first time that I seriously considered joining the Armed Forces. I started the process then, but decided I needed to serve my Mission before I started my career. Unfortunately, it took me until I was 24 years old to complete that objective.
When I returned from the Philippines, I was determined to become an Anthropologist and began focusing my education to that end. Military service was still in the back of my mind, but my relationships and uncertain future kept me from making any commitments. Finally, I believed myself too old and gave up on the possibility of serving.
Three years ago I moved to Colorado to take a job in Colorado Springs with a software company as their Internal Technical Support/Systems Administrator. I work within view of the Air Force Academy and often see Airmen at the local shops and restaurants. I also have a co-worker who joined the Air National Guard. Over the three years I have been living here I began to understand myself more and what I needed to be successful. Structure, a clear career path, and something that I believe in.
I also learned that the Air Force recently increased the maximum age of enlistment to 39 years old. Suddenly serving in the military was a possibility again. I considered joining as an Officer since I already have a Bachelor's Degree. The process to become an Officer as a civilian is between 18-24 months, and after postponing this decision for so long, I was unwilling to wait.
I looked at my current financial situation with paying for rent and utilities, and discovered that after these things I was not bringing home nearly as much as I hoped, or needed to in order to do all the things with my life and for my wife that I want. With what little was left over, I was paying other bills and debts, and wasn't saving anything. I compared that with what I would be making as an Enlisted Airman, and discovered that I would be making MORE doing that than what I was currently doing.
Here was a job that would be putting more money in my bank account, had a clear career path, structure, the opportunity to travel the world, and the chance to serve my country and protect its citizens and Constitution. Our housing and health care would be taken care of, which means that we could take care of our future children without worrying about the crushing debt that mortgages and hospital bills bring with them.
Considering all of these things, I decided to talk to a recruiter and Enlist with the intention of becoming an Officer later.
Monday, October 21, 2013
Dreams.
I'm dreaming. I simply have to be. There is no other logical explanation. The months leading up to this moment have given me no warning, no hints that I would be experiencing the things that have fallen seemingly from heaven to bring light and joy into my life. And now I feel I can scarcely breathe for fear that I will scare the dream away, like smoke fading before coalescing into something solid and lasting. I move, slowly and deliberately, placing my feet gently, trying to follow a dance that has no pattern. The only music playing is the rhythm of my heart pounding when she is near, faltering and yearning when she is away. Dare I whisper these things to her, though I wish to shout them as they fill my breast to overflowing? Are there even words to express the elation, the excitement, the serenity that I feel in her presence? I feel that I could speak for ages and barely begin to describe the luminous cloud that fills my mind and heart to distraction. My thoughts are only of this angel that has stepped into my life and filled me with desire and wonder to the extent that when I close my eyes I see her face and my pulse quickens with the memory of the feel of her. And yet I fear.. Dreams are fleeting, and this dream is far better than anything I could have hoped for. Does that mean it will be equally as brief? The thought fills me with dread, my feet halt in the waltz I have been dancing, and I imagine I stumble. And yet I smile, and trust that despite my faults and clumsy steps, that grace will shine on me and buoy me up and she will forgive me my hesitation..
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Autumn - Story
I used to hate mornings. The early sunlight glaring in my eyes, cold, groggy, and inevitably grumpy. I don't know how I dragged myself out of bed and into the shower every day just to go to work, come home, eat, sleep, and do it all again the next day interminably. At least, until I met her..
It was a Saturday morning in early October and the weather was just starting to turn brisk. Early enough in the season that I was still excited that I could start wearing layers, but late enough that I wasn't the only one. I was sitting outside of my favorite cafe wearing my most comfortable sweater with a cup of hot cocoa, enjoying the juxtaposition of the chill air and the warmth of my drink as it spread through my chest. I had a silly grin on my face, breathing in the scent of chocolate and spice, my hands wrapped around the cardboard cup, staring off at nothing. But I wasn't so wrapped in my own world that I didn't see her walking down the street towards me.
She was wearing a pair of leggings, a baggy sweatshirt, and was carrying a side bag. Her long dark hair was pulled back away from her face with a narrow headband, the length of it pulled over one shoulder. She was slender, the graceful movement of her walk supple, but the play of the sweatshirt against her body hinted at softness beneath. Her face could not have been shaped more perfectly by the finest sculptor. The curve of her jawline, the full lips curved artfully at the corners, her cheeks slightly reddened in the cold all combined to a whole that stopped my breath for a moment. But what struck me most were her eyes. The color a intermixing of green and blue, blended together, and they spoke to me of joy and light. She glanced at me briefly as she turned to go in to the coffee shop and I felt my cup start to slip in my numb fingers. It was obvious she was there to work, but in her step was the buoyancy of self-confidence and happiness.
She was out of my sight, but not out of my mind. I hadn't realized beauty like that existed. I took another sip of my cocoa to ease the constriction in my chest and get my heart to regulate its beating again. My mind felt wrapped in a blanket of images, replaying the moment of her appearance again and again. I shook my head trying to clear the haze. She was beautiful, certainly, but I knew that she had to have a husband, or a boyfriend, and would never speak to me, let alone be mine.
I stood, the levity of the morning's diversion shattered in that moment of clarity. As I walked away I glanced inside and saw her pulling a book and notepad out of the bag beside her armchair, legs drawn up into the seat. Forcing my eyes down to the sidewalk I picked up my pace retreating from the vision of her.
It took me the rest of the day to get over the depression that only true beauty can cause me, but by the time the sun was setting I was back to my semi-jovial self and was ready to face the world again. By then I was able to file away the sight of her along with great works of art as something to be admired but not touched. With that perception I was able to prepare myself to go to a party a friend of mine was hosting with renewed confidence that I would have a good time.
I reluctantly left my comfy sweatshirt at home, and wore a jacket over a blue button up shirt to the party. I didn't know who I was trying to impress, but I figured going out to a social event warranted a little more effort.
She was wearing a pair of leggings, a baggy sweatshirt, and was carrying a side bag. Her long dark hair was pulled back away from her face with a narrow headband, the length of it pulled over one shoulder. She was slender, the graceful movement of her walk supple, but the play of the sweatshirt against her body hinted at softness beneath. Her face could not have been shaped more perfectly by the finest sculptor. The curve of her jawline, the full lips curved artfully at the corners, her cheeks slightly reddened in the cold all combined to a whole that stopped my breath for a moment. But what struck me most were her eyes. The color a intermixing of green and blue, blended together, and they spoke to me of joy and light. She glanced at me briefly as she turned to go in to the coffee shop and I felt my cup start to slip in my numb fingers. It was obvious she was there to work, but in her step was the buoyancy of self-confidence and happiness.
She was out of my sight, but not out of my mind. I hadn't realized beauty like that existed. I took another sip of my cocoa to ease the constriction in my chest and get my heart to regulate its beating again. My mind felt wrapped in a blanket of images, replaying the moment of her appearance again and again. I shook my head trying to clear the haze. She was beautiful, certainly, but I knew that she had to have a husband, or a boyfriend, and would never speak to me, let alone be mine.
I stood, the levity of the morning's diversion shattered in that moment of clarity. As I walked away I glanced inside and saw her pulling a book and notepad out of the bag beside her armchair, legs drawn up into the seat. Forcing my eyes down to the sidewalk I picked up my pace retreating from the vision of her.
It took me the rest of the day to get over the depression that only true beauty can cause me, but by the time the sun was setting I was back to my semi-jovial self and was ready to face the world again. By then I was able to file away the sight of her along with great works of art as something to be admired but not touched. With that perception I was able to prepare myself to go to a party a friend of mine was hosting with renewed confidence that I would have a good time.
I reluctantly left my comfy sweatshirt at home, and wore a jacket over a blue button up shirt to the party. I didn't know who I was trying to impress, but I figured going out to a social event warranted a little more effort.
Monday, July 22, 2013
At the edge - Story
With my eyes closed I can almost convince myself that I'm standing on a precipice. I hold my arms out and imagine my toes right at the edge of a cliff. I take a deep breath and try to sense the height of it. Is it a hundred feet? A thousand? The only thing between me and the bottom is a cool breeze whistling it's way up the surface of the wall, tugging on my shirt, urging me to soar like the birds that nest there.I tilt my head towards the sun, letting it hit me full in the face. The heat of it warms my skin, but a shiver runs up my spine sending gooseflesh along my arms. I grit my teeth, forcing the emotions that rise in my chest back down, the thoughts to the back of my mind, quieting them to a murmur. I take another breath, whispering softly to myself, "I am completely broken." I try to say it matter-of-factly, without the anguish creeping in. I am not entirely successful. I drop my arms and lower my head. I pretend I'm looking off the ledge. How did I get here? Is there a way back? If I step off will I fall? Or fly? Lifting my foot I swing it out, ready to lean forward and find out. I open my eyes. I'm on the sidewalk. I'm still alone. I smile a smile that cannot touch my eyes. I keep walking. Home. Empty.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Morning - Story
I've been awake for about 45 minutes now. I woke up before the dream I was having concluded to my satisfaction, so I lay there, staring into nothing, trying to remember and finish the plot my subconscious was toying with. I hear a squeak, and the bed frame shift slightly. A trill of excitement runs through me.. she's awake. I roll over in time to see her stretch, making a little sqeaking noise of exhaled breath. The room is mostly dark, except for a sliver of golden light breaking through between the heavy curtains. Still, it doesn't take much light to see how beautiful she is. Her hair, splayed out around her head on the pillow, catches the light in little sparkles where her hair dried curly. The fabric of her night shirt having settled around her curves in all the best ways.
At this point I'm wide awake, but I know she is still just starting to get the blood flowing. So I wait, though somewhat impatiently, before reaching over to take her hand. I'm still a little early, but she opens her eyes as I bring her fingertips to my lips. "Good morning.." I whisper, trying not to crack the tenuous spell that weekend mornings always hold. Soon, the responsibilites of the day will intrude, rushing time through the hourglass one activity at a time. Soon it will be a weekday again with early mornings dragging us away and imposing stress on our minds and hearts. But right now.. Suddenly I don't mind so much that I didn't finish my dream. Right now, I'm so glad to be awake and alive. For the moment, I have everything I could ever want in the little quirk of a smile on her lips. If only it would last..
At this point I'm wide awake, but I know she is still just starting to get the blood flowing. So I wait, though somewhat impatiently, before reaching over to take her hand. I'm still a little early, but she opens her eyes as I bring her fingertips to my lips. "Good morning.." I whisper, trying not to crack the tenuous spell that weekend mornings always hold. Soon, the responsibilites of the day will intrude, rushing time through the hourglass one activity at a time. Soon it will be a weekday again with early mornings dragging us away and imposing stress on our minds and hearts. But right now.. Suddenly I don't mind so much that I didn't finish my dream. Right now, I'm so glad to be awake and alive. For the moment, I have everything I could ever want in the little quirk of a smile on her lips. If only it would last..
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