Officer Training School (OTS)

I’m writing this description in hindsight so it may not be as accurate as other journals. I attended OTS from July 9 to September 27 of 2001. What a time to be in school! Entering the Air Force was a big and welcomed change for me. In the last semester of my senior year at the Georgia Institute of Technology I was looking around Atlanta, GA for a job and found none. God seemed to have just one door open for me and that was the Air Force. I applied in Feb of 01. When faced with the possibility of the Air Force, I wanted to be a pilot but was faced with a decision. Amanda had just become pregnant and I certainly needed to get a job. My recruiter told me that if I applied for an engineer position I was guaranteed of an officer slot but if I applied as a pilot I might not be accepted at the first board. I had never flown a plane and had not had much experience with aviation. When I took my Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) I didn’t even know I could study beforehand. There was something else. I was 210 lbs and 5’9” tall. My weight max was 189 and I had to lose weight. In the next month I lost 20 lbs after much prayer and work. I passed the exam and was accepted in Apr 01. Amanda and I (we were already married) moved back in with my parents until my class date and she lived with them while I was in school. That was an absolute blessing for their relationship and we are still reaping the benefits today – they are close and open with one another (something most in-laws can’t claim). 

 On July 9^th, I swore in as a Staff Sergeant (E-5) and got in my 1992 Saturn and drove the three hour drive down to Montgomery, AL from Atlanta, GA. Boy was I nervous and didn’t really know what I was getting into. I drove up to the check-in and immediately two guys came up and started giving me “firm” instructions about what to do. I was paired up with a great prior-enlisted guy, Glen Carson. He took care of me and helped me adapt to the military life style.

(Glenn & I close to graduation)

I was placed in flight 05-13 of the Spartan Squadron. We lived in dormitories that should have been condemned three decades ago. Squadrons one through four lived in the new buildings. Our Flight Training Officer was Maj Loehr and I look back very favorably upon his leadership. He presented a firm, balanced view on officership.

I look back now and truly enjoyed OTS. I was away from my wife but I grew up and grew closer to a group of twelve other guys and girls. I did well in OTS and was awarded the “Most Improved” certificate at graduation. I believe I gained some military bearing.

Flight 05-13 of the Spartan Squadron

Studying note cards for the 4 major tests

My great roommate Glenn

The grog bowl at the Dining In (military only). The bowl contains a mixture of crazy and nasty things. You are stood up to drink when you break a rule of engagement or a ranking officer just wants to make fun of you.

Friday nights in the courtyard. I guess spirit competitions

I was in school during Sept 11, 2001. I will never forget that day and it will motivate me to be at my best always in service to this country.

Active Duty (prior to pilot school)

I was in my last couple of weeks of OTS and they gave out our first assignments. My hometown is Warner Robins, GA and when I received my orders I couldn’t believe it- back to Robins AFB, GA! I was being assigned to Robins AFB, GA as a C-5 Systems engineer. This tour was in a unit that was unlike any normal Air Force unit. My boss was civilian and his boss was civilian. The closest military person in my chain of command was a Colonel! There was an extremely high turnover of personal when I arrived and therefore had plenty of opportunity to work. The intro training was horrible and I had second thoughts about the Air Force. I ended up becoming specialized in fuels and environmental systems on the C-5 aircraft (one of the largest cargo aircraft in the world). I worked closely with contractors and had the opportunity to visit the Lockheed manufacturing plant in Marietta, GA and toured the C-130J and F/A-22 production lines.

While I was stationed at Robins I met some great friends who always seemed to teach me about life, see picture below.

As I had not been accepted to pilot school yet and my three year tour was up, in Sept of 2004, I moved to McGuire AFB, NJ. I began work as a flight test engineer for the Air Mobility Command (AMC). I moved into a squadron of operators and maintainers: a truly great move for an engineer. Amanda and I knew that we might move again soon if I was selected for pilot.

While at McGuire AFB, I was afforded the opportunity to help in some operation tests involving C-21, C-17, MH-60, MH-53, MH-46 and also picked up some rides on the KC-135 with the NJ Air National Guard. My unit was extremely supportive of my dreams and aspirations of becoming a pilot. I have been fortunate that God has blessed me with kind and encouraging people. These people definitely showed me the best of the Air Force and the type of senior officer I would like to become. Below are some pics from our trip to Nevada to perform operational tests on AF assets.