Back at home. Already miss Field Training... but not that much.

Attention all Julie friends and family, etc., etc....this is Kate, and I now have the weighty responsiblilty to relaying contact from our beloved Air Force chick to the world outside South Dakota. Without further ado-- (and quoted verbatim)


Kate, Family, and Co.,

I have about two seconds to write so this is going to be really short (no it's not). The first week here was NOT COOL. We got yelled at all of the time which I actually found really hilarious. I am composing a list of stories and things to tell you. The weather here is SO HOT (120 degrees on the black-tops we march on sometimes). Luckily there are also a ton of storms. I'm really getting used to things. We have a 10pm "bedtime" and a 5am wake-up (to loud music and screaming). I now wake up at 450am on my own most days. Physical training is totally doable but I can already feel myself thinning out. We run everywhere (including the mile to chow) and we are going non-stop 17 hours a day. In this time I have learned:
Quick shower = 30 seconds
Decent shower = 1 minute
Long, leisurely shower = 2-3 minutes
Eating a full meal = under 7 minutes
You can go 17 hours without wasting a single second

The adjustment was frustrating and tough but now things are decent. I can say that I never ever want to do this again, but I am very glad to be here. I will come out a changed person. I have yet to eat a meat that I can identify. Sorry, this letter is disjointed. Our flight is really starting to come together. You can't survive without a sense of team. We came in second for Honor Flight so we really want that next week. My major leadership position was Flight Honor Officer and I had it the first week. It was my first choice for a job and I nalied it: I received and Outstanding on my leadership evaluation report which my major said is very rare. I am struggling with my drill evaluation but my flight is supporting me/helping me out. The flight commander this week is adorable. He's this little, sweet guy who totally uses me as his advisor. My major is a cool guy. My CTA is called "the shark" by the other CTAs if that gives you any idea. The COC is Major Bunch, who I like to call "Major Panties in a Bunch". He's AWESOME. He's like the guys in the movies with the riding crop strutting in front of an American flag.

I increased my score from my Physical Diagnostic to my offical PT test which is cool. Oh yeah, we're Kilo flight, trying to earn the name "The Knights"--a historic sqaudron. Raising our cumulative PFT score 25 points was a criteria for that and I did more than my part. I became faint and half passed out on the 3rd or 4th day from dehydration but other than that I've been healthy--blisters and all. Today was a chill day because they give the FTOs and CTAs a recovery day. That's how I ended up having time to write. Gotta go for now!

HAHA! Okay, it's Sunday which means we get 2 hours of chill time. During my last inspection the inspector said I needed a haircut so Erica just did it in her room! My hair is SO SHORT! AHHH! There's no way they'll tell me to cut my hair again now. This is a bond she and I will have FOREVER! :)

So yeah, this place gets better every day in the sense that the good moments are beginning to outnumber the bad. Things are supposed to get a lot harder now that we've gotten out of the "You suck and everything you do is wrong" stage. Please keep sending letters, my flight is jealous of how much mail I get. I save them for my down moments and they help so much. Down moments here are REALLY down moments. I know I'll never break down because the yelling is just too funny, but rising to the new higher standard I have set for myself is often stressful and frustrating for a perfectionist like me.

Mom: Thanks for the cards-wish I could actually put them up!
Mem: I love you!
Alex: Your letter was even funnier than I expected because I read it secretly after failing my IDE and almost lost it right in front or my major.

I can't believe I haven't gotten caught laughing yet. Alright, I should go iron/fold/shine something.

Love, Jules
P.S. While cutting my hair, Kuhn says "Whoops". Talk about people you don't want to hear that word from.
P.P.S. My call sign is now "Beads" because of spring break in New Orleans. They almost called me "Tyson" because of the boxing.