January 2011
22 posts
half way through academics...
Last week I passed the Block 3 test (out of 8), and I now know about half of my job. Next week I will learn how to actually operate the radar onboard JSTARS - fitting for an Airborne Radar Technician, don’t you think? The past few weeks we have been learning our duties in a simulated environment, with a fully operational working model of the system. By the end of the classroom training I...
Just wanted to say thank you all for your prayers & notes of encouragement, and to let you know that my neurology appointment for this morning was cancelled and rescheduled for Friday February 4th. I am not concerned with this at all as my labs & exams have come back as “excellent” thus far, praise the Lord! Thanks again everyone! I’ll post more next week.
-ashley
um, yeah, it's a good day...
Multiple big and small amazing things happened today, January 18. Beginning with the most important: Ashley had an optometry appointment today to run a full diagnostic scan on her eyes, which some of you remember had each dialated on separate occasions for no apparent reason at all. We were of course concerned when my brother Brent, an MD at Duke Hospital, said he had only ever heardof dialated...
the end of boredom...
Week one of class: finished. I’ve now been on the jet 3 times, and I can name and locate every essential part of the systems I’ll be using on a day to day basis. Virtually every piece goes by its initials which has made it somewhat difficult, but nothing my furiously trained mental capacity can’t handle at this point. This aspect of my training will be much easier though, I feel,...
First taste of JSTARS...
Today I had my first peek inside the plane I will potentially spend the majority of my life in for the next several years. Under rather adverse circumstances - 40 degrees with wind, no power, and no light, my 2-person class had a private tour of the first non-passenger jet I’ve ever been in. The first word that comes to mind is - old. Everything is built into the plane so it has the look...
First day of work. I mean class again...
Today was the end of the limbo I’ve been waiting in since I got here to Robins AFB. It’s a class with just one other person, who happens to be A1C Frank Rogers, the very same Airman I went through all of BMT, tech school, and SERE with. It will be another 6 months until we either go to different squadrons at the end of our training on JSTARS, or I head off to OTS.
Today was more intro...
the wait for 1/11/11...
It’s been over two months now and my position on JSTARS is about to begin. I’m stoked about getting this started - it’s exhausting doing nothing. But, it’s been all I could ask for to be at home with my wife for this long with no pressuring deadlines, tests or late nights. On the flipside, I’m itching to get on this plane. I’m hoping the rumor about getting a...
WELCOME HOME, JARED!...
My little brother, Airman First Class Jared Shaw, is coming home today from Ramstein AFB in Germany where he has been serving in the USAF for 2 years - he has been stationed in Florida and is home for a 3 week visit!!! I am brokenhearted to miss this trip, but am so happy for him and thankful to God for keeping him safe!
-ashley
home bittersweet home...
We (carsick dog and 15lb cat included) are headed back to Robins in the morning after what I assume was a bout of the Plague, the death of Sam’s beloved jeep “Blackie”, and an incredible 2 weeks at home with family for Christmas. Our time here has been simply beyond words, we love you all! I am broken-hearted to leave Virginia without seeing my little brother, A1C Jared Shaw, (he...