---

Just got off the phone with my son who just returned from 19 days in Petaluma, CA taking his EMT training. He said he passed, "whew", all that is left to stand duty as an AST is Thursday night's training flight. He said the EMT and training was extremely tough, lots of memorization and test taking. The tests are more than the normal pick the right answer, it was pick the most right answer (better have been paying attention in class).

Richard

Way awesome! I wish him all of the best Thursday Night!

He is absolutely correct on the EMT testing...tons of information taught in a very short amount of time and very fast paced...then the national registry test...which right answer is most correct...crazy stuff.

ProudUSCGPop,

Awesome news! Let us know how his flight goes Thursday, I'm sure he'll do well.

Take care,
SN Q

Quick update, my son did half of his last qualification flight. He said they were in 10-15' seas and performing the training took longer than they had fuel for. That said he goes out Tuesday night to complete what they didn't finish. Hope for calmer waters. He did say something that had to make me smile. He said he was being lowered down into the sea by the hoist and the waves were slapping hat his flippers and he thought to himself, "I have the coolest job in the world". Never having done that sort of thing, but wanting to, I think he is absolutely right. We are planning on visiting him next week and we will be there when he does his last flight, can't wait to see what is involved.

Richard

I concur...how cool being a swimmer would be...to be 25 years younger...lol

Here is to clear sailing and calm seas!

Richard
Great oppty. for you and a proud moment.
I hope all goes well with Kevin.
Let us know, how it goes.
Joe

Posted By proudUSCGpop on 11 Jul 2010 05:00 PM
He said he was being lowered down into the sea by the hoist and the waves were slapping hat his flippers and he thought to himself, "I have the coolest job in the world".
Richard

Richard,

Best of luck to your son - and I can't say it any better than he did. The 'coolest job in the world' is what is keeping me motivated right now, can't wait to give it a shot!

You should be 'veryproudUSCGpop'! (and I'm sure you are!)

Take care,
Shawn

Hey Shawn
I see you on the AST list. Congrats. Let us know whats going on.
Erich is back in Kodiak for a week and then to Cordova.

Posted By sunny717 on 26 Jul 2010 03:45 PM
Hey Shawn
I see you on the AST list. Congrats. Let us know whats going on.
Erich is back in Kodiak for a week and then to Cordova.

Sunny,

Finally made it on! Did you see I'm one of only five with a cleared flight physical? That means I can expect orders anytime...I'm anxious to see where I'll get stuck for my airman program.

Any idea whether or not dependents can move with you to the airman program? Do they require you to live in barracks for the airman program or can married personnel live on the economy?

Thanks for all of the help. I'm looking forward to the challenge(s)!

Shawn
I don't have the answer for that one.

Maybe someone can help out.


Erich did his airman program in E-City.
I know some of the AMTs lived in condos off base.

USCGforMe...stay focused on your goal! We all know you can do this and are behind you all the way!

Shawn,

Congrats on making the list, my son-in-law is a couple a head of you with no holds either. He also told me there is a name above his that shows the hold, but for some reason it didn't get removed prior to the list being published.

In my son's case he was stationed on the Bertolf out of Coast Guard Island and was transferred to LA to do his airman program. San Fransisco was closer, but apparently they didn't have an opening. While he was there (single) he was given BAH and he got an efficiency apartment. The air station is at LAX so no barracks for them there. At his current station in Corpus Christi there is an airman and he is living on the economy, I believe he is single as well. The Corpus air station is on the Naval Air Station where there is base housing.

My son-in-law is at a small boat station in Oregon and his closest air station is North Bend, but there is no telling where he will end up. If he gets North Bend my daughter will probably stay since it is only a few more miles down the road. If he gets Astoria or some other air station I believe my daughter told me they move her and all of their stuff. I think the A-School list says that it is a PCS move to the airman program and if you are married then after A-School you return to where you did you airman and pick up and move. If you are single you simply report to your new station and do not go back to where you did you airman program.

An update on my son --- We got back from a week vacation with him in Texas, we got a tour of the air station and got some great pictures. He finished his last syllabus flight and said the Captain signed the papers and he can officially sew his AST wings on his uniform.

Good luck with your school, keep us updated as you can.

Richard

Richard
Congrats to Kevin and his wings. It was almost a year when I introduced myself to him and shook his hand in E-City. Remember that pool picture.

Erich is getting ready for Cordova rotation.

Joe,
I sure do, that picture encouraged both me and his mother during a stressful period (God's timing is perfect). Kevin's friend at the swim shop did pass along Erich's hello. We met him when we visited Corpus, he said they had quite a time in the desert during survival training. Small world, but I'd hate to paint it ... ;-)
Richard

ProudUSCGpop,

Thanks for the info. That's what I have read as well. Hopefully I can get orders BEFORE my Wife gets her physician assistant license in our current State. I'm in KY right now, and I know for a fact that I wont have an airman program in this state

So, if I can get orders, she can get her PA license in the state I do my airman program in. That would be ideal...but I doubt it will happen as she takes her board exam on Sept 2nd. I guess I could get lucky and get orders in a month though. Hope so!

Congratulations to your son and good luck to your son-in-law. Maybe we'll make the same class.

Take care,

SN Q

Posted By proudUSCGpop on 28 Jul 2010 06:47 AM
Joe,
I sure do, that picture encouraged both me and his mother during a stressful period (God's timing is perfect). Kevin's friend at the swim shop did pass along Erich's hello. We met him when we visited Corpus, he said they had quite a time in the desert during survival training. Small world, but I'd hate to paint it ... ;-)
Richard

Richard
I didn't get too much out of Erich about desert survival training news. All I got was it was 104 degrees or so in the day time and they all went to a steak house after it was over. The 18 ASTs must have eaten a whole steer.
Joe

Joe -- Brad the AST I spoke with said that the instructors were not big fans of the Discovery Channel's Bear Grills (probably not spelled right). One of them mentioned his name and the look on the instructors face wasn't one of admiration. I'm always up for a Texas steakhouse challenge..... bring it on.....!

Shawn --- I just heard from my son-in-law and he received his orders today he was #72 on the list, but I believe #5 or 6 that didn't have a hold. You might be on the watch for yours if you are squared away. Good luck.

Richard

Joe,

PS....Kevin called and said he was standing his first duty watch as a swimmer tonight. Gotta get the first one under his belt.

Richard

Richard
It'll be just a matter of time when he gets his first rescue.
Remember they train every week. It'll be routine for Kevin when it's the real thing.
Here in Joysie we have the Atlantic City helo go over every day. They are patroling but
we have a lot of stupid boaters on the waters. Good to see them always ready.
I'll be praying for our people in the service, especially our sons.
Joe

Posted By proudUSCGpop on 28 Jul 2010 08:44 PM

Shawn --- I just heard from my son-in-law and he received his orders today he was #72 on the list, but I believe #5 or 6 that didn't have a hold. You might be on the watch for yours if you are squared away. Good luck.

Richard

Richard,

Excellent! Where did he end up getting his orders to?

And, all of this TX talk is making me miss home! I spent a LOT of time in the CC, TX area. One of the ASTs who I've been talking with regarding the job and the training is stationed there. He probably knows your son.

I will let you all know if I get orders...fingers crossed!

Shawn

He got North Bend Oregon. What is your friend's name?

Richard

Posted By proudUSCGpop on 29 Jul 2010 06:07 PM
Shawn

He got North Bend Oregon. What is your friend's name?

Richard

Richard,

Check your PM.

When does your son-in-laws airman program start?

I think he told my wife September 6th he reports. I haven't had a chance to talk to him yet, tons of questions.

Posted By proudUSCGpop on 29 Jul 2010 08:28 PM
I think he told my wife September 6th he reports. I haven't had a chance to talk to him yet, tons of questions.

He is 2 spots ahead of me in the 'approved' category on the 'A' school list. I sure hope I get mine soon! It would be nice to know where my airman program will be so my Wife doesn't have to apply for her license in 2 different states for no reason.

Keep me posted on his progress.

Take care,
Shawn

Any updates on any of your ASTs?

I'm still waiting on orders...hopefully soon.

I just need to know something! Isn't the air station to train and prepare the swimmers for A school? Our son is in his six week of training and has passed the tests given so far and even excelled better than expected. So why are they punishing him for stuff that doesn't even relate to the AST program? Today he was ordered to do 5000 push ups in the next 2 weeks because he used a cart to remove some recycling material that he was asked to remove and has done so 3 other times and nobody said anything about using this cart. A couple weeks ago it was 1000 push ups because he followed someone else running under the helo before it landed. Before that it was 800 for something else someone told him to do. I understand the need for training but this seems over the top. Is this normal at all air stations? He already hurt his wrist with the 1000 pushups in a short period of time. What if he really injures it doing this 5000? Is that really what it takes to prepare you for A school?? Who should he listen to and follow orders from and can he complain without it hurting him? Our son wants to be trained not punished every time he turns around.

Posted By PasoJack on 12 Oct 2010 07:47 PM
I just need to know something! Isn't the air station to train and prepare the swimmers for A school? Our son is in his six week of training and has passed the tests given so far and even excelled better than expected. So why are they punishing him for stuff that doesn't even relate to the AST program? Today he was ordered to do 5000 push ups in the next 2 weeks because he used a cart to remove some recycling material that he was asked to remove and has done so 3 other times and nobody said anything about using this cart. A couple weeks ago it was 1000 push ups because he followed someone else running under the helo before it landed. Before that it was 800 for something else someone told him to do. I understand the need for training but this seems over the top. Is this normal at all air stations? He already hurt his wrist with the 1000 pushups in a short period of time. What if he really injures it doing this 5000? Is that really what it takes to prepare you for A school?? Who should he listen to and follow orders from and can he complain without it hurting him? Our son wants to be trained not punished every time he turns around.

The goal of military training is not to ensure that trainees pass. The goal of military training is to ensure that those who graduate are ready to accomplish the mission.

My best advice to you is to support and encourage your son to do his best. But don't feed into the idea that his teachers all hate him. That sounds like the excuse of a middle schooler with an attitude problem.

I apologize if this sounds harsh. It's not intended to. But your son is enrolled in an elite training program. It's not intended to be easy - It's intended to be hard. It's especially intended to fail anyone who can be convinced to give up.

I completely understand how tough and challenging the program needs to be and our son understands too. Also, the need to weed out the weak is understood!  I can understand working out for hours and bringing you emotionally down if you can't keep up. But being punished  for doing what he was told to do just doesn't seem like elite training. I know he will hold his head high and do what is asked. Failure is not an option for him and maybe he will look back and be able to see something he learned from it. I guess one day he'll get to treat the airman in training the way he was treated.

Hey People
I haven't been on for a while.
I can't believe it's been a year already since Erich went to Kodiak.
He's on rotation in Cold Bay. He also got to fill out his dream sheet.
He may be able to leave Ak as soon as July 2011.
His first pick was Hawaii, we hope he gets it.
He wants to surf those giant waves.
How you all doing? Shawn where are you? Richard, Paul how are your AST sons?