So as everyone knows already but we have to make it official on the blog: Eric went through selections and got Jets in Meridian, Mississippi! Now how the timeline should go. Eric would leave on March 8th to go to California for Centrifuge training (see below for example video) which would be on the 9th. Then he should be back by March 10th and check out of NAS Whiting Field on the 11th. He would have to check into NAS Meridian on March 16th so therefore we would be moving between the 12th and the 15th. I've been on the internet and on the phone with several options for homes and will be traveling to Meridian (less than 4 hours north) this weekend, March 4th-6th to look at the houses and put down a deposit. The main house I'm looking out actually has another Marine living in it who just winged and is headed to Beaufort for Hornet training. Maybe the house holds good vibes! The dilemma everyone is running into is that Congress is apparently not approving the budget which means that there's no money for military orders. Orders are basically what makes the military go round. No one can check out or check into a new base without those orders. Which means that the occupants in the new potential house can't move out until they have orders and we can't leave either. Hopefully, the budget will be approved by the 4th as the news states but we'll see.
Centrifuge Training example video:
Now to get to how selections went. We arrived early to base so we could take some pictures on the flight line and get some lunch. Eric had to fill out a lot of paperwork prior to selections and while in the admin office (where they already knew what he selected) they kept giving little hints such as, "if you get jets you'll have to get fitted for another G-suit" and other little remarks that kind of got us thinking he got jets but we had to hear it from selections. Once it all got started there were retirements and promotions before it came down to selections. There was only one other guy that was selecting and he's Coast Guard so he's actually known he was going to fly helo's for the past 4 months but he still had to go. So overall the selections were based off of Eric and finding out what he got. A little back story about the video prior to seeing it. The play this game where they wright on the bottom of solo cups all the options that Eric could get. He takes a shot out of the cup so he'll be able to turn it over and see the writing. At that time they tell him if that's what he selected or if he has to take another shot out of another cup. The first cup Eric turned over was a Low Level MOS that is actually becoming extinct so therefore it was a joke. Here's the video that I shot. I was sitting right by him so it's a little close but I think it captures the excitement. Now for those that don't know, Jets is something that Eric's wanted to fly since he was 3 years old but has been told in the past he wouldn't be able to because of his vision. Now that he had the eye surgery he's completing his dream.
After selections while talking with the IP's (Instructor Pilots) it slipped out that Eric still hasn't had his tie cutting ceremony and been able to give his gifts to his on-wing. Soo....they set it up. Eric went and grabbed the tie and the gifts and they did an impromptu tie-cutting. Now the tradition of the tie cutting is: Back in the day the pilots use to wear a uniform that had a neck tie. After the student pilots first solo the student could then tuck the tie into his blouse so it wouldn't flap around in the cockpit. The IP would cut the tie length depending on how he felt about his student. If he barely cut it then the student could continue to use the tie and just tuck it in. If they cut it short then it forced the student to go buy a whole new tie. Now I'm not sure why Eric got his tie cut so short because while talking to Capt Myers he was bragging on Eric the whole time. I'm not sure if he really took the tradition into account while cutting or it could have been that he only had a pocket knife. Either way, here's the video and you'll notice the giant cowboy hat that Eric gave to Capt Myers as his gift.
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