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Comment by AH on September 14, 2009 at 4:30pm

Mike said that SERE is not something that he would want to do again, however, he and his 2 room mates from Lemoore did survive. It was sort of funny, he called to tell us that he was out and had survived. He told us that they were going to take showers and then hit someplace to eat. They made the showers and then raided the vending machines and never made it to dinner. Just wanted to sleep!!!

Comment by AH on September 14, 2009 at 4:27pm

Mike got his orders about 3 weeks after he was winged. He stayed in Kingsville until he got the orders. If I am not mistaken, he didn't actually check into NAS Lemoore until after SERE, but he went to find a place to live before having to report to SERE. He was able to come through CO on the way. First time his Jeep had ever been in CO. It is official now.

Comment by AH on September 14, 2009 at 3:40pm

It is after winging. If they are assigned to the West Coast, it will start in San Diego and if they are assigned to Oceana, it will be somewhere in Maine (I think). Mike reported to SERE within days of going to Lemoore. I think that he arrived in Lemoore on Monday and left for SERE on Friday.

Comment by Michelle on September 4, 2009 at 4:37am

Pattieskap, Helicopter pilots may be underappreciated by many, but those in the know respect and depend on them. For those who rely on them to reach remote areas or to observe wildlife, experienced, knowledgeable pilots are in demand. Many of the best were 'Nam vets and are retiring, so your son could have a good future after the Navy. It may not sound as sexy as jets to most, but the view can be even better from a chopper, and its an exhilarating experience to come in fast over a hill top to see a grizzly bear or mt. goat standing there in front of you. You can't hover there in most airplanes. Passengers depend on their chopper pilots in a much more personal way to get them into that difficult spot and then come back to get them. Good for him!

Comment by AH on September 3, 2009 at 2:10pm

It is during Primary that they and they get told if they got their selection at at the end of it. I think that Mike ended on a Monday and found out Thursday. He was a rotten kid and I knew he was supposed to get his decision on Thursday morning. He didn't call and didn't call. So...... being the nosey mom that I am, I called him and he acted really non-chalant about why I was calling before he finally told me that he got Jets.

Comment by AH on September 3, 2009 at 1:31pm

I'm not real sure of the exact trainer, but it is a multi-engine trainer. My husband thinks it might be a YC12. He calls it a KingAir, but I believe that is the civilian version. It is possible that he might have to carrier qual, but I'm really not sure. Since 4th grade, Mike was fixated on flying Navy jets. He really wanted to do a A6 Intruder but those were phased out a long time ago!!!!

Comment by AH on September 3, 2009 at 1:19pm

There are Hornets - which are C's and D's. (D's are 2 seaters). E & F's are SuperHornets. E's are single seat and F's are 2 seaters with a NFO in the back seat for weapons. G's are Growlers which are replacing the A/6E Prowler now. They are dual seat also. Prowlers are/were 4 seaters.

Comment by AH on September 3, 2009 at 12:42pm

Everyone flies the T34 in Primary. Depending on how well they do in Primary and the "needs of the Navy", they can pick their Advance Training. Mike picked Jets first and I think E2C2 and Helicopters last. He got jets. He did not find out whether he got his choice until he was done with Primary. I think that they do it differently now, but he got Jets and went to Kingsville to fly T-45's. The E2/C2 guys stayed in Corpus Christie and then transistioned to Kingsville to fly T-45 for carrier training. I think now if you get carrier based aircraft, you go to Advanced Jet and then it is decided from your performance whether you go on to complete Jets or got for E2/C2. I think the P-3's different because they don't land on carriers, but I could be wrong. He should know right at the end of Primary what "platform" he will be flying. For Jets, Mike found out the week before he was winged what he was flying. He got SuperHornets. Not his first choice but it worked out well. He wanted to be in a 1 seater and did get into an E squadron, so he got his wish, just in a newer jet. Good luck on keeping up with all of this!!!!!

Comment by AH on September 2, 2009 at 2:21pm

Thank you, Leslie and Chris for your thoughts and insight. I think that I will be fine with the gen. aneth. I've just never had it. If after I get well from this, I can sleep and walk with relatively little pain- I will be in 7th heaven.

Comment by AH on September 2, 2009 at 1:16pm

I don't contribute much here as my son has completed his training and is in a squadron now, however, I love reading everything and seeing that what I went through is pretty normal. Hey, I saw that Leslie's hubby had some surgery. I am having arthroscopic surgery on both of my knees on Friday and could really use some encouragement here. I have never gone under general anethesia and am a bit scared about having both done at the same time. Your thoughts and prayers would be greatly appreciated.

Good new, Mike just bought his first home in Lemoore over the weekend. Now all we need is a wife to go with it. Hah!

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