Posted on 06/21/2016 4:37:30 PM PDT by IronJack
Just a bittersweet vanity thread announcing that my 18-year-old son left today for Air Force Basic Training. This is a boy -- a man now -- who has gone through a lot in his short life. A few years ago, he turned it around and started on a rigorous road of introspection and self-improvement. And it worked.
This is finishing school for him. He has been training to be an Air Force Combat Controller for the last 18 months.
Today, he stopped being ours and became the property of this country. He will do it proud.
A lot of running, swimming, pull-ups, sit-ups, and weights.
Thank you all for your kind words. This crusty old fool is having a little trouble seeing the screen ...
God bless you and your son and your family. Thank you.
Beautiful poignant message, Trump Girl Kit Cat!!
Our brave troops absolutely deserve a Commander-in-Chief who will have their back and equip them with the finest weaponry and winning strategy to exact VICTORY!!
GOD BLESS YOUR SON FOR HIS SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY!!
Good luck to him.
Mustard
USAF Loadmaster
‘72-’76
If he’s been hitting the gym, getting ready for CCT training, basic will be a breeze. Yeah, the MTIs will play the usual mind games but after a few days, your son and the rest of his flight will settle into the routine.
The real adventure begins after he completes basic. As I recall, the screening course for CCT and pararescue at still at Lackland. The daily push-up and pull-up count will be in the hundreds and they run everywhere. Selection school is only two weeks long; then its on to Keesler AFB, MS for 15 weeks, followed by Army Airborne School at Benning and USAF Survival School at Fairchild.
That’s followed by 13 weeks at Pope/Fort Bragg for initial qual as a CCT. Once complete, they go on for 12-15 months of special tactics training, including free fall parachuting and dive school. Total training pipeline is well over two years long.
I’m sure you’ve heard this in great detail from your son, but many people outside the USAF have never heard of CCT, pararescue, combat weather and special tactics—all a part of the special ops community. The training is rigorous, but it sounds like your son has the fitness foundation and the right mindset to succeed. And on top of everything else, he has to attain and maintain currency as an air traffic controller as a member of CCT.
Those men who wear the scarlet beret are truly the best of the best. Best of luck to your son. He will be in very elite company in the near future.
Noble but im sorry to hear that. He should have waited if he could. The military is a terrible place now. It is something a father could be proud of though the pride in such a son is not dimished.
Just remember boy. Deep down, he really cares about you.
-In regards to the DDI
He is looking forward to testing himself. The military is the best place in the world to do that. And CCT is one of the best of the best.
Thanks for your feedback.
I got a gal that lives on a hill,
She won't do it but her sister will.
Am I right or wrong,
Tell me if I'm wrong..
Oh...sorry...I guess their not allowed to sing those songs anymore...
I hope he has as good of a time as I did... Sure, it gets ruff once in a while, but the value of what is learned in service to our country is...invaluable. It will last a man a lifetime...
:)
Bet you are proud. Prayers up for your wonderful son as he embarks on the next chapter of his life and that God will shield him from all harm. Prayers up for you, too. Sometimes difficult to trust God to keep him safe and send him back to you, particularly when you haven’t seen or talked to him for a while.
Godspeed!
It is truly bitter sweet, you have to be proud and happy for your boy but know you will miss him a lot. I know, myy son leaves for basic training next week. If your boy is going to Texas, they will be there at the time.
God Bless your son and your family!
Congrats! My son did 7 years in the USAF, and my nephew also is USAF vet.
Congratulations to you and to your son.
My youngest really gained from his six year term. Just visited him a few weeks ago and I am very proud of him as well.
Tell your son if he gets to Luke to look me up.
He is going to Texas. Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. My son will be in good company then ...
Luke?
Congratulations. And thank you for sharing. You can see what your news means to others here. My nephew recently finished basic. He is stationed in Colorado Springs now. He is in the satellite business.
Good luck to him.
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