Disclaimer: This is a pretty long post, but you'll be rewarded for reading it. ;)
About the time that I graduated college something stirred inside of me. Maybe it was that life-long dream of flying jets, maybe it was a patriotic void left by my leaving the Army, maybe it was the thought of spending a career behind a desk at a job that would pay too little and bore me out of my mind. It was probably a little of all of the above. So I made a last-ditch effort to fulfill my dream - as I'd already shut the door on the Air Force Academy and ROTC, I applied to Officer Training School. Through some miracle, and at a time when more than two out of three applicants were turned away, I was
SELECTED! A few months later, I left Lisa and Brian (and Clayton too - sort of) for Officer Training School in Montgomery Alabama.
OTS was like a lot of things in life; it was unique, challenging, and sometimes even fun, but not something I'd want to do over.
The first 6 weeks was spent as the "lower-class" to a group that had already been there a while. We learned (or re-learned) military studies, history, etiquette, and discipline.
About halfway through we took over as the "upper-class" as a new group arrived and we learned and applied some of the leadership principals we'd need as officers in the Air Force. There were ups and downs but in the end it was worth it to earn a commission in the "world's finest air force" and pin on those gold bars.
Lisa and Brian were able to come out to the graduation ceremony as were my Uncle Dan and Aunt Nancy. They were able to witness my taking the oath of commissioning and then pin my bars on. Having been in the Air Force himself at one time, Dan was then able to give me my customary 'first salute', for which I 'paid' him one silver dollar.
After OTS, Lisa and Brian stayed with me in Alabama for some additional officer schooling, and then we drove to Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma for undergraduate pilot training. I'm not sure if I can fit an adequate description of UPT into one blog entry, but it's worth a try.
Flight training was one of the most challenging, but rewarding experiences of my life so far. I never imagined I'd be doing this kind of flying, but I also never imagined this kind of flying could be so difficult.
It starts with 6 weeks of academic training in the classroom. There we learn all the "ground school" stuff: how the planes work, what kind of rules we have to follow in the air, how weather affects us, etc. When we hit the flightline, we start by flying the T-6A. The "Texan" is a propeller plane, but that's where the similarity with any plane I'd flown before ends. It's driven by a 1200hp turboprop jet engine which helps it achieve speeds of nearly 300 mph and climb rates ten times faster than your average Cessna. It's fully aerobatic and we practice the full-range of maneuvers - loops, rolls, spins -pulling up to 4-5 Gs on most flights. Among the highlights of my T-6 flying were taking it up solo, learning basic formation skills, and taking it cross-country back to Utah one weekend.
Every flight in T-6's was graded, and along with other criteria, all the students were ranked at the conclusion of the program which determined which advanced track they went to. Pilots who would fly helicopters went to Fort Rucker Alabama, those who would fly large tanker or transport planes stayed and flew the T-1, others who would fly the smaller (and sportier) C-130 transport went to Corpus Christi Texas, and those chosen for fighters and bombers flew the mighty T-38 Talon. The decision as to which track each student received was revealed" at an elaborate ceremony.
After some "pranking" involving UAVs (unmanned planes), I learned that I would be flying the T-38!
The T-38 was a blast to fly, but a little overwhelming at first. Suddenly I had gone from 300 mph in the T-6 to 600 mph. The jet and the training was faster and less forgiving. There was a much heavier emphasis placed on formation flying, including the type of tactical formation that is flown in combat.
Some of the highlights of flying the T-38 were:
- tactical formation, including my checkride (a flying exam) which I aced,
- low-level flying - over 400 mph at 500 feet,
- and just getting places so fast - we once made it to Amarillo, TX in 40 minutes (normally a 4 hour drive).
Interestingly, I only rarely had time to sit back I think to myself "This is so cool!". Most of the time I was just trying to keep my "cranium" in the game and not let the jet get ahead of me. Once in a while though I forced myself to smile as I lit the afterburners and felt that kick-in-the-pants, or as I looked up a row of three T-38s flying in perfect formation.
After a few months of that, it came time again to get ranked and receive our assignments in a similar fashion to when we got our advanced tracks assigned. If you've been following our blog, you'll know that I was called up in front of a room full of family, friends, and fellow pilots, to be dealt my destiny.
In a flash of powerpoint slides, I learned I'd be flying the B-1B, a long-range, supersonic bomber. I have to say I'm pretty excited. It's a great jet that does some awesome flying, is doing a lot of important work in Afghanistan and Iraq, and has a community of really laid-back flyers that will suit my personality well.
So- a little more flying after receiving my assignment, and then it was time to graduate and get my silver wings. Graduation was nice - there's whole post on the event - but it was even nicer to be done. From here we go to Abilene Texas for some follow-on training to learn to fly the B-1 and then maybe off to South Dakota (and probably off to war). Pilot training has definitely been a fulfillment of my dream and has taught me a lot about flying, but I think it's made me realize there are more things in life to dream about than just flying. It's made me realize that while I'm proud of what I do for a living I'm often more proud of what I have to come home to; a loving wife who will stick with me for eternity (no matter what boyish dream I'm pursuing), supportive parents (who have had to wait *decades* for me to '
get it'), a growing knowledge and faith in God (with PLENTY of room to grow), and three adorable (albeit crazy) kids; well, just two till next March. Life's pretty good.
I have always wanted Andrew to try wearing one of these empathy bellys. I just think it would make me feel good deep in my heart to know that for one little minute, he knows how I feel! But he flat-out refuses- he says that he sympathizes with me, and does not need to wear it.
Here is Brian asleep with his white blankie on our road trip . . . and Clayton asleep chewing on his carseat strap again. Gotta love those boys!
So, the question everyone is asking me is, "Do you think it's a girl this time?" "Are you hoping for a girl?" etc. Let me go on record- I would be completely thrilled with a girl or a boy. For completely different reasons. A baby girl would obviously be exciting- cute clothes, cute hair, cute cute cute! So that would be great. BUT, I would be just as thrilled with a boy- out of relief! A girl would be a whole new ball game. I'm not a person who is big into change, and I pretty much know what to do with baby boys. We would be all set with clothing/toys, and he could share a room with his big brothers as needed down the road.
Anyway, I guess we'll cross that bridge when we get there! Whoever we get, it'll be great. 
And then we fed the ducks.
Although Clayton was not too interested in sharing any food with any birds!
About this point, the geese started trying to sneak up on Clayton and steal some snacks.
One little duck seemed to take a liking to Brian . . . and his limited throwing capacity.
About the time that I graduated college something stirred inside of me. Maybe it was that life-long dream of flying jets, maybe it was a patriotic void left by my leaving the Army, maybe it was the thought of spending a career behind a desk at a job that would pay too little and bore me out of my mind. It was probably a little of all of the above. So I made a last-ditch effort to fulfill my dream - as I'd already shut the door on the Air Force Academy and ROTC, I applied to Officer Training School. Through some miracle, and at a time when more than two out of three applicants were turned away, I was SELECTED! A few months later, I left Lisa and Brian (and Clayton too - sort of) for Officer Training School in Montgomery Alabama.
The first 6 weeks was spent as the "lower-class" to a group that had already been there a while. We learned (or re-learned) military studies, history, etiquette, and discipline.
About halfway through we took over as the "upper-class" as a new group arrived and we learned and applied some of the leadership principals we'd need as officers in the Air Force. There were ups and downs but in the end it was worth it to earn a commission in the "world's finest air force" and pin on those gold bars. 
It starts with 6 weeks of academic training in the classroom. There we learn all the "ground school" stuff: how the planes work, what kind of rules we have to follow in the air, how weather affects us, etc. When we hit the flightline, we start by flying the T-6A. The "Texan" is a propeller plane, but that's where the similarity with any plane I'd flown before ends. It's driven by a 1200hp turboprop jet engine which helps it achieve speeds of nearly 300 mph and climb rates ten times faster than your average Cessna. It's fully aerobatic and we practice the full-range of maneuvers - loops, rolls, spins -pulling up to 4-5 Gs on most flights. Among the highlights of my T-6 flying were taking it up solo, learning basic formation skills, and taking it cross-country back to Utah one weekend.
After some "pranking" involving UAVs (unmanned planes), I learned that I would be flying the T-38!
Interestingly, I only rarely had time to sit back I think to myself "This is so cool!". Most of the time I was just trying to keep my "cranium" in the game and not let the jet get ahead of me. Once in a while though I forced myself to smile as I lit the afterburners and felt that kick-in-the-pants, or as I looked up a row of three T-38s flying in perfect formation.
In a flash of powerpoint slides, I learned I'd be flying the B-1B, a long-range, supersonic bomber. I have to say I'm pretty excited. It's a great jet that does some awesome flying, is doing a lot of important work in Afghanistan and Iraq, and has a community of really laid-back flyers that will suit my personality well.
Check out our PHOTOGENIC family!! Yeesh.
But just to prove that at least one of my boys is photogenic at least some of the time, here is a good one of Clayton. He actually does fine if Mommy is taking the picture. This is at a park on base at Albequrque, where we stopped for the night.
Here are a few more pictures from our trip to UT. My friend Jen made the boys matching In N' Out shirts! Kid sizes are not made by the company, but Jen bought XXL adult shirts, and made these out of them! They are so stinkin' cute. Andrew and I LOVE In N' Out, and it is a source of great joy that there is one in St. George now.
Here is Brian at my friend Kelli's house. She made balloon creations for the boys- and Brian loved it. He just does not smile for the camera.
And now- as for why the Monks family does NOT need a dog right now- it's because we already have one. His name is Clayton. As you might know, he has been chewing on everything to the extent that I bought him genuine doggie chew-toys. Well, when we got to my parent's house he found some of Charlie's (the ACTUAL dog's) rawhide strips. He LOVED them. Notice the drool running down his chest.
Here are the two 'doggies' hanging out together- Clayton and Charlie.
And here is our 'puppy' asleep in his carseat today- chewing on the strap.
Anyway, we finally made it home to Enid, and it is nice to be back in our house. Road trips with toddlers are not for the faint of heart (or for anyone with a lick of sense; let's be honest) but we had such a great time in UT! But I think next time we'll fly. Maybe we can get a doggie kennel for Clayton to ride in. 
Here are the boys playing in the pool Grandpa and MorMor got for them. They loved it!
This is one of the St. George water parks- what a GREAT idea! It's free, and so much fun. It has a waterfall and little 'river' to play in, as well as a water fountain.
You can also keep cool in St. George by staying inside . . . and playing Guitar Hero! This was Andrew's very first try, and he did great.
Tonight Andrew set up a tent in his parent's backyard . . . and he and the boys are sleeping out in it as I type! They had a lot of fun setting up camp, as you can see.
Here are some much more pleasant photos of our stay at Andrew's parents' house! Clayton enjoyed playing the piano with Auntie Kiri:
And both boys LOVED the bubbles that Grandma bought.
Check out Brian's clever trick- kinking the hose to stop the sprinkler . . .
. . . and then letting it loose!
Here are all five Monks grandchildren- Tai, Brian, Clayton, Aleah and Madison.
Here we are at my Aunt Carmen's house in Eagle Mountain for a Trunnell family reunion.
Brian's favorite part was when Uncle Nephi rigged up an air compressor to shoot homemade duct-tape rockets!
Maybe hanging around the babies made Clayton long for the good ol' days? Here he is playing in the exersaucer.
Clayton has been chewing on everything in sight lately, so I actually went to Petco today and bought him two doggie chew toys! Hey, he likes them- and it's better than him chewing on my shirts/Brian's shoes/rocks/etc all day.
