The final preparations...

As the clock continues to tick down down down, there are a few things that I need to make sure get taken care of.  I shall make a list for not only my benefit, but for all you future Airmen out there.

1. Memory work!  If you are in DEP, you are given a booklet or pamphlet of everything that you need to know.  Know it!  It's not a joke- you don't want to be the DBT- DirtBagTrainee.

2. Physical prep- I've been slacking and my muscles, though angry with me now, will be glad that I've stepped back into workouts and running as the weeks dwindle down.

3. Power of Attorney.  You are not too young or too old to do this- grant to someone you ABSOLUTELY TRUST.  For instance, I'm asking my Dad since he's been there for me for 27 years so far and he'd make good decisions for me if need be (also, his name is already on my account haha!).  

4.  a Will-  I don't know what will happen, maybe nothing will happen, but it is far better to be prepared for anything and everything.

5.  Where is all that stuff going?  If you are older, like me, you may have a few (lots) items in your possession that can't just hang around while you are in BMT/Tech School/duty- I had to move out of my apartment, store a few items (talk about purging), move back in with parents, and donate donate donate.  Now, if you are recently coming from high school, you will probably not have all these things to deal with- but make sure you discuss with parents/guardians about what you are keeping and where you are keeping it.

6.  Don't forget your relationships with friends and family.  They may not want to be overwhelmed with Air Force stuff, but real life goes on regardless.  Answer their questions, sure, but spend quality time with them doing what you always do.  You'll be grateful for it later.

7.  Have a going away party.  This I have yet to do- but I am planning it!  One neat idea I found (wish it was my idea) was to get blank postcards- at the party people can write you messages and someone can send them to you throughout BMT once you get your address to them.  I found double-blank ones (on the front and back), so people can decorate them, too.  There are also a few kids that I know (family and friends) that will have fun coloring them for me :)

That's what I have so far- I'll add on when I think of anything else!

A bit late but...

As I missed Veteran's Day on this blog of mine, I thought I would post a video that was done in honor of the SemperFiFund, and to start getting everyone in the Christmas spirit. 

 

From this YouTube video :)

 

I wanted to share a video that was shared by the Hammond Police Dept. on Facebook, but I couldn't get one to come up- that was a tear jerker! 

 

Also: in honor of my nephew (I'll claim him as such), Lenny DeRegules, who is currently serving with the USMC, please check out the SemperFiFund website.  It's not only for the USMC, they help members of all branches of service.  Click here to learn all about them :)

 

Don't wait a whole year to thank a service member.  I think what has been sacrificed is worth more than one day.

 

On a personal note: someone was relaying a conversation to me in which one person said that military service members shouldn't get full pension after 20 years (my friend had made the comment that they should get at least half pension after 10, which spurred the other comments).  He compared the work that military personnel do to those of factory workers (lets be honest- there are some vets working in factories that deserve more than that) and asked the question, "how is their (military personnel) job harder? Why give them pension at all?"  My friend then talked about the sacrifice involved, and so on, but I don't think it got through or opened the mind of the other.

I didn't respond much then, but it has been weighing on my mind since hearing these comments.  Though I have yet to ship off to BMT, I've been packing, selling, and preparing for leaving.  I've shed tears for what I'll be leaving behind, and surely there are more coming.  It comes down to this: I don't HAVE to leave.  I am willingly giving up comforts, possessions, time with loved ones, and so much more in order to serve a higher purpose.  I am willing to be put through mindgames and tests and trials and training in order to do a job to protect this country and those who live here- for people who I don't know and will never meet. 

 

No matter what my job will be, my core values will always remain Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence in All We Do.  Service before self- that's to you, person who thinks what military personnel are on the same level as a factory worker.  A factory worker gets to go home every day/night (working long shifts, but have you seen the mid-shifts at Air Bases???).  See his/her family.  Go out for drinks with friends.  Go to the park with their kids.  Maybe work on a holiday, but that time is always made up.  Military personnel don't.  They/We lose time spent working to keep you and our country safe.  Don't get me wrong.  I'm not trying to discount anyone who doesn't have a military job (or factory workers), but the level of sacrifice is completely different and comes with much higher stakes.

 

This ended up being much longer than I originally planned.  That's what happens with me and tangents!  On a brighter note:  here's a moment to treasure. 

 





Instant bonds and friendship

I'm not even in the Air Force yet (officially, anyway), and already it's instant comraderie when I meet or chat with someone in the Air Force, or even in other branches! 

I got this little gem from Cup of Joe:
Kristi - thanks for the drink! It's good to know people back home are thinking of us. It's still pretty hot in Africa, so I'll probably stick to the iced coffee. Good luck in BMT. It can be pretty rough, so just remember not to let it get you down and that BMT won't last forever.

How awesome to be encouraged from Africa??? Who else can say that? (Oh wait, I already have a dear friend in the Peace Corps there- I can say it twice!)  I meet recruiters from various branches (at the school I work at) and while some jokingly try to "steal" me from the Air Force, they are always pleasant to talk to and wish me luck.  Although my favorite day is  when the AF recruiters are here! 

Something of my time left

As I write this post, I have about 3 months left before I leave for BMT.  (81 Days!!!!) 

Some thoughts running through my head:

Gosh people must be sick of me talking about the Air Force.

Too bad.  All I want to do is talk about the Air Force.

Oh look- groups of people going into the Air Force who want to talk about the Air Force!

** serious note time**

It struck me that I have an "expiration date" on my current life.  How scary/exciting to think about- I'm literally closing one chapter and beginning an entirely new one, maybe even a new book.  I'm moving out of an apartment, without having a forwarding address (well, ok, my parents'), keeping only what I absolutely want to keep, saying good bye to dear friends and loved ones, and everyone elses' life will go on as normal and I won't be as much a part of their lives any more.

I'm not disappearing from the face of the planet, I know that, but even in college I experienced the sensation of not really being involved.  During that time I had breaks and holidays to come home and visit with friends.  In the Air Force, I shall be (hopefully- knock on wood) in tech school for over a year without the opportunity to come home as often.  Any relationship I currently have shall be reduced to letters, texting, phone calls, and Facebook.  I'm left wondering who will go that extra mile and stay connected with me... and vice versa. 

I went shopping yesterday- I texted a photo of what I was trying on to my sister (as I usually do- she's brilliant with opinions).  The reply: "Cute!  but why are you buying stuff now?" 

Kind of a smack in the face.  My life isn't ending, people.  It's adapting.  It's changing.  Not ending.  Yes, I'll be getting rid of many many items that I will no longer need or want,; but there are certain things I'll still need or want and those I will keep, some I'll have shipped to me.  To another end, buying things/shopping/doing adds a normalcy to my life that is harder to grasp since being in DEP.  I'm not going to be stuck wearing my uniform forever!  In Tech school I'll be able to wear civvies :)  After Tech school, I'll have a life again, albeit a military one, during which I can wear civvies as well.  I'll still be the same cute Kristi (oh so humble) with the same fashion sense.  My life isn't being put on hold; there will be no pause button; and while somethings are changing now (like working out more often), I'm still me. 

    

Stop Saying "Sorry!"

There are a few things that I need to change in my vocabulary to adapt to the military way of speaking- or so I hear (and take advice from) my former-military friends and websites I view (Kyle Gott's awesome videos and AimHighErin to name a couple).  Without further ado, my list of necessary changes:

1) Sorry doesn't exist in the service.  Instead, say, "I apologize."  My Navy friend likes to poke fun at me/give me a hard time about this one.  Just trying to help me out!  (I say sorry a lot... especially in the place of excuse me.) 

2) Bathroom. Ladies/Gents. Restroom.  Any form thereof- it's a LATRINE now!  I hope I won't be Latrine Queen...

3) Sir sandwiches- Sir, yes Sir!- big no no!  Reporting statements and Yes/No Sir/Ma'am only.  Prepare for the wrath if you call someone the incorrect gender...

4) Yep. Ok. Yeah. I already have issues with this when I'm on the phone and have been trying to correct myself for 2-3 years...  I'm sure the MTI's won't have such a problem. 

5) Hats shall be called "covers."

6) Smiling/laughing shall be no more!  Military bearing will be instilled in me from Day 1- This, I think, will be tough, as I like to encourage those around me with smiles.  I'm sure we will come up with other signals and such.

7) I'll learn a whole new language of acronyms and military phrases as noted in this article about someone's twin daughters graduating from BMT. 

This all starts the day/night I arrive:

The music is so calming in the beginning... :)

 

What else?  Am I missing anything so far? (Let's be honest, the list is pretty small so far!)  Please comment below and share the wealth!  

Cup of Joe

Send a cup of coffee to the troops!  As a coffee lover, I think this is phenomenal.  Check it out!  Green Beans Coffee lets you buy a cup of joe for random military members overseas (there's advanced logarithms involved- yay math!), or you can send a Green Beans Coffee Card (gift card) to a dear friend or loved one you know is serving.  :)  You can visit the website to see where they are located. 

Send a Cup of Joe and then read the stories :)

(enjoy the random pictures of coffee now :)

DEP tag

Alright- so this is should be a video- but I have neither the time nor the equipment for that- so blog post it is! 

1. Name, Age, and Height?
             Kristin Hingstrum, age 27, 64" (5' 4'')

2. Where are you shipping from?
             I'll be shipping from Davenport, IA, through the MEPS at Camp Dodge in Des Moines, IA.

3. What was your parents' reaction?
             My parents' reaction was phenomenal.  My step-mom has always supported me, but my dad's reaction surprised me the most.  I really didn't expect his overwhelming pride and support for my decision.

4. Ship date, rank, DEP date?
             BMT will begin Jan. 14, 2014.  I'll go in as an E-3 (well, after BMT) due to my college credits.  I DEP'ed on June 26, 2013.

5. Something memorable that happened at MEPS?
             The most memorable parts would have to be my conversations with my roommate (a Navy shipper) and also receiving my DLAB score.  I'm glad I was able to see and hear about the emotions of my roommate before she shipped- I think that will help when it's my turn.  I hope to be as encouraging as she was for me if I end up rooming with a DEPper that night.  When I got my score, my jaw just dropped.  End of story.

6. Best/worst part about DEP?
             The best part of DEP- meeting the other DEPpers and helping each other out.  The worst part- HURRY UP AND WAIT!

7. Something you'll miss while you're at bootcamp?
              I'll miss my friends and family the most, along with this weirdo:

  I shall also miss coffee- a lot.  **edit: I shall also greatly miss my "littles" in dance class- I've helped them grow and learn and I can't even begin to describe how much I'll miss each and every one of them!!!

8. What are you looking forward to?
              I'm looking forward to everything I'll learn at BMT and tech school.  I'm actually looking forward to the gas chamber, as odd as that is- maybe because I'll be more than halfway done at that point?  I'm also looking forward to getting my uniforms- ABU's and Blues- means I'm part of something bigger than myself.  Aim High - Fly - Fight - Win! 

9. How are you preparing for bootcamp?
              I've been reading all kinds of blogs and watching youtube videos- AimHighErin and Kyle Gott have been the most helpful.  I've been chatting with people I've met on the Facebook pages for Air Force DEP and the AF WingMoms- everyone has been helpful and supportive.  Fitness-wise I've been doing the Insanity videos with my step-sister, working on pushups and situps with various apps, and running, running, running.  Did I mention running? 

So, if you are a fellow DEPper- same questions to you!  Make a video or post on your blog if you are as anti-tech as I am ;)