Last night, January 8th, was a night that both Conor and I have been looking forward to since he first started pilot training here in Oklahoma. Last night was Assignment Night! The night when we would find out what aircraft he will be flying and where our first base will be.

Assignment night is a great tradition here at Vance. Everyone on base is invited to the event for food and drinks and then to watch the assignments drop. I had been surprisingly calm for most of the day, trying to keep myself busy. But, as soon as I drove on base and met Conor in his flight room the nerves really hit. Once we got to the Club I wasn’t able to eat a thing, couldn’t sit still, and just had to keep my mind busy- trying not to think about the fact that the next 10+ years of our lives are about to be decided for us in front of hundreds of people.

Now, rewind a few weeks…

Before we went home for christmas, Conor and his class received their “Dream Sheet”- a list of all the possible assignments available to them. He then had to rank them all from first to last. His top choices were u28s to Hurlburt Field Florida, MC130s to Mildenhall in England, and C130js to Ramstein Germany. As soon as he turned in his sheet it was all officially out of our hands and we just had to wait the 2 weeks to find out if we got our top choices or not. 

And back to Assignment Night…

The way the event works is each person is called up on stage one at a time. When they get up there their flight commanders take time to talk about them and “Roast” them a little bit. They then switch the screens behind them to a big picture of a globe, after some teasing and the globe turning in all different directions it finally brings you to the location of your assignment.

As soon as the assignments started being given out I was surprisingly very calm. I just had to tell myself that whatever happens is meant to be and it’ll all be okay no matter what.

Finally it was Conor’s turn to go up there, and at that point I just wanted to know so we could stop worrying and wondering. At first when they went to announce his assignment they told him that he got assigned to FAIP (First assignment instructor pilot), meaning we would be stuck at Vance for three more years.  FAIP is the best and worst compliment someone can get out of pilot training. When the assignment popped up Conor started shaking everyones hands and then all of a sudden the screen popped back up and brought him to Hurlburt Field instead!!

We are absolutely ecstatic and can’t wait to live on the beach in Florida. Oklahoma has been an interesting experience for us, but we are both so ready to be back by the water and on the East Coast. I’m excited to be able to eat great seafood again and Conor is so happy to be close to family that live in the area. Also, Jaggs can’t wait to run on the beach, with his ears flopping in the ocean breeze.

Conor worked so incredibly hard throughout all of pilot training and has earned his top choice. I am beyond happy for him and proud to have been able to be by his side through it all.

Now, on to bigger and better things!!

and SUNSHINE

 

Our good friends “Scuba” (Steve), and Cam! Scuba will be flying the MC130 out of Cannon, New Mexico. And Cam will be in Florida with us flying F15s out of Jacksonville!

Kelly!! Kelly’s dog, Ace, is Jaggs’ best buddy. Kelly’s husband, Ed, was assigned RC-135s out of Offutt, Nebraska.

“I’ll be spreading my wings at HURLBURT FIELD flying the U-28!!”

Our best friends Aaron and Hannah received the exact same assignment a  month ago. We can’t wait to be able to spend the next few years with them in Florida!