Friday, October 29, 2010
Missing in action
Hey there everyone, sorry Its been forever since my last post but I am still without my own personal laptop (hopefully resolved this weekend though!) But I just wanted to stop in and say thank you sooooooo much for all the support while I was away in boot camp. I am over at my training sight still waiting for my school to start, I have been told to expect to stay here longer then originally expects so I guess that means more time to explore Illinois, Chicago and the surrounding area. Hopefully I will have a much longer update later this week with pic's and everything. Much Love to you all. Happy Fall :)
Friday, October 1, 2010
Letter #3
Hello Everyone! So we are getting close to the end of boot camp, just three/well actually 2 1/2 weeks of training left. We just finished "hell week", which other than the fact that we were crazy busy wasn't that bad. We actually did really well as a division. We flagged for our drill inspection (marching) which means we earned the right to march without our RDC and sing cadence, which may sound like it's not that big of a deal but I had a hard time not breaking out into a big ass grin the whole time. We also earned an additional phone call! No tears this time!
So, next week we start our fire fighting/training and the gas chamber :)/ :( not quite sure how I feel about that part of it. Then we have battle stations which is like fake ship disaster time and then that is pretty much it, smooth sailing from there... oh and the final PFA, but I am not worried.
So, I said I would talk about some of the characters we have here. This is definitely a division from all over the place, and though not everyone gets along we are starting to pull it together at least for drills and inspections...so lets see one of my favorite males (yes we call them males) is a guy from N. Carolina. He has a slow southern drawl and calm personality that makes me feel like sitting on the front porch swing with a tall glass of sweet tea and watching the sun go down.
There are two sets of sisters, one easy to tell apart and the other near impossible. One set is from Northern Idaho (yeah for the Spuds at Sea!) and I actually will get to hang out with the eldest for the 7 months after boot camp because we are both AECF. The younger one is headed south, maybe we will run down there when the snow and cold gets to be too much. The second set of sisters are like one person, they make me smile.
We also have seven people unrelated with the same last name...
There are about 5 of us with the same job grouping as myself and probably 10-15 more that will be at the same A school location which is really cool. We are all excited about having familiar faces.
A few of our males are nukes and they definitely live up to their reputation, not in a bad way, they actually crack me up.
Oh, my "brother" Yoeman, we'll call them C & C, what can I say about them, they crack me up. I actually feel bad for them sometimes having two headstrong "leader" type females to work with. But they definitely come along for the ride and are great helping us all work together. They are quiet, we are loud, they stay calm, we freak out. It's a good balancing act.
OK, so time is running out and I will write more later. Lots of love. Thanks for the letters and prayers and support.
Love,
Erin
So, next week we start our fire fighting/training and the gas chamber :)/ :( not quite sure how I feel about that part of it. Then we have battle stations which is like fake ship disaster time and then that is pretty much it, smooth sailing from there... oh and the final PFA, but I am not worried.
So, I said I would talk about some of the characters we have here. This is definitely a division from all over the place, and though not everyone gets along we are starting to pull it together at least for drills and inspections...so lets see one of my favorite males (yes we call them males) is a guy from N. Carolina. He has a slow southern drawl and calm personality that makes me feel like sitting on the front porch swing with a tall glass of sweet tea and watching the sun go down.
There are two sets of sisters, one easy to tell apart and the other near impossible. One set is from Northern Idaho (yeah for the Spuds at Sea!) and I actually will get to hang out with the eldest for the 7 months after boot camp because we are both AECF. The younger one is headed south, maybe we will run down there when the snow and cold gets to be too much. The second set of sisters are like one person, they make me smile.
We also have seven people unrelated with the same last name...
There are about 5 of us with the same job grouping as myself and probably 10-15 more that will be at the same A school location which is really cool. We are all excited about having familiar faces.
A few of our males are nukes and they definitely live up to their reputation, not in a bad way, they actually crack me up.
Oh, my "brother" Yoeman, we'll call them C & C, what can I say about them, they crack me up. I actually feel bad for them sometimes having two headstrong "leader" type females to work with. But they definitely come along for the ride and are great helping us all work together. They are quiet, we are loud, they stay calm, we freak out. It's a good balancing act.
OK, so time is running out and I will write more later. Lots of love. Thanks for the letters and prayers and support.
Love,
Erin
Letter #2
Hey there everyone! Hope you are all doing great. I'm doing pretty good myself. It's our fourth week of training (my 5th week here, they don't count the first week!) As it's officially called "Hell Week" and let me tell you, I would have to agree! For the past two days, we have had 0400 wake-up calls (which means 0315 for me) We had a PT test at 0445AM on Monday, then followed by a 2 hour inspection during which time we get to stand at attention and not flinch or else. Today we got to go to our first weapons training which was exciting minus all the yelling. Tomorrow we get to shoot live guns. Thursday we will take our graduation photos (yes already!), then we have our drill inspection (i.e. marching). Friday we have our second test. So needless to say we are going to be crazy busy :) The best part is that after this week things should go by fast and the end of boot camp will come and I will have my cell phone, lap top and ipod back. Man how I miss music!
Thank you so very very much for all the love and letters. Nothing ends a day better than having your name called over and over again at mail call! So we are starting to run out of time for letter writing, but next letter/update I will tell you all about the characters that surround me. Until next time. Much love.
Thank you so very very much for all the love and letters. Nothing ends a day better than having your name called over and over again at mail call! So we are starting to run out of time for letter writing, but next letter/update I will tell you all about the characters that surround me. Until next time. Much love.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Erin's first letter!
Hi, I am Cara and I'll be Erin's transcriber while she is at the naval training center because she isn't allowed to use the computer. Erin's first letter arrived in the mail today! Here it is:
Hello! Well its Labor Day weekend and I'm finally finding some time to sit down and write a letter. We are just about three weeks in now and things are finally starting to fall into some sort of routine.
When we first got here it was, "be quiet" and "stay awake". We hit our beds/racks at like 0300 and were awaken at 0400 (AM military time) and another long day began of paperwork and waiting and staying awake.
Somewhere in the lack of sleep and travel I managed to get the flu, which sucked! They put me on bed rest for two days (they call it "sick in quarters" or SIQ) and then ("light and limited duty" or LLD) which means that they wouldn't let me march with the division so basically don't get sick at boot camp.
The mornings haven't been that bad actually. You get up when the lights go on and go to bed when the lights go off. The food is actually pretty good too. There are close to 80 females in our compartment which brings a little drama sometimes but I think people are starting to work together. We have both girls and guys in our division. We are officially 78 strong now. We have lost a few already and I'm sure we will loose more. I have been assigned the job of divisional Yoeman or DY which basically means I run the division from the paperwork side of things. I have to keep all the records for all recruits in my division up to date, make passes for people to go anywhere, sign people out and in, keep the schedule updated and posted and so on and so on. In the ranking system for recruits it makes me like 3rd in the chain of command. I have two and a half other Yoeman who work with me and we are always busy! We go to bed later and wake up before everyone and work while everyone is studying. The cool thing is I get to walk in front of the pack at grad and I get to wear a pretty officer pin.
The P.T. training hasn't been that hard, I passed all my first test, but next week is going to be hard and I'm going to be stressed about that but the worse is they fire me then I get some sleep!
Well, they are calling for letters now so I'll close this up.
Hello! Well its Labor Day weekend and I'm finally finding some time to sit down and write a letter. We are just about three weeks in now and things are finally starting to fall into some sort of routine.
When we first got here it was, "be quiet" and "stay awake". We hit our beds/racks at like 0300 and were awaken at 0400 (AM military time) and another long day began of paperwork and waiting and staying awake.
Somewhere in the lack of sleep and travel I managed to get the flu, which sucked! They put me on bed rest for two days (they call it "sick in quarters" or SIQ) and then ("light and limited duty" or LLD) which means that they wouldn't let me march with the division so basically don't get sick at boot camp.
The mornings haven't been that bad actually. You get up when the lights go on and go to bed when the lights go off. The food is actually pretty good too. There are close to 80 females in our compartment which brings a little drama sometimes but I think people are starting to work together. We have both girls and guys in our division. We are officially 78 strong now. We have lost a few already and I'm sure we will loose more. I have been assigned the job of divisional Yoeman or DY which basically means I run the division from the paperwork side of things. I have to keep all the records for all recruits in my division up to date, make passes for people to go anywhere, sign people out and in, keep the schedule updated and posted and so on and so on. In the ranking system for recruits it makes me like 3rd in the chain of command. I have two and a half other Yoeman who work with me and we are always busy! We go to bed later and wake up before everyone and work while everyone is studying. The cool thing is I get to walk in front of the pack at grad and I get to wear a pretty officer pin.
The P.T. training hasn't been that hard, I passed all my first test, but next week is going to be hard and I'm going to be stressed about that but the worse is they fire me then I get some sleep!
Well, they are calling for letters now so I'll close this up.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
I'm off!!!
Hey there everyone, so I just wanted to post a quick post and let you all know that tomorrow I'm off to Chicago for boot camp, it should be 8 weeks (not counting this week) I'm a little freaked out and maybe excited, haven't really decided yet but either way I'm off on this great new adventure. My wonderful friend has kindly offered to update my blog for me while I'm gone through my hand written letters to her, so I really hope to keep anyone fallowing up to date. Love you all thanks so much for your prayers and well wishes. Oh and check out my hair Navy Short!!!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
The final countdown
Hey everyone sorry its been ages since I've been on here to update things. So heres whats has been happening for the past month or so. I had my IFT (initial fitness test) for the navy about two weeks ago that had me running 1.5 miles with 10 19-21 year old boys.... I did not think that was a fair fight but I beat 3 of them so I was happy! Other then that things have been just maintain and not get into any sort of trouble while I wait for my leave date as far as the Navy goes.
Right after my IFT I headed out for my last chance round of trips and vacations, starting with a camping trip in McCall Idaho with an wonderful group of people. It was amazingly beautiful and prefect weather, we didn't do much, a lot of talking, playing games, and hanging by the lake all in all a perfect chillax weekend.
The next week I headed to the Pfister house in Twin Falls and hung out with my two favorite little girls and my best friend where I became half Pfister according to Lexi and Lily. Last weekend was amazing I drove through Yellowstone for the first time ever, headed to Montana to go rafting with the Hooters Peak Ski and Raft club, it was BEAUTIFUL.
What a GREAT trip, I got to meet some new friends, had three runs on the river, went to the boiling river in Yellowstone (a natural hot springs that flows into the river) and hit the town for a little bit of a dance.
On the way home Casey, Ryan, Abby and myself stopped and checked out a few of the sights through Yellowstone. Oh and I saw a Buffalo!!!! It was kinda funny cause I was giddy like a little kid, all the while thinking "I ate you for dinner the other night" lol. Now I'm in San Jose CA visiting my family, next week I fly down to San Diego to see the rest of my family as well as my clan from college. Then a short stop back home before I head back to Montana for a few days for the last part of my trips. I hope to have some pic's up soon and I will try to be better at getting post up. Oh and I am still planning on doing my Vlog with cooking tips just need to get out of boot camp and get a pay check first lol. Talk to you all soon!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Inspired!
Happy Wednesday everyone!
So I'm strangely becoming addicted to different YouTube channels lately, which is actually worse then getting addicted to new shows on TV lol. Anyways lately I have really been inspired by these strangers to do something, anything that will maybe help me figure out exactly how to use my degree in and creative side. First I want to thank the people who have planted the small seeds in my head; Barbie, The Sailor Geek, Five Awesome Girls, and a Commander in the Navy. So I have a few ideas swirling around in my head but I think what I want to do is kinda a strange combination of things. Barbie encouraged me a few month back to try writing an article for a nutrition online news letter and then I had a request for some help coming up with quick healthy meals for one, Five awesome girls are just to stinking excitable about things they are passionate about, so my thought is this I want to start doing a Vlog spot on cooking and shopping on a budget whens its just for you. I have no real idea where to start for this, I don't even have a way to record at the moment. LOL but I'm kinda super excited about it. Have an absolutely fabulous day!
So I'm strangely becoming addicted to different YouTube channels lately, which is actually worse then getting addicted to new shows on TV lol. Anyways lately I have really been inspired by these strangers to do something, anything that will maybe help me figure out exactly how to use my degree in and creative side. First I want to thank the people who have planted the small seeds in my head; Barbie, The Sailor Geek, Five Awesome Girls, and a Commander in the Navy. So I have a few ideas swirling around in my head but I think what I want to do is kinda a strange combination of things. Barbie encouraged me a few month back to try writing an article for a nutrition online news letter and then I had a request for some help coming up with quick healthy meals for one, Five awesome girls are just to stinking excitable about things they are passionate about, so my thought is this I want to start doing a Vlog spot on cooking and shopping on a budget whens its just for you. I have no real idea where to start for this, I don't even have a way to record at the moment. LOL but I'm kinda super excited about it. Have an absolutely fabulous day!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
one step closer to becoming a sailor
Ok so I am finally sitting down and updating my blog. So alot has changed since I last wrote an entry. I have made it through the processes of taking my ASVAB (scored in the 95% which seriously surprised me lol) and made it to MEP's (Military Entry Processing) twice, and have picked a job and sworn in. Now I am in the DEP (Delayed Entry Program) process until I ship out to boot camp on August 16.
So where to start lol. Well first off let me tell you what I will be learning for the next 1-2 years or so. The career field I took is Advanced Electronic Computer Field. Hmmm if you are sitting here thinking what is that, I was right there with you when it was offered to me lol. I'm still in the process of really understanding what AECF means so I will do my best to explain it to you. Within this field there is a few different actually rates (ie jobs) that you can have. The two main ones are FC (Fire Controlman) or ET (Electronic Technician). So the fallowing info I stole from About.com...
Fire Controlmen (FC) typically operate weapon systems on-board surface combatant ships. They are trained in the repair, maintenance, operation and employment of weapons such as the Tomahawk Missile System, the Close-In Weapons System, the 5"/54 caliber Mark 45 gun Weapon System and it's associated MK86 Gun Fire Control System, the Sea Sparrow Missile System, and the Harpoon Missile Systems.
( working on guns like this, I'm pretty sure anyways) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C_ZoUKUwPM&feature=related
Electronic Technicians (ETs) are responsible for electronic equipment used to send and receive messages, computer information systems, long range radar, and calibration of test equipment. They maintain, repair, calibrate, tune, and adjust electronic equipment used for communications, detection and tracking, recognition and identification, navigation
So for the time being I am getting both physically mentally and emotionally ready for boot camp. I am also packing up all my belongs and getting rid of anything that doesn't fit into my car to prepare for being away in training for at least a year. I will be in Chicago for about the first year so if anyone wants to come visit the windy city! If anyone has any questions feel free to ask. Hope you all are enjoying your week!
So where to start lol. Well first off let me tell you what I will be learning for the next 1-2 years or so. The career field I took is Advanced Electronic Computer Field. Hmmm if you are sitting here thinking what is that, I was right there with you when it was offered to me lol. I'm still in the process of really understanding what AECF means so I will do my best to explain it to you. Within this field there is a few different actually rates (ie jobs) that you can have. The two main ones are FC (Fire Controlman) or ET (Electronic Technician). So the fallowing info I stole from About.com...
Fire Controlmen (FC) typically operate weapon systems on-board surface combatant ships. They are trained in the repair, maintenance, operation and employment of weapons such as the Tomahawk Missile System, the Close-In Weapons System, the 5"/54 caliber Mark 45 gun Weapon System and it's associated MK86 Gun Fire Control System, the Sea Sparrow Missile System, and the Harpoon Missile Systems.
( working on guns like this, I'm pretty sure anyways) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C_ZoUKUwPM&feature=related
Electronic Technicians (ETs) are responsible for electronic equipment used to send and receive messages, computer information systems, long range radar, and calibration of test equipment. They maintain, repair, calibrate, tune, and adjust electronic equipment used for communications, detection and tracking, recognition and identification, navigation
So for the time being I am getting both physically mentally and emotionally ready for boot camp. I am also packing up all my belongs and getting rid of anything that doesn't fit into my car to prepare for being away in training for at least a year. I will be in Chicago for about the first year so if anyone wants to come visit the windy city! If anyone has any questions feel free to ask. Hope you all are enjoying your week!
Monday, March 8, 2010
To anyone who stumbles on to this blog-
I will soon actually have something up and written about me, I'm just in the process of trying to get this whole blog thing set up and working. In the end this will be a way to track the next few years of my life, to keep in touch with those I love, and to share with those of you who would (for some strange reason) find the adventures of a 29 year old girl enlisting into the Navy some what entertaining.
At the moment I am in the middle of the enlistment process, I hope to have some actual news to post soon. Until then I hope the the week treats you well. Thanks for stopping bye, I hope you come again :)
I will soon actually have something up and written about me, I'm just in the process of trying to get this whole blog thing set up and working. In the end this will be a way to track the next few years of my life, to keep in touch with those I love, and to share with those of you who would (for some strange reason) find the adventures of a 29 year old girl enlisting into the Navy some what entertaining.
At the moment I am in the middle of the enlistment process, I hope to have some actual news to post soon. Until then I hope the the week treats you well. Thanks for stopping bye, I hope you come again :)
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