The End and the Beginning
Today is the end of NavyGuy's training phase in the RAG. He officially graduates and becomes a real-life Electronic Counter Measures Officer (ECMO) - not a student, not a peon - a grown-up NavyMan. This has been a long time coming, and it should be a day of only happiness.
Unfortunately, his hard work, determination, skills, and sacrifices are not being rewarded as they should. NavyGuy has been assigned to a squadron that does not deploy to an aircraft carrier; instead, they are what is known as an expeditionary squadron, or concrete squadron. He won't fly jets off a carrier. He'll deploy to a base on land (probably in some godforsaken place on earth) and will fly his missions from there. This is a big disappointment for him, since flying off of the carrier has been such a dream and focus for him. I feel terrible because today should only be a celebration, but instead it's a feeling of resignation for both of us. But, this is Navy life. The needs of the Navy come first, regardless of who it affects.
The only small plus side to all of this so far is that a friend of NavyGuy's also got assigned to the same squadron, and his wife rocks, so hopefully we can commiserate together and find a way to make the best of all of this.
So, the training ends and the real work begins. I'm headed to the graduation ceremony this afternoon, and then for the obligatory party at the O'Club afterwards. I also went to my first spouses's club meeting for the squadron last night (more on that later).
Congratulations NavyGuy!!! I'm proud of you no matter what the Navy decides to do with you, and I love you :)
5 comments:
Yes!! I'm so proud of another Naval flyboy for finishing his time in school. I can't wait for pictures. And you can tell us all about it. Hopefully this'll happen for us mid-summer next year. Hopefully.
Congrats again!
Congrats NavyMan! (I like the new distinction, very appropriate.) All your hard work is admirable, and we can't wait to congratulate you in person :)
Sister and Brother-in-Law (and Lucy!)
Congrats NavyMan!!! From an outsider's point of view, I think regardless of where they have put you, you have a job that is still infinitely more exciting than the rest us. :) Sometimes it's hard to have that perspective when you're in the depths of it, but this is a day to celebrate!!! Cheers to you!
From a person who's husband will always be land based, tell Navy Guy it has its perks :-). Thomas always wanted to land and take off from an aircraft carrier, and then his flight school class didn't even get a choice of what they wanted. He got unlucky where the Navy basically said "Hey all of you - you don't get to pick. We need P3 pilots right now so you're all flying P3s." He had the grades he needed for jets, so he sulked around for a while about that since P3s will never, ever land on a boat, but we've learned its actually pretty nice. He's on a sea tour now, but aside from this deployment and a few weeks here and there, he's always home. Plus communication is great. I've been able to talk to him almost every single day since he's been gone. Sometimes twice a day. I heard someone say a few weeks ago that she would rather her husband spend a year in Iraq, than 6 months on a ship, because the communication is that much better.
Congrats for making it all the way through flight school!!!
Hooray for Maverick! Finally the schooling is done.....ya done good! :)
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