Reeder's Digest - Pilot Training Graduation

On Thursday the graduation fun began. My family drove through the base gate at 4:30 and we were supposed to be in our seats at 4:45. I met them at the gas station and then we raced to the retreat ceremony. I had to prod them along because they were dazed by all the state flags and landscape and the planes buzzing around. It was their first military experience, and they didn't know what to expect. We got to the retreat ceremony and began the 15 minute wait in the hot, humidified sunshine. It was fun to see my parent's reaction to all this. Then the boys marched out into the center and stood at attention while the three planes (the T-6, T-1, and T-38) did a triple flyby. I only video-d that, so I don't know how to attach it. But here is a picture of the retreat ceremony. Mark is right by the guy in the second row. You can see his toes and chin in the close-up:



here's the close-up:


That night we relaxed and ate enchiladas when Mark's family arrived after a full day of standby traveling.

The next morning we went to the breakfast, then the graduation ceremony. I'm still waiting on more pictures from Tessa's phone, but here's what I have. Mark is receiving his wings:

and then they do the awkward stand-for-a-minute and smile handshake:

When that was done, we got our picture taken by Mark's home teaching companion, Brandon Mackay. Here is everyone:


When we got to the flightline I got to pin on Mark's wings! I was so nervous, and they still came out crooked even after all my hard work to make them straight.


Then I gave my newly pronounced pilot a kiss.


Here's the parents: take a guess at which ones are from Vegas? .. I'll give you a hint: they don't go anywhere without those sunglasses!

and..the sisters, so cute!:


Mark's family left at 3am on Saturday, and mine stayed until Monday, so we got to see more fun places of Del Rio! On Saturday we walked over to Mexico and Tessa and I got a picture over the Rio Grande. No, we weren't patrolling the border:


Then on Monday morning, it was raining (again) while we said "goodbye" to my family. My mom is taking the picture, just so you don't think we kicked her out! :


oh! and here's a fun picture my dad snapped of me in the kitchen monday morning cleaning up breakfast. Who knew my dad liked to take pictures??


Here are our dates (as for now) for transition and Permanent Change of Station (PCS):
August 13 - Mark goes to Wilderness survival, Resistance Training (torture training), and Water Survival (in the Florida Ocean with sharks) I'm glad it's not me doing it. He will be doing this for two weeks.
September 13 - Report to Altus AFB, Oklahoma for C-17 training for 4 months.
January 31 - Report to Elmendorf AFB, Alaska!

The graduation weekend was wonderful! It came and went so fast. Uncle Stan and Aunt Linda, I hope we'll see you in Alaska!