This weekend I will be a Little Einsteins Widow. I ain’t got nothin’ but love and respect for the Civil Air Patrol, but in our house they are The Little Einsteins, because every now and then, the music will swell, and Josh The Pilot will have a mission.
The point of the Civil Air Patrol is to help the Air Force with education, search and rescue, communications, critical care transport, homeland security, counterdrug operations, and damage assessment. In fact, the very first non-combat planes back in the air after 9/11 were flown by CAP members. So last month, when Josh The Pilot loped up the steps from the Man Cave just as I (at last, for once) inserted something meat-based into the oven, all, “We have a mission!”, I looked over with alarm.
“Oh, no! Is everything okay? Was there a plane crash? Do you need to do some scanning?”
“No, but I need to go right now.”
“Oh, okay then, if it’s classified–”
“We’re moving an airplane!”
It took them hours to move the airplane. Something about a tail wind, and a head wind, and knots. This weekend is potentially more important, because it’s a field training exercise, which necessitated the cleansing of hiking boots.
“What’s a field training exercise?”
“We hike into the woods with tents and stuff, and we sleep there.”
“Why?”
“To practice being in the woods.”
“So… it’s a camping trip.”
“No, it’s a field training exercise.”
“But what makes it field training?”
“Night manuevers.”
“What are those?”
“The cadets have to find their way around after sunset.”
“Why not just call it ‘hiking in the dark?’”
I know why: Because “night maneuvers” sounds way cooler, and probably doesn’t involve the sewing on of patches to camouflage jackets. And guess who gets to do that: The primary spousal detail.
when volunteerism and the federal government combine at: mbe@drinktothelasses.com
9 responses so far ↓
Anne from Iowa // Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 7:55 pm |
I know how you feel. My hubby is an Army Reservist, currently getting ready to deploy overseas (yes, Iraq). I had to sew his “name tapes” onto 3 Army issued backpacks. Impossible to do with a machine. I had to get special needles and thread. My fingertips were sore for days! I’ve also had to sew patches onto his dress uniform.
The CAP should get the cool velcro-y field uniforms that the Army has – all the patches magically stick to the uniform. Totally the way to go!
MB // Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 8:31 pm |
Anne, your husband is a true hero. If you’d like and have the information, please email me an address where I can send him care packages for him and his buddies to share :)
Anne from Iowa // Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 9:19 pm |
MB you are the best! On Monday he leaves for Ft. Bliss for more training, then – of course around the holidays! – he leaves. I’ll definitely get you his APO address when I get it. Any amount of support we can give our soldiers, marines and sailors is very appreciated.
Hunter House Mom // Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 10:04 pm |
Just visited my Army son and USAF brother and saw/heard one of the differences between Army and USAF field uniforms – velcro patches. Army yes, USAF no. Made it real quick & easy at the Army promotion ceremony. Peel off the hold, press on the new.
red pill junkie // Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 11:01 pm |
The REAL difference between a camping trip and a “field training exercise”:
Marshmallows.
But I bet they STILL have scary stories by the camp fire.
“…And the never found the black booooooox” AAAAARGH!! ;-)
Anne from Iowa // Friday, November 14, 2008 at 4:33 am |
Also, I was just asked to forward the website for his detachment, which I’ve put in the “website” portion of this form. Feel free to share it – I couldn’t remember if it was allowed or not on your blog (and I am NOT a rules-breaker!).
BTW, Mark is a huge Redskins fan and a HUGE air and space junkie. We’ll probably see you sometime at the museum!
Anne from Iowa // Friday, November 14, 2008 at 4:34 am |
Because I am sometimes an idiot.
They’ve Got a Mission UPDATE « Blonde Champagne // Friday, November 14, 2008 at 7:15 am |
[...] MB Apparently, planes aren’t supposed to crash when it’s rainy or dark, because the Great Field Maneuver Exercise of 2008 has been [...]
Army Wife Steph // Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at 3:11 am |
Anne and MB, I feel your pain. My hubby is in the Army, and I’m just now realizing that they use fancy-schmancy words like “we’ll recon at 1830 before the ftx” instead of “let’s eveyone meet up before the camping trip so nobody gets lost.” Sounds much cooler. And by the way, I make hubby sew on his own patches (the ones that are non-velcro). :)