RE: Need Your Help- Deployed Soldier looking for any information on a possible RC donation site
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Posts: 35
Score: 100 Joined: 3/22/2005 Last Login: 11/22/2011 From: Minnesota City,
MN, USA Status: offline
If they want to see what the shadow is all about send them up to our flight line. Just have them walk in and ask for Rain. Id be happy to give them a tour. If they get lucky and come here when we are getting close to launch one they can see that and our carrier style landings with hook and arresting gear.
We dont make it away from the flight line that much. We actually even go pick up the food for all of our guys here. Luckily we like building stuff and have a decent set up with our own make shift gym and AFN and all. The small things make it nice. If the container yard is the same one im thinking of its actually right in the approach and launch path of our UAV's as well as one of the roatary wing approaches. Even though we have a nice paved runway for our UAV's not really practical for planes. Id much rather see them go to someone who has the room and freedom to fly like yall did than go mostly un used here do to the restrictions we have. All i can see being used here would be heli's. We do have one guy at our site from the GoCo shadow team that has a bigger electic heli. He has flown planes for some 20years and helis for 8 so i was going to have him teach me if i can get a bird. Heli's was something i always wanted to try but could never talk my dad into it when i was younger. Some of you may find this amusing but the other day we had tower call us when we were getting ready to launch and tell us to tell the GoCo guys they had to clear all RC Launch and recoveries with them first. Our tower can be quite the comedians when traffics slow lol. Tower calls get interesting.
I wish i had the group of guys you had, for the most part i dont think any of our group is interested in it besides me. A couple of our FSR's and quite a few at the GoCo team are and have some of the smaller 100 size heli's. I tried to talk the wife into a Wakeria 450-500 but as usuall she was the voice of reason with all the Nieces and Nephews xmas presents comming up, bills, our baby on the way and saving for the move to Daytona for flight school when i ets she had a point lol. She keeps me in line but it doesnt mean i ever stop trying to talk her into things ahaha.
A quick view of my RC background. At a 11 i spent a winter on G2 flight sim and soloed my first flight that spring on a Lanier Fun Fly. Very capable 3D plane. Had to retire it though when it started to get so much flight stress from my extreme manuevers that we wouldve had to replace the fueselage. Other notable planes include Extra 300 (.45) Super Sportster (.46) Biplane (Unknown make form swap meet .60 4stroke), Cessna 172 Float Plane (Saito .90 4 stroke) and a few other randoms that are in various stages of repair from how we bought them. Stopped flying at 18 though when i joined the army due to the difficulty in toteing planes around the country with me.
Well thats about all i have for now. I apologize for any spelling and grammar errors but this work laptop has refreshed this page 3 times on me and i had to retype all of this all 3 times. I smartened up and starting copy pasting constantly and its actually saved me a few times.
< Message edited by Drizzle3 -- 11/22/2011 1:53 AM >
Posts: 35
Score: 100 Joined: 3/22/2005 Last Login: 11/22/2011 From: Minnesota City,
MN, USA Status: offline
After making it back to my room for the night i re-read what i wrote and in the 3 times i had to re-write my post over i seen i forgot to answer you on the care package thing. Im not going to turn down a care package, but i really am out of ideas on what we need out here. All the things i think of i tell my family and wife and they've been doing a good job with getting it for me. You've been here before so im sure you know of some of the normal things needed. Only other thing i can think of that is always nice to have is used magazines or books that we can pass around between everyone here.
Read through the first couple of pages of this thread too and i must say. You sound like an amazing BN Commander to have. A RC program, beard growing contests!!! To be honest i don't even know how i would look trying to grow a beard. I havn't shaved my mustache since i left the states and, curse my blonde hair, it is hardly noticeable unless your up close to me. Thats 3 months of growth!! Rest of my facial hair grows a little quicker but never had the chance to try and grow it out lol.
Tried uploading a picture i took the other day of one of my crew chiefs and a fellow operator while we were re-fueling our bird. Read the post of the one guy using mogas for his rc's, we have straight 100LL AVGAS!! You dont mess around with this stuff. Burns like no other. And your post about that 43k Raven im guessing, ours is a lot lot more when they go down, ask me how i know. Sadly, as you know, the internet in this lovely country isn't anything to brag about. Ill try again tomorrow or in the morning when not as many people are on. Have some other good ones on my camera but a pepsi can exploded in my pack the other night on guard duty. Crossing my fingers hoping it works once i get battery recharged or my wifes going to have to get me a new one after black friday!
hahah thats funny, considering the odds. small world indeed. Give my greetings to your family then rob . Cypriot yiayia to the cooking !! they always cook vast quantities and everything they got written in there book . if she is a bit like my yiayia was, then i bet she also tries to shuffle the food down your throat if you dare say you want no more .
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Posts: 87
Score: 100 Joined: 9/28/2007 Last Login: 5/6/2013 From: Ft Campbell,
KY, USA Status: offline
Eric. Sorry for the delay. Will write a decent response this weekend. The family invasion has started and between work, DIV run tomorrow (holding comments on why we have to participate being only 3 weeks back), and relatives bombarding you- have no breathing room (this is first minute to myself and I am typing this on the iPhone in my truck during Boy Scouts-got to love it). Will get a package out when i get a second.
Tried getting time to myself last night but failed. I came into the living room using a towel as a cape to scare the adults and claim it was PTSD. no luck. worked oppisite. all neices and nephews thought it was awesome and ended up battling villians till bedtime
Send me your mailing adress. Will get something out in a few days at the latest
AglosLar- papou has a quick question. Were you raised in Larnaca? He retired a teacher after 35+ years. Papou said he probably was your teacher. Spyros Demetriou. World's best father-in-law. Sorry have to ask but being Cypriot you know
hehe dont apologize. Cyprus is small and larnaca has only 40k-45k residents so yes most people know each other.Hmmm i didnt have a teacher with that name in gymnasium (high school) or lyceeum. was he in primary schools ? i went to sotiros primary school and makario's III high school and lyceeum. Positive sciences field in lyceeum (if you tell him praktiko he will know )
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Learn from the mistakes of others. You can''t live long enough to make them all yourself
Posts: 87
Score: 100 Joined: 9/28/2007 Last Login: 5/6/2013 From: Ft Campbell,
KY, USA Status: offline
Merry Christmas to Everyone, I hope everyones' holidays are going great and peaceful.
I have been thinking over the last two weeks about how much I appreciate everything you did for us. It made a huge difference. I couldn't stop thinking about it since I kept remembering where I was this time last year. We had some good times in Gamberi, but I have to be honest- the best gift of all is being with family and friends. Nothing can replace that hug or "I love you Dad"- sometines it is followed up with I would like
We have about 10 days of block leave yet. After that I should be back on line a little more. The last two weeks I have been making up for a year of not being home, old "honey do lists", and getting ready for the holidays. I still haven't opened the crate with the planes. This week should be peaceful so I will get them out and inspected.
I will ping my the Battalion Commander in the North for one last attempt. If not then I will see if we have an old Gamberi Soldier who would like to fly, or if any of the children from our Gamberi fallen are interested. We are all still a very tight group so should be an easy question to answer.
I really just wanted to thank you all for everything. I always had good memories and have been trying to figure out how to express my deepest appreciation without babbling on for a long time. You truely made a huge and positive impact on our lives everyday. Thank you!
Eric- not sure if you are on R&R or just busy. When you get a chance send me a note with your address.
Posts: 442
Score: 100 Joined: 2/23/2006 Last Login: 5/17/2013 From: SoCal,
CA, USA Status: online
Rob, I'm a little late, but Merry Christmas! All I wanted for Xmas was to have you and your fellow soldiers back home; I got my Christmas wish! I can't speak for everyone, but my reason for sending R/C gear to you was to offer a little break from the realities of war. I'm glad it helped. Thank you and all the soldiers for all the sacrifices you endured. Welcome back and have a Happy New Year!!! -Les- PS, the fallen soldiers are in my prayers. Keep in touch.
Posts: 87
Score: 100 Joined: 9/28/2007 Last Login: 5/6/2013 From: Ft Campbell,
KY, USA Status: offline
Hi Everyone, It has been a little too long. January and February have been a little busy, but I will fill you in after the important stuff first. Also a few things changed in Afghanistan, which I will also explain, changed a few things on the planes.
First the most important things:
The Alpha 450 went to SSG Gatzke this morning. The plane is balanced, charged, and ready to fly. SSG Gatzke is an RC junkie, the only one I could really talk shop with while we were deployed. He does mainly cars, and only dabbled a little with planes but dieing to get into it more- since I talk a little smack about cars vs. planes. SSG Gatzke also worked (volunteered so much that you might as well call it work) at the local hobby shop, and pulled me into volunteering there on weekends before we deployed. He is more than excited and wanted to pass on a huge thank you. He also has the plane balancer, prop balancer, batteries, and a transmitter.
SSG Gatzke was one of our Battle NCO’s, basically tracked and ran the convoys on a daily basis. He was the one on the end of the radio that you would call when you got in a sticky situation and needed help. He coordinated with air support and a few other things. Saved me one or two occasions when we were on the road.
SSG Gatzke also has a son in the military- joined and think has less than 2 years in. He was serving in another unit in Southern Afghanistan while we were all deployed. Unfortunately his son, who was on mission one day, was hit really hard by an IED blast the last 1/3 of the deployment and had to be evac’ed home for TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). He is doing well, but still has a long road ahead on recovery. He really enjoys RC like his Dad, so SSG Gatzke accepted a Telemaster for his son to fly with him. It came with batteries and a receiver. It is all trimmed and balanced and ready for the flight line.
The last 2 months my middle son has wanted to fly with me and learn how to fly. So weather permitting, the Gatzke’s, my son, and I are going to hit the local high school field this weekend (weather permitting).
The other Telemaster went to SFC Lamb (picture coming soon). He just signed out on leave before I could snatch a picture. You will all recognize him. He was one of the ones helping do the initial builds in January when we took pictures in our Tactical Operations Center (TOC), the picture of us in the tent at Gamberi. He got a charger, batteries, and everything else. The plane is all balanced out and we are ready when he is.
SFC Lamb was the senior NCO at Gamberi for the partnership mission, and was one of the 3 original members who survived the suicide bomber and stayed on to complete the entire deployment at Gamberi from beginning to end. SFC Lamb is one of the main hogs of the flight simulator CanDo sent over and also flew the Alpha 40 on the buddy box at Gamberi. He still wants to use the trainer box set up, but think he should be ready to solo in no time.
My 3 sons helped me unpack the planes from the crate and get everything air worthy. I was surprised that nothing was broken. I was telling them while we were unpacking all that everyone did for us and the incredible support. I still don’t think they can put it into words. They just kept saying that is really cool of them. I just kept thinking how incredible everyone is.
The picture of the crate is hard to put in perspective. I tried taking a few photos so you got an idea of the size of what the crew at Gamberi packed it in. Just didn’t seem to work. Also I am not mentioning that my entire room at Gamberi (personal belongings- military gear, clothes, etc. were on top of the planes). I was really nervous when we were uncovering the planes. The guys did a great job- not one broken or warped piece. I put my 3 sons in the crate for a perspective picture, but didn’t help if you don’t know how tall they are. Think we finally measured the crate at 3’H x 3’W x 7’L, and had to weigh 100-150’lbs empty. It was build like vault- but good thing as it was at the bottom of the shipping container.
So that is the latest on the RC planes. When we are out flying I will try to snap some pictures of the crew in action, and hopefully not of any rough landings.
So the changes in Afghanistan that shifted things up a bit. Gamberi got turned over to another unit, after the one that replaced us. They were in a state of change over and the new lead on the ground wasn’t too excited and no-one was interested in RC.
The second site, up North, where my good friend was the base commander was also out of the picture in a last minute surprise in early January. Apparently there was a Guard or Reserve unit that was headed towards Iraq, but since Operation New Dawn (OIF) was drawing to a quick close, the new BN got shifted to Afghanistan. The Guard or Reserve unit replaced my friend’s BN to the North on short notice. We all fight and train the same way. Only reason I mention Guard or Reserve unit, is to explain that once they are mobilized (sometimes a 3-5 year process) it is hard to cancel their deployment at the last minute. So that is the reason they got diverted from Iraq to Afghanistan. You ask don’t they know way in advance, I don’t know the answer. I have never worked at those staff levels, so don’t have the expertise or insight to give an answer. I just can tell you that the military can make some pretty dramatic force adjustments in the middle of the fight, so the outcome is what you expect of us. Sometimes means some quick turnaround times once you get back home, or last minute adjustments when you are in theater.
The great news for my buddy’s unit is that they got to redeploy home a few months early (think they ended up doing 9 or 10 months deployed). Still long enough, but I know the families were ecstatic. I know one of them well, and he actually made it home in time to see his new baby being born.
Well everyone is doing good that redeployed with us. We are all about to hit the move cycle, and report into different duty stations. When we came off block leave, I was thinking it would be calm and take time to adjust to being back. How wrong I was. CSM and I were actually doing 18-20 hour days for about 3 weeks. Just re-integrating companies back into the BN that didn’t deploy with us. Accounting for all the unit equipment we deployed with and shipped back, and helping a few families with the re-integration process. I also had to hurry up and get ready to shift to a new job on top of it all. I gave up BN command after 3 years (average is 2 years) on 27 Jan. I got a whole 4 days off and walked right into the Brigade Executive Officer’s job. Like the second in charge of the Brigade. It was not a hard transition (ok- it was really really hard leaving my Soldiers and my unit, but time to let someone else excel) I have the same boss, and I think a lot of him, so all in all it was a good transition. I think he enjoys it too, because he doesn’t have to walk very far now to hit me upside the head. Think the last one was SSG Gatzke and I plotting an RC flight over the Brigade morning physical fitness formation.
So that is all the major events compressed down a little.
I hope that you are all doing well and that you and your families are in good health.
I will try to keep things updated a little better once I fall back into a rhythm back home and in the new job.
Posts: 125
Score: 105 Joined: 4/13/2007 Last Login: 5/17/2013 From: Glendale,
CA, USA Status: offline
Hey Rob
Now how weird is this. I was just thinking about how we haven't heard how things were going with you and your men following your return to the world .... and here you are !!!! Thanks for the update on what's going on with all of you, and again a big thank you for what you sent my wife and I. Take care, and please pass along our best wishes to your men for us. And welcome home to you all.
Posts: 482
Score: 118 Joined: 10/11/2004 Last Login: 5/17/2013 From: Arroyo Grande,
CA, USA Status: offline
Hi Rob,
Thank you for the update on yourself and your people, and of course the disposition of the models. You have mentioned several times the incredible support you received in response to your initial request for model airplane stuff. But, speaking for those of us who were contributors, I'd like to thank you for you excellent stewardship of the donated items. The fact that you are managing to re-deploy the models is just great. The number of folks who have been reached and are still being reached is truly rewarding for all of us. What you are doing is what leadership and team building are all about !
Posts: 707
Score: 100 Joined: 8/7/2002 Last Login: 5/18/2013 From: Columbus,
IN, USA Status: offline
Hi Rob, Like alltumbs I too (just yesterday) was wondering how you were doing and what was happening with the planes and equipment. I think It's really cool your sons were so impressed by what we were able to do. That in itself makes it all worthwhile for me. I hope someday they'll be motivated to "pay it forward".
Thanks for the up-date!
And allow me again to offer the invitation to you and your boys to come and fly with us if you have chance to get up to south central Indiana. As a matter of fact, our clubs Big Bird fly-in (the Joe Grube Big Bird Fly-In officially) will be held August 11th. It was at the 2011 Joe Grube that the flag you sent us made it's public debut. When we explained at the flag raising ceremony where the flag came from and why, it made a big impression with folks attending.
Posts: 165
Score: 100 Joined: 10/30/2006 Last Login: 6/16/2012 From: Bogalusa,
LA, USA Status: offline
I just read this entire thread, and as an OIF/OEF vet I am very proud of the people who stepped up and donated items to this cause. I spent a year in Iraq during the initial push in 2003, and let me tell you...Any minute we got of downtime was enjoyed. Toward the middle once we finally got settled in a bunch of the guys in my unit mail ordered rc cars from tower(two months from mailing order to recieving packages). I also got a copy of realfight G2 with a few of the addon disks. I was in an aviation unit (Apache Longbows), and my BC shot down the RC plane idea in about 3 seconds. Something about interferance with the helicopters, blah blah blah..lol typical enlisted reaction, but he said cars and trucks were cool as long as we stayed off the active flight line.
So I got a team associated rc10 tc3, my battle got a outlaw truggy, and my Plt Sgt got a F1 Ferarri. All electric because at the time I didn't have the resources to figure out the logistics of getting nitro fuel in the mail over there. We had a blast with those cars. I had actually forgotten about mine untill I went through a divorce and had to dig through every nook and cranny of my boxes and storage. When I found it, I just sat there, laughed, then got somber, then laughed again. Good times in a bad situation.
I certainly would have tried to do something if I knew of this back when it was going on. You guys are an awesome group of people, and I have noticed that in the Rc aviation hobby I run into more and more people like yourselves. Selfless, patriotic, determined AMERICANS!!!
Spc(p) Logan Brouillette 1-4 Avn Bn 1st Inf Div Ft Hood, Tx 2001-2005
Posts: 87
Score: 100 Joined: 9/28/2007 Last Login: 5/6/2013 From: Ft Campbell,
KY, USA Status: offline
Thanks for all the comments.
Not sure if I deserve any of them. I was just trying to honor the agreements and the spirit of what we were doing. I learned from my Dad that one of the few things you have thats yours and yours alone, is the word/hand shake you give. It was the least I can do for all that you have done for my team. I couldn't have done any of it with out each of you. A really special thank you to Dick, Les, Mike, Jim, Neil, and a few others that wish not to be mentioned.
OK- the flying was cancelled this weekend. We have had sustained winds above 20mph till late this afternoon. We have been sitting in pressure swings and fronts since Thursday some time. We are hoping for this weekend coming up to be a good one. I did run into SSG Gatzke and his family this weekend in the grocery store, while shopping for supplies for my youngest son's cub scout themed cake. The Gatzke's have met me in the unit before, but this time I was introduced as the plane guy I think she is worried about quickly having a hanger in the garage. Mrs Gatzke wanted to pass on a huge thanks to everyone. I guess there are two guys in the house who have been tinkering with the planes and getting the itch to fly.
Mike- thanks for the offer. I told my wife about it when we first got back. I think we might just take you up on it. I might have to shoot for some time before Mid June. I think we are moving this summer. I told Les the other week that we got picked up for a school, and now next week they are releasing the locations. We are hoping for Carlisle, PA. Be the closest we have been to some family in a long time, ok in like 20+ years. Not sure though. Knowing our luck we will end up in Iceland or something. I will send an update when we find out.
Well the guys are all doing real good. I know as a group we are all still really tight and take care of eachother. Always big hellos and everything. It is still the only group of people where a lot of the guys talk freely and openly. We are taking care of eachother so we can take care of our families. Kind of wierd to explain, but sure alot of you can relate.
I think one by one we are realizing that we were under a lot of stress, and finally figuring that out. We had one member of the Gamberi 18 go to counseling for TBI and PTSD, from the 16 April incident. Now everyone is starting to pull eachother along and make sure we are ok, and starting to admit we might need to talk to someone. Think a lot of it is thinking that we are going through normal re-integration things, but might need a little help getting settled. It is like a group of penguins. The first one jumped in and hasn't been eaten yet, and now the next group is ready to jump in Just figured I would provide the update. You all have traveled on a journey with us, and helped bring a smile to a lot of folks. Just thought you should know we are doing good, but there are a few things we are working on to overcome. It will all be good, just takes time and we all have different coping mechanisms. (The coping mechanism is the part I play up to improve/modify my hanger- hey it has a lifespan and I might as well abuse it will I can)
My coping mechanism last weekend was building a free flight plane with my youngest son. We had a blast and the plane flew great. I never knew a non-electronic toy would keep their interest all afternoon.
Well SFC Lamb is back this week from vacation, so I will get his picture with the Telemaster, and let you know if we are looking good for a flying day soon.
Posts: 442
Score: 100 Joined: 2/23/2006 Last Login: 5/17/2013 From: SoCal,
CA, USA Status: online
Rob, it's great to hear your team (extended family) is supporting each other. I noticed none of your son's fingers were glued together, he is doing better than I did when I started! Seriously, I'm glad everyone is beginning to adjust back to home life. I'm sure it's not easy, but time and lots of support will help. BTW, I flew my 2nd and 3rd flight on my 80" OV-10 yesterday; landings weren't perfect, but it's still in one piece!
Posts: 87
Score: 100 Joined: 9/28/2007 Last Login: 5/6/2013 From: Ft Campbell,
KY, USA Status: offline
CanDo, Great hearing from you. Sure your OV-10 is as prestine as ever. I can’t imagine any plane gives you a challenge or rattles your nerves. Been wanting to send a note the last few days, but went down like a baby with the flu. So much for the Flu shot working. I almost made it the whole year.
I had to laugh on the glue comment. My son didn’t glue his fingers, I did. After all you have to lead by example. That’s why you see all the plastic and tape. I wasn’t worried about gluing his or my fingers together. I was really scared to get glue of the wife’s furniture. Now that would have been a long and painful ordeal.
CanDo was also thinking of you last weekend. I was soldering the few remaining Li-Poly’s with the deans plugs to give to SSG Gatzke and SFC Lamb. The first battery was the best example of a fire hazard one could create in over an hour. I kept looking at your Soldering on the batteries you sent to Gamberi as the example, and my lack of skill was killing me. I read up on all the deans plug tricks and soldering in general. I bought one of the deans plug jigs and the variable digital temp soldering iron kits. After stalking the post man and UPS dude for a week, all the stuff arrived. I set the soldering iron to vaporize and used the jig. The first one was ok, but not there. After that I think I picked up on some of the little tips and fixed the fire hazard from the week before. Still didn’t look like your professional soldering, but not as bad as the other week.
Well on another note, we survived the storms the last few days. We must have been in the sweet spot or build up zone, because we really didn’t get but 1-2 supercells in the area. We did have wind clocked at 83 mph on post in the afternoon. Today is cool and nice. Just too windy. Think it is holding at 20+ mph. Hoping tomorrow for calmer winds. The second we have a window of oppurtunity, SSG Gatzke, myself, and the families are off to the local High School for some flying.
Hope you all are doing well and no issues for anyone from the crazy weather week last week.
Posts: 442
Score: 100 Joined: 2/23/2006 Last Login: 5/17/2013 From: SoCal,
CA, USA Status: online
Hey Rob, I have a couple of tricks for soldering Deans connectors. Here is what I do: 1. Strip and tin the wires, then flow some solder where you want the wires to go on the connector. Put a tiny bit of flux on wires and connector. I use a flux pen to control the amount. 2. With the soldering iron set around 720F, heat up the connector pin, move the wire into position, up against the iron's tip. The idea is to get both the connector pin and the wire up to temperature. 3. Place the tip on top of the wire until the solder starts to flow in the wire and the connector pin. 4. Here's the hard part. Hold the wire and the connector still until the solder starts to cool (it gets a little dull). 5. If you remembered to put the shrink sleeving on the wire (sometimes I forget!), heat it, shrink it and you are done.
PS, I'm glad you guys survived the storms, I heard we lost some folks. Terrible deal. Good luck at the school! I think I've been kicked out of most of my local schools; I guess it's against the rules to have fun here!
Posts: 87
Score: 100 Joined: 9/28/2007 Last Login: 5/6/2013 From: Ft Campbell,
KY, USA Status: offline
CanDo- I will have to try your tips. I have pre-tinned, but have not used flux or some of the other neat tricks. I will definetly give them a crack.
Flying was out yesterday. Sustained wind all day above 25 mph. Starting to get the itch and the weather is not helping. Oh well. Have a Hobby Lobby Lear Jet that my oldest son and I were building before I left. It is half built, so I think I will try to finish that up over the next week or two. I unpacked it yesterday from a year of storage, and laid it across the building table in the garage. Good lord did I make this project complicated.
I bought the optional lighting kit, at least that is all done, higher performance engines (the esc wires are thicker and shorter, so will have to build a mounting shelf), and I put in e-flite electric retracts before I left. Yesterday I found about a mile of wires, servos half done, and 3 different instruction books. Think I will take a fresh look, do the basics to finsih the build, clean the wires, and then set up the system on the computer transmitter. I won't even think about flying it till I get 1 solid flying weekend in with props. The one and only other ducted fan I had was that F16 from Hobby Lobby. Think I put the story in one of the beginning threads. I was not use to keeping speed up so my control surfaces maintained, with the prop planes slow low passes were not a problem. Long story short...I lost control on the 4th flight because I was flying to slow. I speed up, but too late. It turned into a foamie missle into a wood fence.
Posts: 87
Score: 100 Joined: 9/28/2007 Last Login: 5/6/2013 From: Ft Campbell,
KY, USA Status: offline
Merry Christmas, I have been thinking about writing an update for the last several weeks.
First of all- let me say thank you. Thank you for your friendship, your support, and the great discussions we had. The more I look back, the more I think how special the support was from each of you. I was talking about it last week, when a neighbor saw some of my planes. He asked if I flew a lot, and I simply said as much as I can. He asked if deployments messed up flying and I said usually, but not last deployment. I had a huge smile on my face when I talked about you guys and all the support. I told him stories of the plane builds, flying on the soccer field, and just the fun of doing test runs in the hallways or outside the barracks/BHuts. I can’t ever begin to tell you how much your support meant to me and the guys I was with.
So for the updates…. Well my driver and side kick just finished UAV school last week. He changed his career field from truck driver (slower promotion rates) to UAV operator. It wasn’t a big leap for him. His Dad was a Little Bird pilot in the 160th AVN unit- the special pilots that support Special Forces. Flying was always his dream, but the helicopter pilot spots are getting very hard to get, so he decided to try the UAV program. I am happy to say he loves it and has really found a new passion. He is now certified in the Shadow, Gray Eagle, Warrior, and one other airframe. He grew up flying so it wasn’t a big leap. He said the hardest part was not getting any feedback in the controls. He said that the people who had the easiest time were the gamers. He said they adapted really easy and had no issues with no feedback in the flight controls. Funny I would have never of figured. I flew out to Arizona to his graduation last week. Something I promised I would do when we were deployed. It was a great time.
My oldest son also flew out to see the graduation with me. He thought the big UAV’s were pretty cool. After the ceremony we headed to Prescott, AZ to do our first college visit. We went to Embry-Riddle. What an incredible school. We will look at a few others so he can decide between programs, but his sole focus is to fly- whether it is corporate, commercial, or for the military. One step at a time
The Battalion CSM moved on after we returned and went to Japan to be the CSM in charge of all bases in Japan and Thailand. CSM is incredible.
The Senior NCO for Gamberi moved to Ft Bragg and is in the Special Forces Support Group and just deployed again.
The Senior Intel NCO retired 6 months after we got back and got a great contracting job on Fort Campbell training the next generation of intel specialists.
The senior Officer went to work in the Special Forces logistics unit at Fort Campbell. It is what he wanted and gives his family some well deserved stability. He might deploy, but his family gets to stay in one place for 4-5 years.
The CPT we had out there got picked up early for promotion to MAJ and is currently in a fully funded Masters program in acquisition management in Alabama. Half the NCO’s and enlisted stayed in our BN at Fort Campbell and most have all been promoted to the next rank. They are scheduled to deploy again within the next 6 months.
Our big news is that our lead interpreter got his VISA approved. He did not get a VISA approved for his family to the US because he filed it a year later, but he did get one for his family approved for Canada. Our families are going to meet up in Toronto in the next month or two. Something we dreamed about and said we would do. It will be really nice to introduce my family to them.
Unfortunately we had one NCO who got a DUI a few months after we got back, so his opportunities have been really limited in the Army. He is going to get out of the Army in the next 6 months because of it.
We have had lots of positives and everyone is doing really well. Just shows how lucky we were to have such a strong group. We did have a lot of issues adjusting when we got back, some a little worse than others. Think we all had a good case of PTSD and didn’t realize/admit it. Finally, one of the strongest guys went and got help. It turned into group therapy and did a world of good. We had 2 people that still didn’t get help, can’t make them, and I think they are still struggling the most.
The good part is that the team is still really close and we talk all the time, to include our lead interpreter.
Update on the telemaster, Alpha 40, and Alpha 450. SSG Gatske and his son, the one that was deployed and hit an IED, are doing good. The 450 is doing great. The telemaster had the engine fall off on the third flight. I have no idea. He dead sticked in easy enough. After a repair he got 4 good months of flying in till the telemaster and a telephone pole had a collision. He and his son are still flying the 450 and the Alpha 40. MSG Lamb, the other telemaster proud owner, got a few flights in with a buddy box and was soloing before I left. I haven’t talked to him since, so not sure if it is still air worthy.
As for me, I am at the Army Senior Service College in PA. I got selected for promotion to COL in Oct. We live in a pretty built up area, and with school work I have not flown once since I moved. The field is too far for a quick run over. I solved the problem by buying myself a Christmas present of the Micro Carbon Cub SS. I will fly it on Christmas after I officially unwrap it.
I hope that everyone has a great holiday season and that you and your families are doing very well.
Posts: 442
Score: 100 Joined: 2/23/2006 Last Login: 5/17/2013 From: SoCal,
CA, USA Status: online
Merry Christmas right back at you, Rob, it's great to hear from you! I can't speak for anyone else, but I really enjoyed helping you guys out. The micro gear is a good option, sometimes I fly in my backyard when I can't get out to the model field. Thanks Santa! Congratulations on the promotion, you deserve it my friend. -Les-
< Message edited by CanDo -- 12/18/2012 12:30 AM >
Posts: 87
Score: 100 Joined: 9/28/2007 Last Login: 5/6/2013 From: Ft Campbell,
KY, USA Status: offline
CanDo Thanks. Havent had a chance to break in the micro yet with all the snow and strong winds. I am hoping for a break in weather and studying today to give it a try.
Posts: 482
Score: 118 Joined: 10/11/2004 Last Login: 5/17/2013 From: Arroyo Grande,
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quote:
ORIGINAL: robl90
I hope that everyone has a great holiday season and that you and your families are doing very well.
Thanks again to everyone for all the support.
Merry Christmas Rob
Merry Christmas back to you, Rob. I can't speak with certainty for the other folks, but suspect we're all about the same. It was a privilege to be a small player on your team.
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RE: Need Your Help- Deployed Soldier looking for any in... - 
!! they always cook vast quantities and everything they got written in there book 
I think she is worried about quickly having a hanger in the garage. Mrs Gatzke wanted to pass on a huge thanks to everyone. I guess there are two guys in the house who have been tinkering with the planes and getting the itch to fly. 