Mustangs: The Cutting Edge

323d Training Squadron

Mission Statement:
Provides world-class military leadership and training necessary to transform recruits into highly motivated Airmen possessing the foundational warrior attitudes, knowledge, skills and abilities to sustain the world’s greatest Air Force.

Squadron Lineage:
Designated 3703d Training Squadron, and organized, on 26 Aug 1948. Redesignated: 3703d Basic Military Training Squadron on 7 Feb 1952; 323d Basic Training Squadron on 25 Aug 1992; 323d Training Squadron on 1 Apr 1994.

The “Mustangs” proudly wear a TAN colored t-shirt during the Airman’s Run.

The Smart Kid

via Cagle:

Eyes on Franken

The Fix knows who to keep an eye on:

Six Senators to watch in Kagan confirmation
Making the list, our very own:

* Al Franken: The Sotomayor hearings amounted to a public debut of sorts for the comedian turned Minnesota Democratic Senator. And, while Franken did occasionally crack wise, he was generally a low-profile presence on the committee. With another year of Senate service under his belt, does Franken take a different approach to this confirmation? With liberals expressing some concerns about Kagan's past policy positions (or, more accurately, her lack of past policy positions) will Franken take the mantle as liberal champion on the committee and try to draw her out?

Franken has turned the heads of even the most staunchest Conservatives, but they would never admit it publicly, the Tea Partiers are watching and any sign if weakness means you are out!

Flash

The Kagen Hearings

CNN:

"While her confirmation is considered likely, Republican senators on the panel questioned Monday whether Kagan can be an impartial justice, "

If the Activist (read extreme partisans) Conservative judges on the bench set the bar for being 'impartial' than a Justice Kagen could be defined as a strict constitutionalist, for those of us that actually care about the constitution.

One thing I've learned from watching the Tea Party movement and their cheerleaders, it has nothing about what is best for the country, just what is best for them.

Flash

What is Normalcy?

Summer School begins so it is back to the grind at the new environment. Will be double duty settling into the new place while providing service to the over 500 students attending at our Arlington location.

The Airman to be is working hard at BMT I am sure, although we haven't heard from him since he called the night he arrived. I understand that is generally the procedure. We'll hear from him soon enough.

I am going to get back into the saddle, as the Gubernatorial race heats up, Supreme Court hearings begin, and other political excitement rears its head. It will be as normal as normal can be.

Flash

The Last Day, Going Away

Fantastic weekend, GREAT party, and now the final day. Leaving this AM for Al's Breakfast and then to the recruiter for final debrief.

Afternoon will be spent shopping for those boot camp essentials, maybe a visit to the cemetery to say goodbye to Grand Ma, and then a last meal at Rock Bottom, Mpls. We expect to be there between 5:00 and 7:00

First curfew is 9:00 pm this evening, at that point he is one of Them, and my job is done.

Bittersweet is the understatement, but I am confident in his preparedness.

Flash

Here is a shot of us at Al's, shopping done, leaving for Cemetery soon.

One week List

What would you do if you had a week to go for basic. I asked Airman to Be Nick to make a list of what he wanted to do before he left. Hopefully we can hit more than half of them, but it is interesting to see what he wanted to do:

1) Visit Gramma's Grave
2) See the inside of the Cathedral (where he was baptized)
3) Go Camping with the guys one more time
4) Get Sandals and new Razor
5) Hit up a Rave
6) Finish Fable
7) Eat at Al's Breakfast
8) Ride every ride worth riding at Camp Snoopy
9) Visit Burial Mounds
10) Visit Science Museum
11) Visit Como Zoo
12) Run a 5 mile trail
13) One more Twin's Game
14) Paint balling
15) Whiskey River; St. Peter, MN
16) Patrick's in St. Peter, MN
17) 3-D IMovie theater
18) AMC
19) Visit Veterans Memorial
20) Rock Bottom for pizza and Sarsaparilla
21) Spend a day with Grandma and Grandpa
22) Visit Thole, Mr Modelli, Capt Karimi (former teachers)
23) Visit Art Museum (MIA)
24) Visit Capital
25) History Museum

Pretty grounded list if you ask me. This guy will do just fine. I think we can knock off at least 20/

Flash

YES HE DID!

Its official:

The proud parents still in somewhat of a state of shock LOL Twelve days to boot camp. This morning the graduate is finishing scraping and prepping the garage for a coat of paint. Going to milk him for all the free labor I can before he disappears and turns into a man.

Flash

The Graduate

Rehearsal this morning, commencement, tonight. I have seen the transcript but will not believe it till he is holding his diploma *laughing*

13 days till he embarks on his next journey in life as an Airman int he US Air Force.

Pics late tonight, or in the AM

Flash

Latest MN-Goober Poll

The latest picture in time . . . Looks like people are not happy with wallowing in mediocrity:

All three leading Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidates for governor hold firm leads over Republican endorsee Tom Emmer, a new statewide poll shows.

The poll also showed Gov. Tim Pawlenty's popularity has sunk to a new low.

Ole' Gov. TPaws sell out tour will have everlasting effects on his legacy. Its what happens when you live inthe now, rather than the tomorrow. The Gubanatorial numbers:

Among the three main DFL gubernatorial candidates, former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton has the biggest lead over Emmer, 40 percent to 28 percent.

House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, the DFL-endorsed candidate, led the GOP candidate, 38 percent to 28 percent.

Former House DFL Minority Leader Matt Entenza also topped Emmer, 34 percent to 27 percent.

Tom Horner, the Independence Party's endorsed candidate for governor, finished third in all three trial heats, receiving 17 percent to 19 percent of the vote.

Time for the Right Wing SmearisSphere to slime these numbers in 5 . . 4 . . 3 . . 2 . . 1 . . .

Flash

Cap n Gown

The future Airman is another step closer, he picked up his Cap and Gown yesterday. I think that is a sign he may actually pull this off *laughing*

Today is the last day of classes for Seniors, commencement is Wednesday evening. Countdown to boot camp deploy continues on track for June 22nd. I think both our worlds will change greatly at that time.

Graduation Assimilation

See Cartoons by Cartoon by Gary McCoy - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon

See Cartoons by Cartoon by Joe Heller - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon

9 days left

The countdown begins, and the next few weeks will be pretty hectic.

As one of the schools effected by the downsizing in St Paul, there is much to do. Fortunately we are moving, not closing, but it is still bag and tag boxes in preparation for the slide down Rice Street to the Arlington building.

My Air Force bound Senior is wrapping up his last week of school. Still on track, he has many countdowns going on, Friday is last day of classes, Next Wednesday is Commencement, a week and a half later is the Graduation party and Boot Camp send off. Then, on the 21st, he has his final de-Brief before spending his final afternoon with family and friends. He has a 9:00 Air Force Curfew that day, where he checks into the hotel with an early wake up call. The next morning they are hurried to the MEPS center for final orders, official swearing in, and then the flight to Lackland for 8 1/2 weeks of fun in the sun.

At that point, the week just begins. It will be a crazy month.

Flash