Congratulations Clark!

[moose135]

Well, it looks like it's all over in Colorado Springs, and our favorite Zoomie is now one of the newest 2nd Lieutenants in the USAF! Congratulations, Clark, that is quite an accomplishment. I'm sure you will uphold the fine tradition of the many Air Force members who have come before you. Make us proud!

High Flight
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee
No 412 squadron, RCAF

[T-Bird76]

WOW Congrats Clark outstanding!

[USAF Pilot 07]

Ah shucks :oops: , thanks a lot fellas, it really means a lot to me!

These four years have been some of the hardest but most enjoyable (in a weird kind of way) years of my life. While the Academy was tough and while life "sucked" a lot of the time, I am really blessed to have had the opportunity to attend and graduate from this kind of an institution. It still really hasn't sunk in yet that I'm done with the Academy and that it's on to "big and better" things in the "real" Air Force here in a few weeks!

Although there are many things I will definately not miss at the Academy, the realization that I won't see many of my good friends, or that I won't be living right next door to them is starting to sink in, and that's the part I will miss the most, and the hardest part about leaving....

I must say though, this still all doesn't all seem real. I'm so used to the same thing, different flavor type deal day-in and day-out, that the realization that I'm not coming back here, at least for a while, and that I am a college graduate is so surreal. It kind of hit today when the Commandant said the whole "Class of 2007 you are Dismissed" thing, and we all threw our hats up as the Thunderbirds roared by (I cannot descibe the feeling, but it was one of the best I've had in my LIFE!), but I think it will really start to hit sometime this summer when I start to realize that I'm going to be reporting in to a new base, and not going back to the Academy.

We had individual squadron commissionings last night (there are like 23 "firsties" (seniors) in my squadron) and graduation was this morning. Both were really really amazing ceremonies, and I will remember them for the rest of my life.

My folks and friends took a ton of pics, so I'll post some when I get them...

As for after the Academy, I get 60 days of paid leave, so I'm driving back to NYC tomorrow, then headed to Europe with some friends for about two weeks, headed to a friends wedding in Michigan in July, maybe out to Vegas for a little and the rest of the time I'll be home in New York. Then in early August I start at McGuire AFB in Jersey (I'm living with some friends in Freehold), and then next September (Sept of 2008) it's down to Laughlin AFB in the DRT for pilot training!

Anyway, thanks again for the congrats and all! It's been a long, but incredibly fast four years, with many up and downs. So thanks again!

[PhilDernerJr]

Congrats, bro. Really proud of you. I remember back when you were you in your early teens and we were hanging out, discovering the dock and stuff. Few weeks ago I was lucky enough to get to see you in COS and have a beer with you.

Good luck in the USAF. Keep us posted on how it all goes.

[mirrodie]

Much congratulations! That is just great, Cherish this moment and those words!

COngratulations from all of us at the hacienda ;)

[USAF Pilot 07]

Thanks again everyone for the congrats! I hope to see many of you around this summer and in the next year, as I'll be in the area a lot!

[Nick]

Congrats and blue skies for ya! Maybe I'll seeya 'round one of these days. ;)

[USAF Pilot 07]

Ok, so I finally got some pics uploaded.. Here are just a few of them:

My Graduating Class (there's 977 of us there):


Thunderbird Flyover right as we graduate:


Yours truly being commissioned:


In my Parade Dress in front of the Chapel:


My squadron after commissioning:


Picture of the Chapel:


Picture of our class' crest:


My roomie and I after our graduation parade (before being commissioned):


Thunderbirds Airshow:

[GrummanFan]

That Thunderbirds/Hat tossing shot is simply amazing. Fantastic!

[wunaladreamin]

Great pics and many congrats!

[Matt Molnar]

Many congrats, Clark. Now that you're a pilot, you need to change your nickname to whatever you have planned next. NASA Shuttle Commander 15?

[PhilDernerJr]

I'd hit it.

Congrats man. Great shots.

I usually don't allow the changing of usernames, but maybe I'd make an exception if you really did want to modify yours.

[Mellyrose]

Wow, that Thunderbird photo is insane! Looks like something out of a catalog for the school, lol.

Congrats! :)

[USAF Pilot 07]

I'd hit it.

I won't tell if you don't....

I'm no pilot yet... I still got a year of casual and then it's off to the dirt for pilot training for a year, so I think I'll just leave my username the way it is (unless you let me change it to "Phil D.'s secret admirer" lol)

As for the Thunderbird photo... Well it wasn't actually taken by me (although the rest are either taken by me or by my fam), I'm somewhere in that crowd in the 3rd row. What a feeling though, one I can't explain and that I don't think anyone who's not an Academy grad can relate to, but it's something I've never felt in my life... pure bliss...

Oh and at least the photo turned out well. Everything is somewhat scripted. After the last graduate gets his/her diploma and walks off stage, the Commandant gets up, and administers the Oath of Office to the whole class. After that, the Air Force Song is played, and then the Commandant says something to the extent of "Class of 2007 you are dismissed" after which the hats go up and the Thunderbirds are supposed to fly over right as they go up. Well, last year the Comm was a little slow on the whole "Class of 2006 you are dismissed" part, and the Thunderbirds flew over a little early - i.e. before she was done and before the hats went up (although I'm sure no one in the class of 2006 really minded much).

I'm sure they'll use the photo somewhere in a catalog or something... It sure wouldn't be the first time they've done it... But it truly is a huge thing to make it 4 years at that place and then have the T-birds fly over as you graduate along with your whole class. We started out with about 1,400 in my class as we entered basic training (4 years ago) and ended up graduating with 977.

Thanks again to everyone for the congrats! I'm thinking about getting started on my masters sometime probably in the Spring, since Fall semester is kind of out already, and since I just want to relax and take a break from school for a little... But with pilot training starting next September, I dunno. I guess I'll just take it as it comes..

[hiss srq]

Congrats to you and fufilling a landmark in your life.