Good Morning, (3-14-00)

I know this letter is a little past due, I apologize.

School actually started last Monday, March the sixth. The first two or three days were filled with another completed flight physical, lectures and their parade of stars. Parade of stars? This is the welcome aboard and good luck speech from department heads, base Moral, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) and up through the school Commanding Officer (CO). Thursday morning we had to "test in." This was the Navy's Physical Readiness Training (PRT). Just one of the requirements to continue training. At the age of 40 I was able to meet the "test out" standards during my "test in." No, this doesn't mean I get to skip a couple weeks of exercise. This just means that the navy's numbers at 40 were easy to meet. Thursday they also introduced us to the term Stretch Set 2. Stretch Set 1 is just what it sounds like..... stretching. Stretch Set 2 is a ton of calisthenics. When you are finished even the 20 year olds are happy its over. Thursday afternoon were screen for our survival swim stroke test(actual test to be given Friday) and went to another pool to do 20 laps. Friday, pretty much just another Thursday, except to take the stroke test. Passed that. Saturday... laundry, rest and hit a couple yard sales. Walked around golf course looking for balls (no didn't play). Sunday went to sick call for cold that started with running nose on Friday. No sign of getting better, thought I did the right thing to take care of cold before getting worse. Good thing.... found couldn't salvo left ear. This gave me a "down chit" and rolled me back to the next class. Go to see the doc today for "up chit" and continue working out with others that were rolled (held) back. Whether I come up today or not, should be back up prior to next Monday to roll back in to the class. How do you like my temp screen name dapochiefnfla@aol.com? All words of advice are welcome.

Some my wonder why a chief at 15 years in the navy, and at the age of 40 would decide to go Aircrew? In the eighth grade I had a dream to become a pilot. One big stumbling block.... poor vision. Yes, there were other stumbling blocks.... those I will write in my next book titled "Plebe Summer, Plebe Year, Chief's Initiation, Naval Aircrew School at 40...Which Was Toughest?" Here was my last chance to get into the cockpit.... to become a C-9B Crew Chief. I think it is a realistic goal. Besides the first 15 years of my naval career have been fun and exciting and I plan on the next 15 to be just as fun and exciting. As the commercial says...

"So let the Journey Begin"

Sincerely,Randy Matty...Chief, Dad, ADC(AW) Matthiae

Just pick one..... it should fit.

-------------------------------------------------------------------- Hey crew.... everyone(3-15-00)

Yesterday went to see doc to get "Up-Chit". For you that don't know, an up-chit is the navy's way of making sure Aicrewman are fit to fly. As a student, allows me to train. One good thing about the trip to medical, they found I could not salvo (pop my ear) my left ear. Said I had a little wax build-up. You know the navy, they used collace(a stool softener) to loosen up the wax. I have been called shit for brains before. Well, it worked.... two green army men fell out.

Today it was back to Physical Training (PT). Yes, they tried to kill me. First the O-course (time good enough for end of school requirement/don't worry will still give 110% to show younger sailors good motivation), followed by a 2.5 mile fun, two sets of Stretch Set 2 and then another 2.5 mile run. The best part of the day was lunch. The afternoon more exercise and weight workout. My guess is two more days of this and join back up with class 21 on Monday. Besides making my school a week longer, this will give me more time to get fit and trim. Sometimes I feel like I am at one of those expensive fat farms. Hopefully this extra week I will be able to straighten out my fade.

Sincerely, Randy Matty Chief Dad ADC(AW) Matthiae

-------------------------------------------------------------------- To All(3-25-00)

Yes, I am still here. After a week of Administration hold, I was glad to get back into a class. This past week is traditionally called "Hell Week." PT in the mornings and swimming in the afternoons. The swimming was a lot of stoke tests with and without full flight gear on. I know treading water for five minutes sounds easy..... well, yes it is. Now put on full flight gear, (yes, with boots too) then tread water. I am glad those days are over. It sure did make five minutes seem like thirty. One day we had to jump from a 12 foot platform then swim underwater about 45 feet. Yes, with full flight gear (minus the helmet). All the hard workouts and swimming is for preparation of the mile swim on this coming Monday. Just a flight suit and thirty-six laps, no stopping, no rest, no touching the sides or bottom. No big deal....right. They give us 80 minutes to complete it. An hour and 20 minutes. That is an awful long time to swim. Most complete it 55-70 minutes. I will let you know my time Monday evening.

The entire third week is known as "Disney Week" because of all the rides.....

Monday-Ride of Boredom-the mile swim Tuesday-The Pressure Chamber(simulates altitude) Wednesday-Spin and Puke (lets you experience G-forces) Thursday-The Helicopter-dunker (simulates a helicopter flipping upside-down in water, then you have to get out, we get to ride this ride 4 times. Did I mention the last two times you are blindfolded) Friday- more PT

Keep you informed.....

Sincerely, Randy Matty Chief Dad ADC (AW) Matthiae

---------------------------------------------------------------------- Family, Friends and Shipmates (3-27-00)

Day One - Disney Week

Everyone is filled with anticipation of the "Mile Swim," Disney Week's first ride..... The Ride of Boredom. Is it a test of physical or mental toughness? 38 sailors donned the flight suit and 80 minutes later.... 34 sailors and one chief had completed this test. For me it was clearly a test of mental toughness. The weeks prior to today have been preparing us for the physical demand. The only test left was mental. Understanding this I knew I would complete the "Mile Swim."Thirty-eight sailors enter the pool split among five lanes. The rules were simple..... don't touch the ottom...sides... and complete thirty-six laps in under eighty minutes. A lap counter was sat in a desk at one end of the lane. As each sailor completed a lap they would sound out their number and the lap counter would track the laps and times. My plan was to side stoke the entire mile. The side stoke was my best survival stoke. With 9 sailors in my lane, lane congestion was going to occur. At least 10 times I would have to slow up a give way to a fellow shipmate. After the first nine laps I ask the counter to remind me when I was halfway and my time. Lap eighteen.....30 minutes 40 seconds. Lap....lap....lap.....lap... as I sounded my number to the counter I ask how many left? She said 14. I had reached a number that I felt like I could count down to zero. The laps actually started getting easier (at least they felt like that). 13...12...11..10... ... ... 5 ... I started speeding up ... 4.3.2.1 the last 50 yards I changed from side stroke to front craw.... I knew my goal of completing was going to be met. Now my goal was going to be faster than 60 minutes... at the age of 40 I just missed my second goal by 8 seconds... official time 60 min. 8 seconds.

Tomorrow's ride.... The Pressure Chamber.

Sincerely, Randy Matty Chief Dad

---------------------------------------------------------------------- Friends, Family and Shipmates,(3-28-00)

Day Two - Disney Week

Second day of Disney Week is over. The Pressure Chamber. Sounds simple enough. Get in the box with a flight helmet and O2 mask and see and experience hypoxia. Hypoxia is where due to altitude and pressure the body is not able to get enough oxygen to your brain. The hardest part was setting through the lectures and staying awake. Everyone had a station inside the box. We checked our regulators for proper operation.... check 4.0.... we were ready for the accent. Up to 5000 feet and back to 0. This was to check that everyone was able to pop their ears during the accent and able to salva on the way down. We lost 2 people during this..... after swimming a mile yesterday... guess some still had water in their heads. Then we acceded up to 25,000 feet and took off our masks and turned off the oxygen. At this altitude most people start seeing effects of hypoxia and can only be off oxygen for 5 minutes. We all took off our mask and started playing patty cake. Simple enough.... after a couple minutes people were laughing... some were missing hands ......then the finger tips, noses, lips and such started turning blue... a feeling of euphoria or being drunk ..... hypoxia ....lack of oxygen. As people started displaying signs they were told to put their masks back on. Me.... yes i went the longest. Everyone said it was due to being a chief..... the ability to think straight while being drunk.

Another part of our day we were strapped into a parachute harness and put on a set virtual reality glasses and experienced parachuting from our aircraft. Actually this is set up for people going to C-130's and P-3's. For the rest of us it was just a fun ride.

Tomorrow's ride "Spin and Puke".

Sincerely, Randy Matty Chief Dad

---------------------------------------------------------------------- Family, Friends and Shipmates:(3-29-00)

Day Three - Disney Week

The day started out four feet above a gravel bed to land on. We had to be able to demonstrate the correct way to fall when making a landing with our parachute on a land touchdown (tomorrow we will do a landings in water and practice tow and drag in the pool). After the jump, hit the deck and roll... we were off to the famous "Spin and Puke." Now after riding it, I would say it has the wrong name. It was not as bad as everyone builds it up to be. They put us in small cylinder type station fixed in an amusement park type ride. Once in, headphones on, throw-up bag tucked at the collar, the door shuts and we were off. With the room (and our cylinder in complete darkness) the ride starts moving around. We would be move, not move, twisted, have stars shown moving, not moving.... whatever to disorient us. It works. After a series of disorientation moves we would push buttons saying what direction we thought we were moving..... I never got it correct....no body else did either. This entire exercise was to let us see and experience spatial disorientation. It works..... although no one threw-up.

The afternoon brought more pool lectures and test. Today we had to don our full flight gear (flight suits, boots, gloves, helmet and SV2). An SV2 is an aircrewmans life jacket (inflatable) and comes packed with a lot of survival gear stowed and various pockets. After a couple practice stroke laps... we had to swim displaying our survival strokes (side and breast) the length twice and then tread water and survival float. This time was a little easier, we were able to take off our helmets and use them as a source of flotation. Then we got to do the box. The box? The box is metal tubular structure with a chair on top of it. The entire structure is underwater except for the chair which is just at water level. This is designed to prepare us for the Helo-dunker which we will do Thursday. The idea is when our aircraft goes under we will have to be able to get out safely. The first time through we just ducked down and pulled ourselves through the maze. The second time we sat in the chair, strapped in and readied for impact. The chair flips upside-down..... we have to find our reference point, release from the seat and then pull ourselves through the maze..... piece of cake. Third time is a charm... yes, blindfolded. Everything we do seems as though we have to do it blindfolded..... I guess we do fly at night and the ocean can have little visibility. This time we would have on blackened goggles, flip and get through the maze. Don't stop there..... once out of the maze we were able to pull down our goggles because now we would have to continue to swim half the pool length under water..... if not.... start over..... three tries... if you fail .... you get rolled back a week so you can receive extra instruction so you can master this emergency. It was my turn.... strap in the seat ... put on my blackened goggles ... prepare for impact is called ... my chair is flipped ... I release myself and start feeling my way through the maze ... yes I made it out ... now just swim half the pool length ... I made it .... no, the test is not over .... now use my survival strokes to reach the other end of the pool ... once there ... inflate my SV2 ... being that this was my first time inflating it ... and being winded from the swim ... it was a little harder than i thought ... i collected my thoughts .... piece of cake ... then float and answer questions about all the stuff in my SV2 ... piece of cake ... made it first try ... we all passed.

Tomorrow ..... Helo-dunker and CPR.

Sincerely, Randy Matty Chief Dad

---------------------------------------------------------------------- Family, Friends and Shipmates: Disney Week - Days 4 & 5(4-1-00)

Disney Week Day 4: Last day in the pool. Today would probably be my biggest test of mental toughness. We suited up once more in full flight gear (flight suit, boots, gloves and SV2). The first part of the day would be a series of stations that would allow us to simulate different phases of a parachute landing in the ocean. The first station the parachute dragger. We put on a parachute pack (less the parachute, all we needed was the harness), and hooked up to the dragger. Standing about eight feet above the pool we told the instructor our procedures from the initial jump out of the aircraft down to prior to water entry. We released all required straps, and jumped into the pool. The apparatus started dragging us down and back through the pool (simulating our parachute being caught by the wind). Now ... flip myself over so to be drug on my back through the water ... keep feet apart and set up to slow me down ... just release a couple more straps ... another flip ... twist ... hang on as the parachute and harness separate from me ... and I am free. Off to the next station the parachute land on top of me covering me completely. Put on another parachute pack (this time a complete parachute is attached but already released), the instructors have me go through the procedures again ... jump into the pool ... and the instructors have the parachute land over me completely. Once again ... flip ... twist ... turn ... start moving backwards out from under the canopy ... once out ensure that I am not tangled in any parachute lines ... off to the next station. The last station is actually two parts making a total of four. The first part of the Helo-hoist was to jump under the Helo-hoist apparatus. This thing was to simulate an ocean rescue by a helicopter. It had a shower and water spraying all around us as if we were in the ocean experiencing rotor wash. I entered the pool and started my rescue procedures ... the harness was lowered ... I could not touch the harness until it touched the water first to allow the release of static electricity ... swam to the cable ... hooked on ... gave the good to go thumbs up ... looked away from the cable and road to the top of the apparatus. The second part was to remove our SV2 and do the same simulation except to use the "strop" vice the cable hook. I entered the water ... did my splashes ... they lowered the strop ... I allowed it to touch the water ... I swam to it ... rolled into it ... hooked up ... thumbs up ... turned my head and enjoyed the ride up once more.

The Helo-dunker ... what a ride. The true test of mental toughness. The Helo-dunker simulates a helicopter ditching in the water. Since helicopters are top heavy, the apparatus simulates a helicoptor as it hits the water ... sinks then flips upside down just like a helicopter. So, strap yourself in and enjoy the ride ... right. We had to successfully complete 3 ditchings ... the first-out the main entrance, ... second-out the nearest exit, ... third-out the main entrance again. Sounds easy enough? I am sorry, I forgot to add some rules. One-you cannot release from you seat early ... you have to count to 12 once all motion stops (this means you are upside down in your seat before you release). Two-the second and third ditchings you wear blackened goggles (yes you are blind). Three-you have too open the simulated hatch by releasing the hatch handles. Any infraction of the rules and we would have to redo that ditching. Don't worry they had divers in the pool ensuring our safety. The first ditching ... seat four ... right beside the main entrance hatch ... piece of cake. I strap in ... the call is given ... brace for impact ... our Helo hits the water ... release the hatch ... one hand on my harness release ... the other on my reference point ...

(This reference point is the key to exiting the aircraft, not getting lost inside and going down with the aircraft / once the apparatus flips over ... right is now left ... left is now right ... so, we cannot think right left ... we think reference point ... where to next? )I told you this was our greatest test of mental toughness.

and take my last breath of air...count to 12 ... release ... exit the aircraft following my reference points. Piece of cake.

The second ditching (nearest exit) ... seat seven ... back left of the apparatus with a hatch right beside me ... piece of cake. I strap in ... the call is given ... lights out (yes, don the blackened goggles) ... brace for impact ... our Helo hits the water ... release the hatch ... one hand on my harness release ... the other on my reference point ... last breath of air ... flip ... count to 12 ... release ... exit the aircraft following my reference points ... piece of cake.The third ditching (main exit blindfolded ) ... seat eight ... back right of the apparatus on the same side of the main hatch ... a little harder (reference point, a couple seats, the exit main hatch) ... I strap in ... the call is given ... lights out (yes, don the blackened goggles) ... brace for impact ... our Helo hits the water ... release the hatch ... this time the simulation is it is jammed, we must go out the main hatch ... one hand on my harness release ... the other on my reference point ... last breath ... flip ... count to 12 ... release ... follow my reference point ... one seat ... two seats ... hatch ... no ....ran into pole at front of aircraft ... no panic ... still plenty of time with air ... I know there is the main hatch on one side ... a window on the other ... make a decision ... exit the aircraft ... as I surface I take off my goggles and see that all my shipmates are on the other side of the apparatus ... I must have made the wrong decision. Back to the do over group....Fourth ditching..... I and 5 others did not successfully complete one of our ditching. So as we approach the apparatus I am thinking ... seat four ... seat four ... seat four ... get it ... the easy seat. Not my luck ... my next seat rotation is seat two ... in the cockpit. Oh wonderful I am thinking ... now I have to exit the cockpit ... enter the back ... find that big pole and exit the aircraft. Wait a minute, I just found that pole and didn't get out the right exit that time. Ok, trust my reference points ... I strap in ... the call is given ... lights out (yes, don the blackened goggles) ... brace for impact ... our Helo hits the water ... take my last breath ... one hand on my harness release ... the other on my reference point at the cockpit door ... the aircraft flips, sinks and fills with water ...count to 12 ... release ... reference points ... cockpit door ... pole ... main hatch ... exit the aircraft with a big smile ... piece of cake. We didn't have any failures, although we had one aircrew candidate use all six ditchings to get three good ones.

The afternoon we had a first aid and CPR class.

Disney Week - Day 5: No rides today. First we stretched, followed by another PRT test. They like to test us periodically to check our improvement. Yes, I improved... 15 more sit-ups, 8 more push-ups and 45 seconds better on my 1.5 mile run. The rest of the morning we did two "stretch-set two level two," a short run, and a uniform inspection in dress blues. The afternoon we finished up with first aid and CPR tests and demonstrate CPR. Every aircrew candidate is CPR qualified before graduating.

One week left. Graduation on Thursday. Monday.... "Bay Ops," should be fun.

Sincerely, Randy Matty Chief Dad

---------------------------------------------------------------------- Family, Friends and Shipmates(4-5-99) Fourth Week-Monday "Helo-Ops"

Monday started out in typical navy school fashion ...2 hours of lecture. Today was not going to be just another simulation. No, today was going to be the real Macoy. We learned about different life-rafts, their contents, what aircraft we would find them on, and proper use. Once again we suited up in full flight gear and boarded a liberty launch. Twenty minutes later we on station in the bay beside NAS Pensacola. The base's SAR (Sea and Air Rescue) helicopter was there to aid in our training. We jumped from the launch about every 40-50 yards. The ocean water was cold. We got into the HELP position to help maintain our body heat. This more or less was to float with our LPU's, our arms tucked in front of us and keep our legs up also in front of us. This way we stayed on the surface and balled up to better maintain our body heat. We bobbed in the ocean like a string of blaze orange fishing bobbers (our flight helmets were painted blaze orange to aid the Helo in spotting us). As the Helo would pick up the Aircrewman out of the bay before me, I would begin my splashing (this would create a white foam on the ocean surface making my position more visible). The Helo would start lowering the previous Aircrewman ... I knew I was next. As the Helo came over the rotor wash and spray was far more intense than simulated in the pool simulation ... what a rush. They dropped the strop and cable hook, I allowed it to touch the water just as we simulated ... swam to the cable ... found the hook and attached it to me ... made sure that I was not wrapped in any cable ... my right are went around and below my inflated LPU ... looked left ... and gave a thumbs up with my left hand. I felt the tension on the cable ... I started to rise out of the bay ... what a ride ... within a few seconds ... 20 feet later ... I was on my way back down. The ride seemed short ... but what a ride. I released myself after entering the bay and back paddled staying focused on the Helo until out of the rotor wash. Within a few minutes another launch came by and picked me up. Another 45 minutes passes before everyone got their ride. Once we were all back in the launch we shared our experience with each other enjoying that excitement one more time. Back at the school house we continued with the next phase of a ditching ... the life-rafts. We separated into 3 groups ... moored(just a navy way of saying anchored to something) 3 rafts in the bay beside the school ... and continued the simulation. We jumped from the pier ... swam to our respective rafts ... me ... I was told to act injured ... I pretend as I was told ... yes, my shipmates came back after me! Once we were all safe in our rafts the instructor reviewed the proper procedures and chain of command in the rafts. Next came the lighting of the flares ... cool ... another rush ... we set off three different types of flares. Of course we had a test ... they had to make sure that over the last three weeks we had learned something besides the proper way to do a push-up.

Tuesday - Testing out

Sincerely, Randy Matty Dad Chief

---------------------------------------------------------------------- Family, Friends and Shipmates(4-5-00) Fourth Week-Tuesday-PST Out

The first thing upon arrival at aircrew school was to complete the navy's PRT (setups, push-ups and 1.5 mile run). Everyone had to pass a minimum score. Then during the course of our training we were retested monitoring our improvement. Today would be our last test of the PRT. My goal ... not to be the lowest numbers ... even at 40 still wanted to be better than the 20 year olds ... second goal run 1.5 mile faster than 11:30. I hadn't ran that fast in over 5 years. We did our stretch routine ... got our partner and started pumping out our sit-ups and pushups ... overall ... increased 21 sit-ups, 11 push-ups and yes ... the first goal I wasn't lowest ... second I out ran 7 other Aircrewman ... third goal ... 11:19 I was all smiles.

Wednesday .... Tom Cruise Day

Sincerely, Dad Randy Matty Chief

---------------------------------------------------------------------- Family, Friends and Shipmates,(4-5-00)

Week Four-Wednesday-Tom Cruise Day

The day we became "Maverick." The moment we became Tom Cruise ... the ultimate reason we became a Naval Aircrewman ... the issue of our "Leather Flight Jackets." Our day began with a bus ride to Aircrewman Initial Issue. There we were fitted and tried on our new flight gear. It was a sign that our metamorphosis was almost complete. From there we went to the Obstacle Course for test out. We lined up for that last 600 yards of hell. The best part was knowing that this would be that last 600 yards.

Tomorrow ... another fun run and graduation.

Sincerely, Dad Randy Matty Chief

---------------------------------------------------------------------- Family, Friends and Shipmates,(4-7-00)

Week Four-Day Four-Graduation Day

Did you really think that we would graduate without a little exercise in our day? No, we marched to the gym where once again we stretched out so that the three sailors that had missed the PRT out yesterday due to having to go to medical would have their chance to perform the "PST-Out." Since we were a team ... yes we got to do it again right along with them to give good motivation. All three passed.

Graduation practice followed. Lunch ... they always ensure we eat. Remember ... the body needs fuel. Graduation ... the sailors in whites, the marines in the dress uniform. It doesn't matter ... you can take the biggest dirtball(today there were no dirtballs) ... put him in that marine uniform and they always look sharp. We were polished and all smiles. Our mission was completed. Mile swim ... Helo-dunker ... Bay Ops ... we had met all our challenges ... not just finished ... we had excelled at our own personnel levels.

This will be my last e-mail from sunny P-cola. If you want to write later I will be on my CompuServe address ... "adcawnac@cs.com", this is my last time as "dapochiefnfla". Da po chief n fla is now an Aircrewman in training. Friday is check-out day and my journey begins. Not just back to VR-56 ... but a new journey as an Aircrewman.

I would like to thank...

Those who wrote back. My instructors SSgt Cantrell & AW2 Simpson for the motivation and professionalism. Never once did they forget that I was a chief. My command for their support. My chief detailer releasing me. My aircrew detailer for accepting me. My wife for her support, commitment, devotion and love. The six weeks that I was gone she too had her tests. She too passed. I'll be home soon.

Sincerely, Randy Dad Matty Chief Hope you enjoy the ride... Let the journey begin