COT Experience

I asked Josh how his experience has been while at COT (Commissioned Officer's Training).  The ideal for the training was based on the premise that every nation rises and falls on the moral character of the leadership.  Phase 1- Indoctrination.  The idea in this phase is to put the officers through strain and stress and to see how they deal with this.  Josh experienced a lot of yelling, marching, and drilling.  This was a hard phase filled with lack of sleep and little communication with home. Phase 2- Development.  This phase focused on leadership and fundamentals of the Air Force.  He had a lot of classes and written tests about the history, and policies and procedures of the military.  Phase 3- Application.  They practiced their leadership and communication skills in this phase.  This is where the officers were told where they were struggling so that they could improve.  They participated in preparing and executing a presentation, challenge courses with their flights, and a tent hospital to feel some of the situations they may be put in when deployed.  Phase 4: Transition.  The officers learned how to take what they have worked on during training and apply it to their first duty station.  They were briefed about the operational Air Force and deployments.  Josh has come home feeling tired but successful in completing this first part of his new career.

Josh's flight was highly encouraged to perform spirit missions.  They stole and dressed up "Princess Fiona" in the middle of the night.

Josh mentioned that a lot of people had questions about the LDS Church. He was able to share things that we believe in.  He attended the local ward with eight other trainees weekly.  It was a small with two sets of full time missionaries and one former military missionary couple.  They were encouraged to participate in giving prayers, helping with the sacrament, and teach a lesson if desired.