This is it. The end. The end of three long months of

training, trials and tribulations. This group, the 14 of us that

make up Flight 3-12, have been through quite a bit during our time at the Officer Training School’s Basic Officer Training program. We arrived here on March 1, 2011, not knowing each other or what to expect and will leave here on May

27, 2011 as a group of friends, as colleagues and most importantly as second lieutenants.

14 in, 14 out.When our journey began we

were all a bit anxious, nervous and scarred about what was going to happen. Our upper-class was hard on us, constantly yelling at us every minute of every day. Supermans, drill, the DFAC, the OTSMAN, the Talon, opening and closing

procedures were among the many new procedures we had to become familiar with in a very short amount of time.

One of the more taxing aspects of those first two weeks was the need to constantly memorize new information. We were constantly pressured to learn quotes, songs, articles and mission statements. We would then have to recite everything

And The Tigers Go Marching OnIssue 12 - Volume 1May 23-27

Class 11-05 poses for a group photo in their spirit gear after the Mini-Mac and Flickerball competitions..

Page 1 Tigers Lead the Way! Volume 1 Issue 12

by OT Capt. David Murphy

continued on page 2

OT Focus: Ramon Underwood

Page 2 Tigers Lead the Way Volume 1 Issue 12

And the Tigers Go Marching On, Cont.

we memorized, loudly and with confidence. The pressure and hardships reached their apex

when we were put to the test during the triple-threat. Thankfully we all made it through that night of yelling, running and pressure and got to enjoy our first Commander’s Call. We then learned about a new set of rules, procedures and protocols, but luckily they were one’s which were decidedly more fun.

Things like “There I was,” “get in the box,” “The tigers go marching three by three,” and of course the Tiger Chant were all new elements which would be added to our lives as we took on the role of 4th Class. After that the weeks flew by. Before we knew it we were giving blood, attending BELPS, taking on the confidence course and qualifying with the M-9.

One morning we found ourselves running all over base, checking out the different planes, learning about their history and then, at the end of the run, we received our Prop and Wings. Additionally, we also received out 3rd class status. With this new status came the ability to leave OTS Complex and explore Maxwell AFB. The first place the majority of the class went that first weekend was the Base Exchange where they go their first taste of something other than DFAC since beginning OTS.

Time continued to move forward as our upper-class

went on to AEF and we were given the keys to the Wing for a short time. Once the upper-class returned we were once again thrust into preparing for their graduation and taking on their jobs. Furthermore, we still had to attend classes, study, complete CWTs, SPTs and get our pennant. It was a hectic few weeks getting our upper-class out of OTS and on with their lives, but we made it, and could finally relax…for about 5 minutes.

Soon we had our own lower-class upon us. Less than a week after the departure of our upper-class we now had a responsibility to some 44 new OTs. While raising this new batch of potential officers we also had to complete our advocacy briefs, take our PFA, complete CWT 3 and attend AEF among other things.

Now we are in our last week. Our jobs have been handed down and the lower class now has control of the Wing. We can finally, truly, kind of relax, a little bit.

But as we near the end, and reflect on what we have accomplished, it’s amazing to think of just how far we’ve come over this three month period. As the creator of the Tiger Strike I’m glad I was there, not only take part in those activities, but also document them for my flight. I think what we’ve accomplished, and we will carry the bonds we’ve created here for the rest of our lives.

Carry on Tigers!

I was born and raised in Selma, Alabama which is about 60 miles

west of Maxwell AFB. I attended the University of Alabama-Tuscaloosa where I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. I’m married to an awesome woman and we have a beautiful 2 year-old daughter. On my downtime I love to play golf, grill, play the piano.

My first assignment is to Wright-Patterson AFB where I will be apart of the National Air & Space Intelligence Center squadron as a Developmental Engineer. I’ve heard great things about this base and squadron and I’m looking forward to the new

profession.Through all the hard times we’ve

had here at OTS I have to say that there’s no other place that I would have rather been. The experience has been like no other and if need be I would do it all over again. I have been apart of the best squadron in the wing and also the best flight (definitely being biased)! These guys have been amazing and I’m glad to have shared this experience with them. We said when we started with 14 in the flight that we would end with 14... We kept our word and that is how we are going to commission, as a full flight! HUA!

continued from page 1

“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.”- Abraham Lincoln

Monday - Drill Competition

Parade PracticeVirtual Staff Ride

Community ServiceEnvironmental Awareness

Tuesday - Parade Practice

Student Squadron AwardsSenior Officer Perspective

Oath of OfficeOTS CMDT End of Course

FeedbackSign DITY PaperworkSexual Assault Survey

WednesdayParade Practice

Student Squadron AwardsCommissioning PracticeWing Awards Dry Run

ThursdaySpouses Orientation

Records Distro Support/Turn-inOTS Open House

Wing Awards CeremonyRetreat Ceremony

Dining Out

FridayCommissioning Ceremony

OTS Commandants ReceptionGraduation Parade

THAT’S IT!

Page 3May 23-27 The Tiger Strike - Flight 3-12

Events this Week

Birthdays

OT Erwin’s Wife - 24 May

Personal Events

The Intel Brief: Heavy storms maul Midwest, leaving deaths, injuries, destruction

By the CNN Wire StaffA tornado flattened buildings, snapped

trees and tossed tractor-trailers like toys as it touched down in Joplin, Missouri, on Sunday night, causing an unknown number of deaths and injuries.

“I would say 75% of the town is virtually gone,” said Kathy Dennis of the American Red Cross.

The twister was part of a line of severe weather that swept across the Midwest on Sunday, prompting tornado watches and warnings that stretched from Wisconsin to Texas. High winds and possible tornadoes struck Minneapolis and other parts of Minnesota, leaving at least one person dead and injuring nearly two dozen others, police said.

Witness: “Lots of overturned trees” Hospital damaged

Authorities in Joplin were contending with multiple reports of people trapped, as well as significant structural damage to St. John’s Regional Medical Center, which was hit directly by the tornado, city officials said. CNN affiliate KSHB said there were reports of fires throughout the hospital.

One facade of the building made of glass was completely blown out, and authorities were evacuating the medical center, said Ray Foreman, a meteorologist with KODE in Joplin. Makeshift triage centers were being set up in tents outside, witness Bethany Scutti said.

Missouri governor: “Total devastation” Residents 70 miles away from Joplin

in Dade County, Missouri, were finding X-rays from St. John’s in their driveways, said Foreman, indicating the size and power of the twister.

Parts of the city were unrecognizable,

according to Steve Polley, a storm chaser from Kansas City, Missouri, who described the damage as “complete devastation.”

The tornado, which touched down just before 6 p.m. CDT, cut a path of destruction through the heart of the city, hitting heavily populated areas, Foreman said.

“We’ve had numerous vehicles picked up and thrown into houses,” he said.

At least seven overturned tractor-trailers were seen on one stretch of Interstate 44 west of the city, said Michael Ratliff, who has been chasing storms for eight years. Ratliff said the possible tornado was “rain wrapped,” making it impossible to see as it tore what he estimated to be a half-mile to three-quarter-mile path of damage.

Officials did not know how many were injured. Witnesses reported seeing some of the wounded being ferried to hospitals in the backs of pickup trucks as first responders struggled to handle the overwhelming destruction.

Lynn Ostot, the spokeswoman for the city of Joplin, confirmed “some fatalities,” but did not have an exact number.

The Joplin mayor has declared a local disaster, and the Missouri National Guard was activated by Gov. Jay Nixon.

“These storms have caused extensive damage across Missouri, and they continue to pose significant risk to lives and property,” Nixon said in a statement. “As a state, we are deploying every agency and resource available to keep Missouri families safe, search for the missing, provide emergency medical care, and begin to recover.”

Page 4 Tigers Lead the Way Volume 1 Issue 11

Enlisted Heritage Hall Visitby OT 1st Lt. Jacob Erwin

Flight 3-12, along with the rest of class 11-05, travelled to the Enlisted Heritage Hall located over at Maxwell-Gunter Annex. We visited the Enlisted Heritage Hall to see all the amazing things that the enlisted corps of the US Air Force has accomplished since the beginning of military flight. We saw how military flight began with ballooning and the first Army enlisted pilot was Corporal Vernon Burge. There was also a section about the enlisted pilots of WWII that flew nearly every type of aircraft during WWII. We learned that the rank of Third Lieutenant came from enlisted pilots that

received their “blue pickle” insignia upon graduation from training and were to be treated as Third Lieutenants. This rank was created to give the enlisted fliers the authority and respect of commissioned officers without the academic background normally required for commissioning. In the hall there was also a display of all the enlisted members that have received the Medal of Honor. One of the most realistic and emotionally moving exhibits was the replica Vietnam prisoner of war cell.

The prisoner of war cell was one of many exhibits that showed how much the enlisted corps have sacrificed for

their country in the name of the US Air Force. One of the last exhibits in the Heritage Hall was a wall of pictures of former enlisted members that have gone on to achieve fame in civilian careers or attained stars in the military services.

This “Wall of Achievers” included Johnny Cash, Chuck Norris, and President George W. Bush among many others. The time at the Enlisted Heritage Hall was a good experience to put in perspective how much the enlisted corps of the US Air Force has sacrificed for our country and all the great contributions they have made to our country as well.

An OT reads about different Medal of Honor recipients. Mr. Hoot Gibson introduced the museum to the OTs and helped answer questions.

OTs walk around the grounds surrounding the museum. OTs observe the UAV exhibit.

Page 5May 16-22 The Tiger Strike - Flight 3-12

Tuskegee NHS Visitby OT 1st Lt. Drew Browne

When arriving at Moton Field, my first impression was that it was just another general aviation airport. But after entering the museum I was immediately taken back to the early 1940’s. I was impressed with the World War II-era military flight training planes and the many artifacts on display. Some desks even displayed old cigarettes and matches from the 1940’s.

I also learned that over 16,000 men and women made up the Tuskegee experience. As an African American It was amazing to see where these men paved the way for people like me to

fly for the United States Air Force. I hope to return their on Memorial Day weekend to meet some of the actual Tuskegee airmen.

OTs Maj. Travis Griffitt and Justin Davis in the War Room.

OTs check out the engine on one of the old planes used during the training.

OT 1st Lt. Cristi Jordon reads about one of the exhibits.

OT Col. Ellis Moser reading an exhibit.

Page 6 Tigers Lead the Way Volume 1 Issue 12

Mini-Mac/Flickerball

The Tigers came out to win on Friday, May 20, 2011. Tigers, and the rest of class 11-05, took part in one of the last competitions at OTS, the Mini-Mac. This competition pits the flights against each other in a number of different exercises. These exercises included an eight by four relay race, push-ups, sit-up and pull-ups. The results of the event were not made public, but will be factored

OT Capt. David Murphy performs sit-ups.

OT Maj. Thomas Cheney stretches out before his event.

OT 1st Lt. Nathan Raubenolt performs push-ups during his portion of the event.

OT Capt. Logan Ziegler and OT Capt. Ben Struebing were the first participants in the relay race.

Page 7May 23-27 The Tiger Strike - Flight 3-12

Mini-Mac/Flickerball

into the honor squadron scores. Following the Mini-mac was a

friendly game of Flickerball between the students of Class 11-05 and the OTS staff. Both teams out with passion but only one team could prevail. At the end of four quarters that team was the students of Class 11-05 who finished the game with a score of 14-8. Better luck next time OTS Staff !

by OT Capt. David J. Murphy

OT Capt. Logan Ziegler and OT Capt. Ben Struebing were the first participants in the relay race.

OT 1st Lt. Ramon Underwood performs pull-up as part of his portion of the event.

OT Col. Joseph Camp throws a ball past an OTS staff member during the flickerball game.