The Hills' Adventures: Mike's commissioning

Friday, September 18, 2009

Mike's commissioning

Mike says the reason his eyes are glowing in this picture is because he is part of a top-secret experiment in the army heading up laser-vision. One of the pins stuck him and he almost melted the podium.
On Sunday, Mike was commissioned an Officer and 2ND Lieutenant in the US Army (Idaho Army National Guard). It was a very special day.

His dad, Boyd Hill, was in the Guard many years ago. He was a Sergeant First Class. There is a tradition, when you become an Officer, that you need to buy your first salute, but after that you have to earn them with good performance. Mike's dad gave Mike his first salute and Mike then gave his dad a silver dollar. It was a sweet experience for the two of them. Some tears on dad's part, but only I got to witness that.

Before his 1st salute, I had the privilege of pinning one of the gold bars on his shoulder along with the General. It was really cool!

(We thought it was best to leave Natalie in the loving arms of a friend for this adventure, but we are sorry she is absent from this picture.)

I want to put in a note of thanks to everyone who has supported and served us through this adventurous journey. (I want to name you all but that would make this post too long, but I do have to mention Melanie for taking these pictures and taking charge of my children.)

3 comments:

Jilene said...: hey cassie. i found your blog. yeah. ours is private, so if you want to see it, just send your email address to mjmlray@gmail.com and i'll let you in. you are so gorgeous!; September 24, 2009 at 8:32 PM
Nicole said...: Such a cool post. Congrats Mike. Wish I could have been there!; October 1, 2009 at 9:38 PM
The Evans Family said...: It was a wonderful day! I'm glad I could help! You guys are the greatest!; October 5, 2009 at 12:06 PM

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FROM THE MOUTHS OF BABES

"Work is no fun." Jake 9 years

"Candy." Natalie 22 months

"Oh mom, could you change her diaper somewhere else, it's making this taste disgusting." Dallas 7 years

"I know the answers to everything!" Katie 5 years

"The prophet says if you don't spend time with your kids, you'll regret it." Jake 8 years

"Mom, I wished you lived on Jupiter."
"Dad made me change my mind."
"What do you want to do before you die?"
"Mom, I dropped my hot wheels in the toilet." Dallas 6 years

"Come on husband, you need to read our daughter a story...I'll do it myself."
"When will you be able to go? I'm exhausted with you."Katie 4 years

"Dad, Mom lets us get one choice. You just get us what we need." Katie (4) and Dallas (6)to dad at the store

"No", "Toe", "Nose", "Hi mom" "Hi Dad" "a-da-no?" Natalie 19 months

DREAMS DO COME TRUE--Mike's New Job

Mike was recently selected to fly AH-64 Apache attack helicopters for the Idaho National Guard! We'll be in Alabama for flight school for two years, then back to Idaho where he'll be a part-time Apache pilot(this video is from the Utah Guard, but you get the idea).

[Mike] I recently embarked on a great adventure. My whole life I’ve been fascinated with military aviation. As a kid I could name any jet or chopper flying. I studied them, built models of them, drew them. But I never pursued my dream of flying because I didn’t think life in the military would suit me and my future family, and I thought that passion was something I'd grow out of. So I chose a career I considered more practical. In my 20s, though, I began regretting not taking that path. That regret grew worse and worse.

Long story short, in the fall of 2008 I put it all on the line and finally went for it. I joined the Army National Guard here in my home town, with the long-shot hope of flying the AH-64 Apache helicopter (the best attack helicopter in the world). The training just to be considered was tough and required quite a commitment: nine weeks of Basic Training, 8 weeks of Officer Candidate School, academic and physical tests, a 6-year commitment regardless of the outcome, plus the preparation on my own time. All that, just to qualify to go before a "flight board" that selects future pilots. The field is very competitive, but failure was not an option—given the wars we’re fighting, I didn’t want to be in the Army, stuck on the ground. I had to succeed.

By some miracle, everything lined up perfectly and I was selected for flight school, despite my lack of experience and prior service, and despite being 3 years over the age limit (I got an age waiver).

In the spring of '10 my family and I moved to Fort Rucker, Alabama for two years of flight training, after which I’ll come back home to Idaho and be a part-time pilot. I’m so excited I can hardly stand it. Getting selected to serve my country, flying the world's best attack helicopter, based right in my home town, is incredible. It still blows me away.

I have the best wife in the world for supporting me in this adventure. She initially told me to do something about this ache in late summer of '08. She encouraged me every step of the way, even while I was gone for months on end, leaving her to manage the home, business, and take care of our babies. And Army pay is not good, especially considering my life may someday be on the line in Afghanistan, Iraq or who-knows-where-else. Thank you, thank you, Cass, for all you are to me.

We may not have it all together...But together we have it all.

Friday, September 18, 2009

Mike's commissioning

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DREAMS DO COME TRUE--Mike's New Job