Staff selection for us began four months prior to encampment with boards. April melted into late April and on a paticularly cloudy grey afternoon, the Encampment CC called.

It went something like this:
Capt Imbriale: "Hello, is Cadet Bemis there? This is Captain Imbriale."
Dad: "Yes, hold on one moment. JOSH!"
Me: (After running to my Dad) "Yes?"
Dad: "A...Captain Imbriale on the phone for you..."
Me: (Into phone) "Yes, Sir, Cadet Bemis..."
Capt Imbriale: "Hello Sergeant, we would like to know if you are still interested in the position of flight sergeant at encampment."
Me: (Hyperventilating) "Yes, Sir!"

I got exactly what I wanted, Flight sergeant. Yippe Ki Yay! I was added to the staff and the staff mailing list.

Staff Training weekend began on the June 26th at the Rhode Island Airshow. Arriving was an out of body experience; I had no clue what to do. In fact, I wasn't assigned to a flight until the next day. So, after a fun and nearly sleepless night, I woke up tired, cleaned up my campsite (we bivouaced) and I was ready for some chow. At opening formation, I was assigned to Charlie flight. 'Okay, cool.' So I reported, and things were kosher. At least, until I got to the entrance of the chow hall. Our squadron first sergeant was the grouchiest person I have ever met. It didnt help one bit that morning when walking into chow hall, I was 'randomly' selected for a personal greeting from her and the other staff. That was horrific. By the time I made it inside, I was a broken and bitter shell of a Cadet. But then I got food, and the sun came up on my life again.

After chow, we went to the training area where my flight assigment was changed to Foxtrot flight. Now, Foxtrot had the best Flight commander ever: C/SMSgt Grudgeon. We made a spectacular team, which made it a spectacular day. We worked so well together, that our flight completed the missing cadet exercise in the shortest amount of time. When staff gave us the news was the best moment of the day.

With staff traning weekend over, encampment was only a month away.

July 28th finally arrived, the moment we had all been waiting for, and all of us on staff arrived at Camp Edwards. By this time, I was assigned Bravo flight and was given a roster of my Cadets. After a briefing by our squadron commander (which was the last time he was ever congenial toward any of us on staff) we bunked down for the night. Tommorow was going to be a big day.