Passed!

A little bird just told me that my name has appeared on the flight manifest for October 11th. This means that I passed! I have successfully completed the PQ (physical qualification) screening process. Everyone that deploys to the ice must first complete a comprehensive PQ screening to ensure medical emergencies are averted. The following is my condensed story.

After verbally accepting the position, the process started with a drug test that I needed to submit in Springfield Vermont. I called Lab Corp (the contract lab facility) and told them what I needed done and they informed me that it was a “walk in” clinic and to stop by anytime. I took a long lunch at work one day and headed down. After showing up at their facility they informed me that I would need to come back the following week and arrive before noon. I was very upset that I had been misinformed and wasted two hours of my day, but the following week I successfully completed the drug screen.

Step two was getting all the information for the rest of the PQ off the internet. This was the first year Raytheon Polar Services Company (RPSC) did it entirely online and the instructions were less than perfect. The confusion first started when the instructions informed me to send the pink papers to DSG and the blue papers to HR… but I had printed them all off on plain white paper. The instructions where carry over from the hard copy days. I think I did fairly well with the paperwork but had some issues with pages getting stuck together going through the fax and forms going to the wrong departments.

Next I scheduled my doctor’s appointment as I wrote about in a previous post. When I received the bill from DHMC they did not apply my insurance and the bill came to $850. I was able to get that straightened out with a simple phone call. However when I called RPSC medical department in the beginning of August I found out that my doctors information had not yet been received. I called the hospital again and sure enough, my file was sitting on their desk. I got that faxed out only to receive an email from RPSC informing me that they didn’t have a release form (that I faxed to a different department) and a RPR blood test. I called DHMC to reschedule the RPR asap. I later found out that this is a test for antibodies caused from Syphilis and was a little embarrassing when they cute phlebotomist was drawing my blood. The good news is that I am now immune to the affects of needles and I don’t even get light headed. By the end of it, I got to know Gloria, the receptionist in the Occupational Medicine department, very well (thank you Gloria). Now I just hope they charge it correctly to my insurance.

The dental aspect went well except my dentist was on vacation and a new hygienist did the paperwork. It is also note worthy to mention the dental office is under construction and has a new x-ray machine with a few bugs in it. The hygienist had to “zap” me a few extra times and was still unable to get the fourth picture. I thought for sure I was going to have to go back.

After that whole saga, the PQ process is complete and I am now cleared to deploy to the ice. Next steps include finishing moving my stuff to Swanton and giving my notice at work. Stay tuned as I continue to prepare for my trip to the ice. Don't forget to sign the guest book!

Book #3 (Ice Bound)

A touching tale of a doctor's incredible battle for survival at the south pole. When I read the back cover of this book I really didn't think it was going to be the type of book that captured my attention. However, on Amber's advice, it was put on my book list to read. I remember a few years back watching the Discovery Channel's reenactment of this story and this is what first got me interested in the icy continent. I don't want to get too sappy but by the end of the story I did have a few tears drop from my eye.

Ice Bound is an inspirational story about Dr. Jerri Nielsen and the heroic early season evacuation from the south pole. Dr. Nielsen was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly after the south pole station closed for the winter. While the station is closed there were still about 40 crew members that stay through the winter to keep things running until planes could land again in October. In mid winter (July) temperatures at the south pole reach below -100F in the eternal darkness. Most machines can not operate at this temperature because hydraulic lines break and fuel turns to jello making an evacuation impossible.

A good portion of the book contains copies of emails sent to and from Dr. Nielsen capturing the "true" mood of the events that took place. Having lost my Mom to breast cancer, this book had a little more meaning to it than the others I have read and I could better grasp the fearful emotions. This book is a must read for any adventurer whether it be moving to the south pole or helping a loved one with an illness. The book starts off a little slow but once you reach the half way point you will feel that you are right there trying to survive with Dr. Nielsen.

Book #2 (Mawson's Will)

This is truly a great adventure/ survival story. Mawson's Will, by Lennard Bickel, tells the tale of the Australian explorer, Douglas Mawson, and his fight for survival. If you liked the story about the rugby team stuck in the Andes, then I am sure you will find this book exciting. The following is what the author has to say about the tale.

Setting out with two companions and two teams of dogs, Mawson encountered daunting mountains, crevasse-filled glaciers, and sixty-mile-per-hour winds. Six weeks and 320 miles into the journey, one of his fellow explorers and a team of dogs disappeared into a "bottomless" crevasse, along with the tent, most of the equipment, and all but a week's supply of food. After losing his second companion and the remaining dogs, Mawson fought his way back from what seemed inescapable death, enduring blistering winds, snow, and cold, thirst, starvation, disease, and snowblindness.

Lennard Bickel is also the author of Shackleton's Forgotten Men which I picked up today and will add to my reading list (after reading Harry Potter). I strongly recommend this book and anyone who reads it will surely remember to take their vitamins.

Book #1 (Big Dead Place)

The first book that I read was called Big Dead Place by Nicholas Johnson. This is a great story about what life is like in Antarctica. This book does cover some of the interesting journeys of the first explores, but the main topic covers what life is like in Antarctica today. The struggle today mostly takes place at McMurdo Station where I will be headed. The reader quickly learns about the author's struggle with authority. Bureaucratic organizations such as the NSF (National Science Foundation) and RPSC (Raytheon Polar Services Corporation) have left the author bitter and I came away with the feeling that the book was published as a form of revenge.

To get a taste for the book I would recommend going to www.bigdeadplace.com. Here you will learn a lot about the NSF, RPSC, and life in the Antarctic. Currently my friend Amber is borrowing the book but it is up for grabs when she is done. This book is not intended for the sensitive person as there are some crude stories told.

A Trip To DHMC

Today I made my way over to DHMC to start the PQ process. I have to say I thought it was going to be a lot worst. They did all the normal things like "read the bottom line, follow the light with your eyes, height, weight..." After all the normal things were done, I got to start the fun tests. For those of you who don't know, I really don't like needles and today was filled with them. It's been 9 years since my last tetanus shot so we started with that before they sent me "down stairs" to have four vials of blood drawn. Typically when I go to APD (the other local hospital where Stryker typically sends us) it takes them a few tries to get three vials of blood. I wasn't sure this was going to be easy, but moments later I was walking away and I didn't even get light headed (yeah). I then was sent "next door" to have my first EKG. I have to say that was really cool. They stuck about 9 little patches all over my body including legs and arms and hooked them up to the machine. I felt like some horrible science experiment. However ten seconds later they were plucking the wires off and I was ready to go. I don't think I have ever had such a complete physical but it's nice having a clean bill of health. Because of the weekend, I'll have to go back again tomorrow to start the TB test. I have to do this for Stryker every two years. If you haven't had one done before, they put a lump of TB solution under your skin (yup with another needle) and then check in 48-72hrs to see if the lump is gone. I just had this done a year ago so I should be clear to go. Next week I have my dental exam and then I'll be done with the PQ process, I hope.

This summer I won't be updating my blog much, but I just ordered a few books about Antarctica and hope to post short book talks about them. I'm getting very excited and I'm sure the next few months will go quickly. For other good news, my house is under contract so with the closing in August, I'll be ready to head south. I'll try to make a posting with the "lump" under my skin over the weekend.

Getting Started

I have spent the last year preparing myself for this journey. My time and dedication has paid off and in five months I'll be traveling south to march with the penguins. It hasn’t been easy, but I have had a lot of help increasing my odds of being 1 of 700 new candidates picked from the pool of 35,000 applicants.


Talking with Amber I realized that to increase my odds of being selected I would need to travel to Denver CO to visit the Raytheon Headquarters. To prepare I created employment packages including: Customized Cover Letters, Resume, Curricula Vite, 3 great reference letters, and topped off with a Vermont Maple Candy. The picture to the left shows the great amount of work that went into the preparation. I have spent the past year preparing, accelerating my schooling, and pestering Amber, so I wanted to take every precaution needed to successfully be selected for an opportunity of a life time.


The Job fair was a little crazy. I showed up around 9 in the morning on Friday the 13th of April and spent a total of about 8 hours at the Raytheon Polar Services Headquarters. Shortly after arriving I had the pleasure of meeting Cori Manka, Amber's roommate last year in McMurdo. Although Cori was very busy, she was able to answer a few of my questions and point me in the right direction. Cori is very cute and nice and I'm hoping she deploys again this year. I am guessing that there were a total of 2000 people that showed up for the job fair. However I got many rave reviews for my organized employment packages (a few people thought the Maple Candy was a bribe) and I feel that I was able to make an impression. With so many applicants it is very important to make an impression and stand out from the others. I think the maple candy was a great touch to help remember "Kevin from Vermont."