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Get over yourself dude. The reality is that most (not all) students in the T-38 still want pointy-nosed jets. The last two drops at my base had 6/8 and 6/7 fighters respectively and guess what? The bottom studs in each class got the non-fighters. No one is dogging the U-28. I know just some of what it does and the mission is awesome. The fact remains though, the overwhelming majority of students still rank their assignments like this: fighters first, FAIP second, mix of bombers/AFSOC third. I talk to them all the time about their dream sheets, and they do mention Clovistan and deployment rates as a factor, especially if they are married. I know two AFSOC guys very well and they both have their "how I ended up not getting a fighter" stories. Yes, they both love what they do. In time, egos heal and true pilots bloom where they are planted, so everyone ends up convinced that THEIR airframe is the best in the AF. That being said, everyone "earns" their assignments. UPT is the most non-bullshit, non-political, non-PME/AAD environment we have left. It's simple order of merit, and if you finish on the bottom you will probably get what's left over

I wonder who coined that one?

HAF is struggling with the BCA cuts in FY13 and the FY14 budget. PCS accounts are low. Not sure how they are going to deal with it, but freezing PCS in some areas is being discussed. Moves will still happen, but there will be budget pressure to minimize them. Top people are on it...what could possibly go wrong...

So where's the official guidance on this? Where's the "vector" we were promised, oh, 9 months ago? C'mon Gen Welsh... this service desperately needs you to make these simple, easy fixes, and not just be a guy who gave a great speech at USAFA this one time.

Hey, I'm glad they put the speed limit on the back gate road to 45 again.

Oh, I thought we were talking about the Air Force RPAs. I mean if we're going to base it off other services, why need a college degree for commission (Army), where's Officer Country (Navy) and why not 2 different PT tests a year (Marines)? Doesn't matter what other services do. We aren't on boats, and we don't count the people as equipment. We're the Air Force. We do things different because we are different. Have you spent extended time (yr+) joint? Using the Army as an example is...questionable at best. Again - In the end, Big Blue wants the Officer attitude and culture in RPA's. That and pilots only listen to other dudes/chicks in flight suits.

You still have supervision, you still have Os that are experts. I wouldn't buy that as a valid argument. I'm not necessarily advocating the swap (I don't know enough about what is required for the job). I was just pointing out that it is not just a nickel and dime idea. From an outsiders perspective: reverse the logic and determine why an Officer is not driving (or at least being required to be operating): Tanks, MRAPs, Army Helos, Army UAVs, Boats, Subs, etc... How was it determined that those skills/responsibilities should not be forced on an O? Is it the cost of weapon? The potential impact of errors? The skill set?

1 mistake/unlucky Air Force huh? We have leaders afraid to stand on their own and make a tough call without consulting leadership, and this nonsense is only reinforcing their mentality. Leadership by excel.

Awesome, who then advocates for RPA's at higher levels? Both in and out of the AF? Who guides the acquisition and acts on behalf of the Air Force in addressing operational concerns of a higher level than tactical? When the Army CC is demanding action, who goes to bat for the AF? As Brabus pointed out you're not improving service, you're simply changing out one set of problems for another. They've heavily civilianized the Comm Sq's. Now I have Amn that can't get trained in certain areas since that's a civilian position, or contractor position. My civilians don't deploy, so automatically I've got a morale problem. Additionally the civilians are almost entirely Ex-military (most AF) of some rank and think the Amn/NCO's work for them. Doesn't matter we're 1/2 the size of the force from when they got out. They still want my guys building desks when they get FY funds for new furniture. I'm convinced most of the problems we're seeing with support in finance aren't due to bad Amn. It's bad training, removal of their ability to actually help you due to power consolidation, and workload/shortages preventing them from becoming experts. Yes, there's always bad Amn but problems this long speak to something else besides recruiting dirtbags continuously just in finance/MPF.

Then you end up with even more civilians who you can't fire no matter how shitty they are, don't give a fuck about doing a good job yet you can't really hold their feet to the fire, hide behind contracts the second you ask them do something you need, etc. Sure we have similar problems with the shoe universe, but despite all their bullshit, they still wear a uniform and can be told what to do with in constraints of the law, can be told to suck it up and do X with no fight about over-time, etc. Sure they hide behind regs, but 9/10 times they're wrong and you can call them on it after < 6.9 min of CTRL+F. Is it frustrating, hell yes. But you have more options when dealing with a lazy shoe in uniform than you do dealing with a lazy shoe wearing a polo. Caveat: I know several great civilian employees and this isn't a slam on all of them. But, unfortunately many I've been in contact with are akin to the worst shoes, but more "untouchable."

Wow...just wow. You are applying SAPR logic: straight line from profanity to rapist. We all saw the slide. Maybe Slick wrote it. Dude stop taking yourself so seriously, no one else does.

Slick, we appreciate your insight. That's pretty cool that your Wg/CC picked you out of the "mission support" group to be his exec. I'll bet the hours were a little different than those you had become accustomed to, clearly being a shoe and all.

False. I hate to further contribute to the thread derail about Cannon, but anyone who perceives the U-28 mission as 'significantly less awesome than briefed' is the same type of person that would whine in any community. I had zero information on the U-28 before getting assigned there and it VASTLY surpassed my expectations. Having returned to AETC has only solidified how good I had it in that mission. It pains me the hear 'war stories' from most MWS guys... I can understand the U-28 mission isn't for everyone, but saying it isn't awesome is blatantly false. I want to put that out there for any of the young bubbas that are considering U-28s, do it.

That's a great pro right there

Stratfor publishes some very informative analyses. A Little tidbit of information...the AF actually provides all of us with a free Stratfor subscription. Log in to the portal and click on the "Library" tab. About 2/3 of the way down, on the right side, is a link to Stratfor. Free full access to their site. Back to the topic at hand...

Yeah, yeah, flame on. Not hating on enlisted (they aren't FAIPs), just trying to point out two different worlds, maybe just a pointy nose thing.

Not in the least, unless you want your RPAs to wear reflective belts. Officers are usually taught to think outside the box, work in but around the rules, find s new and creative way. Enlisted usually follow a checklist and some obscure regulation none of us have heard of. Open the flying ranks at your risk.

"What Exactly Is It You Do Again?: C-130 Navigators in OIF" Note: This is not a real book.