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grandad? edit for better picture

Most of the "CAS" you're talking about in Afghanistan isn't CAS, it's dynamic targeting using CAS procedures. The two should not be confused, but they have been. We have a CAS JP, we have DT MTTPs, and they should be used for their appropriate applications. And satellite time is expensive. Very.

Me too...exactly 4 posts ago. Bendy

The line Lieutenant Colonel board results will be released on 09-June.

Completely agree, and I'm not sure why we don't. Maybe someone can shed some light on whether its a lack of training/trust on the RPA side to push for it or a lack of doctrinal fidelity by the higher ups. So yes, CAS procedures have been used in lieu of SCAR, DT, etc. What doesn't change is the fact quality persistent ISR leads up to most of those procedures. My point is today and tomorrow's environments have to deal with time sensitive targets that randomly present themselves in time, location and type (IW/CAS/DT/SCAR). The A-10 doesn't suit this most of the time and there are limited set of scenarios in which the bronco would as well. Admittedly, in those scenarios of lengthy armed overwatch the Bronco, or for that matter the IOMAX and Super Tacano, would do a much better job for cheaper. Especially if we can get our allied countries to buy and field them, even if we have to go through the painful process of teaching them. https://foreignpolicy.com/2014/03/25/the-small-planes-with-big-missiles-the-u-s-wants-to-give-to-yemen/

I think this is simple...Put the GCS at places people want to go and you'll get more volunteers. It's be said over and over again, but if you put those bad johnnies at MacDill, Eglin, Luke, McChord, Charleston, Hickham, Hanscom, Patrick, <insert sweet Navy coastal base here>, etc then I bet you'll see more people interested than if it's "wait, so I don't get to fly airplanes anymore AND you're sending me to Cannon? Sweet. I'm out."

Well, I’m finally set to be out of the Army on June! I figured now would be a good time to clarify some stuff and go over some of the challenges I faced, since this was not nearly as easy as I thought. If you are considering this seriously, please understand that the process is long and difficult (unless you’re getting out anyway), and will involve a great amount of risk with regards to both a future career in the Army, and the shear amount of time and money lost that you have to put into this endeavor. Again, be sure to clarify everything with your chain of command and branch management before you start this, as there is no way you’re going to slip anything past anyone. Basically, everyone has to be on board for your transition from the beginning or it doesn’t stand a chance. Please contact me if you are considering this, before emailing your Branch Chief and other senior officials, as we don’t want to piss anyone off or burn any bridges. First and foremost I want to clarify that if you are Active Duty Army, the Conditional Release (DD368) is NOT the only thing you need to be released as I had thought. There are two different obligations involved with being in the Active Duty Army; a Military Service Obligation (MSO) and an Active Duty Service Obligation (ADSO). The MSO is usually 8 years from whenever you enlisted, appointed, or commissioned, and simply requires you to serve in some capacity in the Army, whether that be Inactive Individual Ready Reserve (IRR), Guard, Reserve, or whatever. Most people will just do IRR when their ADSO is up. The DD368 allows you to transfer from this into whatever component it is filled out for (in my case the ANG). The ADSO usually comes from some investment the Army made, such as flight school or qualification courses like IPC. These must be waived by the Assistant Secretary of the Army, Department of Manpower and Reserve Affairs (ASAMRA). This will be accomplished by a memo in your resignation packet asking for the waiver. Also keep in mind that Tuition Assistance waivers will involve you paying back a prorated amount of the money. Please note that a waiver for an ADSO from flight school is rare, and usually only happens if the Army is well over-strength in your particular MOS/rank. When I started this process, the Army was downsizing and the Kiowa fleet was being dissolved producing a lot of airframe transfers into the Apache world, but right as my packet was reaching the desk of the G-1 at HRC last month, the Army decided to start moving Apaches from the Guard to AD, creating a new need for Apache pilots. At one point I was actually told that I was not going to be released, but after more conversation, I was given a second chance, mainly due to the fact that I was already so far along and myself and the ANG had already put so much into the process (including my FC-1 physical). In the end, the case was made for me by some very helpful people in my branch management, and the ASAMRA was graceful enough to grant me a waiver. This didn’t come a moment too soon since as it stands, I may very well be getting into UPT just in the nick of time! If you are not already at the end of your obligation, your resignation needs to be submitted with a date that is at least 180 days out from HRC reception, and if you’re older like me, this can be frustrating. I was extremely humbled by this process. I definitely owe some good people in my chain of command and branch management, because this one almost got thrown out.

You'd see some improvement in retention, but not much I think. The plan right now is to double output here at Holloman. We're about to cannibalize ops squadrons for dozens of their instructors to increase FTU manning. So ops manning will take a nasty hit the next year, and it's going to be the experienced dudes and dudettes squadrons can least afford to lose, especially en masse. So in the medium term, you'll have ops squadrons flooded with Lt's and not enough IPs to teach them MQT. It is going to be a very rough 2017 for dudes flying the line. To compound the problem, the current bottom of the barrel for 18Xers is terrifying. We had several dudes at my last squadron who I wouldn't trust to tie their own shoes. When we double the number of 18Xers, we're going to see the average quality go down. In the long term, perhaps increased manning will alleviate some issues, but I think we're 4 years out on that, best case. Either way, I don't plan on sticking around to find out. Bottom line: there's a hole in the bucket and the planned repair is to pour twice as much water in.

Its not always about money. Persistence, reach-back, burn concern, and being places we don't want pilots are significant factors in platform selection as well. I'm obviously talking about ISR (what the Combatant Commanders are screaming for), not CAS. I understand the benefits of keep it simple stupid, and that the wide range of mission sets and acronyms that have been developed for them is doctrinally confusing. Gen Welsh harped on this in 2012: Trying to bring back the focus to core mission sets is great, especially from a PR standpoint and running with the narrative "only the Air Force can do what it does." However, keeping platforms in their own bubble of "designated" capabilities is not how we progress and the Predator wouldn't have a hellfire if we did. Mission sets blend as the kill chain shortens. Sure, the Bronco would be great and I'd rather fly it than be in a GCS, but it won't develop targets as well as the MQ-1/9. And if we want to finish those targets quickly, better to ensure the one that Finds/Fixes can also kill it. I think the Bronco would have a great roll in FID and COIN CAS, but ACC has decided it doesn't want a large stake in those mission sets and AFSOC has its own gray tail priorities. Plus, in AvFID, the country needs to buy their own planes to keep procurement fast and not have to deal with the foreign sales mess. That leaves CAS in a low threat, yet high CDE environment; for which ACC won't buy for exclusively or recognize is what "CAS" will be in the near future. In the name of simplicity the doctrine is holding us back, instead we really need some common sense.

Are the guys who signed up for this happier than the guys coming from manned cockpits?