Leaderboard

Just ask the North Vietnamese how their Christmas time went in 1972

Let me qualify the following by mentioning that I was a T-38 FAIP. That means that my opinion - while informed on the topic - is also biased because I believe that I am fvcking awesome. Deal with it. I think we need FAIPs at UPT, and UPT would be a worse-off place without them. Sure, there are plenty of LTs walking the halls of any UPT base, and there are plenty of those LTs that can get shouldered with some bitch work around the squadron. But really, those cats are students in a challenging course, and their time needs to be protected by their flight commander and other leadership to make sure they spend their time and focus in the right place: Mastering the basic flight admin they won't have the time to learn later. So, because those LT studs definitely CANNOT be tasked with many of the things around any SQ that you'd normally give to a LT or young Capt wingman in a CAF squadron, someone has to be there to pick up the slack. This is where your young FAIPs come in, and this is also why being a FAIP has some pretty awesome and pretty not-so-awesome aspects. You can (and absolutely SHOULD) fly and instruct your fvcking ASS off as a FAIP. On the other hand, you're going to get some shit duties around the squadron, and you'll probably be working longer hours than your average fresh-from-the-CAF 4FL Viper/Eagle guy who's now flying white jets. That's ok...that CAF dude needs a little break. Now, because FAIPs end up a bit behind the power curve when they hit the CAF, they gotta be wise to this and have good leadership show them how to be prepared for later. Personal/professional goals might be easier to accomplish in that AETC assignment than later in the CAF. Developing winning habit patterns related to basic admin, study, and work ethic pay big dividends later. LISTENING WELL to the older dudes from the CAF and internalizing their lessons can be huge. These things enable a FAIP to hit IFF, RTU, MQT, and beyond with the basic skill set that will ensure success. It goes without saying that squandering that time as a FAIP will bring one to the opposite extreme. So my advice to FAIPs is this: Don't think that anyone (you, the USAF, your career as a pilot) has hit the big PAUSE button the moment you graduated UPT. While your UPT bros are off doing fun and amazing shit, don't forget that they are growing as pilots and as professional officers. YOU MUST ALSO GROW. Find ways to do that in the situation you've been given, don't slack, and always keep your scope open and set to long range search so you're prepared for the next step of your flying career. Do all that while flying your ass off and you'll be fine.

Interestingly...a lot of BUFF-BASHING going on from people who've never flown them. Unleashed, that aircraft can deliver devestation the likes of which haven't been seen since 2002. She may not be pretty, but she sure as hell is sexy where it counts.

True story. I would never have volunteered to do it, but I learned a lot about what's important as a pilot, and have some pretty cool stories flying the Caravan. It's easier to take in hindsight.

Drinking bourbon from the skulls of vanquished enemies after a day of strafing downtown Raqqa in my open canopy P-51. Obviously.

My bad. I am not going to post the e-mail, but essentially the intel DT boards candidates every year for the various intel leadership slots out there. You are supposed to submit a SOI to indicate whether or not you want to be boarded for a leadership job (which can lead to career advancement), but my guess is that the 06 YG didn't have enough O-4s and/or people are turning down the leadership opportunities en masse. As a result, the DT boarded all 07 YG selects (along w/ the 06 YG) despite the fact they haven't had a chance to submit a SOI. So board the candidate first and then ask them whether or not they are interested.

Can you provide context for that message? I'm confused.

The person with 4 years experience, in general.

Let's not forget that FAIPs aren't owed anything, I've seen that attitude in the past as well

So here's a good example of an assignment being what you make it. If this dude is really an "old school fighter pilot mentality", he will be pumped that he gets to fly a jet that is taking it to ISIL right now and has arguably the most badass history of any jet in the Air Force. Or he can hold onto the mindset that his jabroni commander screwed him over because he was too much of a badass faip for this guy to handle. My best friend from upt was a T-6 faip that got Buffs and he is a total bro. He is also just a space to fill on a spreadsheet, just like me.

ADMIN NOTE: It was posted that the 157th already selected their primaries and alternates and that those calls already went out. Another individual reported that this was not true, and might result in misleading potentially selected applicants or those not selected to be notified before official notification. As such, the post has been hidden until such time as we get confirmation one way or the other.

My personal favorite is still the Air Force Birthday chow hall menu from an undisclosed location with the J-10.

All of theses questions become much easier to answer/manage if you are first in your class. Dont suck!

Good evening ladies and gents, So, here I am, just signing on for a six year contract at an airlift squadron for Aerial Transportation (2T2X1) and I've run into a slight dilemma. So the squadron I am currently on with is an airlift squadron, were going from 130s to 17s in 2018 and that sounds super nice. However, a squadron not TOO far away from me flies F-16s and I've always love the idea of flying fast jets and they have alot of boards for folks. Here are a few questions to throw out to the experience masses: 1. Would it make me look like an ass getting on with one squadron just to leave them for another squadron later on down the road? 2. Would it be possible for me to become an officer THROUGH the other squadron? As in, would it be possible for me to go to the 16 squadron to the board and apply for OTS AS WELL as UPT? This is my main question, I'm curious as to if I can move from my current squadron as an enlisted to the fighter squadron as an officer-selectee and UPT candidate. 3. Any 16 guys want to talk about their life experience? Same for the 17 folks as well. When it all comes down to it, I wouldn't mind flying with my squadron if I get the opportunity too. But I would love to have the chance to fly F-16s if I can. Thank you guys for your time.