Leaderboard

Not a CSO, but this worked for me

I think there will always be a need for manned ISR period dot. Also, there is a lot of juice in a 400 knot, dual sensor airframe that is can haul 9,000LBS to the fight.

Dual sensor on a single platform, let alone dual sensor in a 2-ship, changes the game for strikes where CDE is a concern (i.e. a huge percentage of all operations). Cheaper than MQ-9 when factoring in all the link architecture. Helps with pilot retention issues vs hurting them (i.e. people would want to fly the light attack mission, not so many pilots are volunteering for RPA). Much faster response time from launch to target area (400+ kts vs 200 kts). As stated, all WX capability. Better LOS radio comms and better maneuverability = better CAS support when friendlies on the ground. MQ-9 is great at what it does and is getting better every day with new tech and weapons, but I wouldn't think I'd have to advocate for the pros of a manned platform on BO.net!

Highlighted for irony. MQ9 guys spend more of their time doing the "Air Force's core mission of blowing shit up and killing bad guys" than almost any other platform.

We don't understand it is an opportunity unless we have someone (family/mentor) who can expose us to it. I'd say that's true of everyone though. When every picture of someone in a cockpit doesn't look like or represent you, its harder to make a connection at a any age that it's something you can do too. When I was in girlscouts, we did sowing, baking and figuring out what clothing color looked best with our skin, today I'm getting girlscout troops onto the airfields and into cockpits.

I mean, I've been to MEPS a couple times in preparation for getting my FC1, and the number one comment I heard from the (almost literally) kids there when they found out I was trying to fly was, "Oh, I'd have done that, but I have glasses." The myth that you must have superhuman eagle vision is extraordinarily prevalent. Lots of misconceptions like that exist, I think. How many people know that the Guard and Reserve actually commission and train new pilots, outside of these forums and a few others like it? Not many. I didn't, really, until a friend in Reserve suggested I look into it. It's well known that the recruiters aren't exactly a well of knowledge and veracity, as well. I guess my point is, maybe the traditional method what the USAF has done for pilot recruiting is great for recruiting white guys, but not for other groups. I don't want pilot affirmative action by any means, but increasing the applicant pool by targeting demographics that simply don't apply in serious numbers would increase the quality of pilots by simple numbers.

Nothing can replace a man in the loop ISR no matter how many times the JOC declares they have "global SA" you cant replicate the ability to look out the window and apply on the scene common sense.

When I was visiting Guard and Reserve units trying to get a slot, I met probably in total 200 potential applicants doing the same. I don't think a single one was female. Could it just be a lack of awareness of the opportunity?

Sheppard has its own IFF squadron. The squadron is not backed up per se, they have a timeline just like other IFF units and are obliged to stay on the timeline. The larger issue is the pipeline as a whole and the choke point is generally the FTUs. Guys graduating UPT on a fighter track in the same class may have IFF classes that are months apart, and guys graduating from Sheppard might end up going to Randolph while Columbus guys come to Sheppard. It's all about aligning the dates to their FTUs, not necessarily finishing on a first come basis.

What a waste of space and weight to put those ladders in. Might as well add a spiral staircase and chandelier

What wrong with the Air Force? We don't focus on readiness and warfighting anymore, mainly because we are not trained or educated enough for them. Air power projection is our core mission, and we've lost sight of that. Army and Marines will project ground power, Navy projects naval power, at the end of the day we have to present air power to the combatant commanders or we are all out of a job (not denigrating cyber, space, JTAC, TACP). Let's train/educate all airmen by sending all qualified Os and Es after commissioning and BMT through some kind of basic military flight training for 3-6 months (Nav, LM, FE). Non-flight physical folks get sent to ground ops training (airfield mgmt, amxs, intel, and etc...). Yes they won't be CMR, but they will have the fundamentals and understanding of what it takes to launch a sortie. With the rated and amxs shortage, they can *potentially* fill-in when the balloons goes up, more importantly this will educate why the Air Force exists and why not all AFSCs are created equal. Instead of focusing on bake sales and party planning, let's focus on readiness and the air power projection business. Soldiers and Marines all go through infantry training regardless of MOS, the sailors get trained on sea duty operations (firefighting, navigating and etc...). All airmen should have a basic understanding of how to support air operations regardless of AFSCs. The acquisitions community comes close by sending some of their officers through non-rated ops exchange programs. The 63As return back after one ops tour with a better understanding and appreciation of operational air force, as well as street cred when making decisions of a MWS acquisitions program. Yes sex assaults are bad, lookout for each other so we don't kill ourselves (on purpose or by accident), sleep with whichever sex you want behind closed (SCIF?) doors, build a home for the poor after work if you want to, those topics are not the reasons why the taxpayers are paying for our salary. We need to get back to combat readiness and the warfighting business.

All good points, not to mention forward basing with the teams we support builds relationships which both enable ops that might not otherwise happen and improve the quality of deliberatly executed ops. Manned ISR is an absolutely essential part of current and future operations. Unmanned is huge value added, but these capabilities compliment rather than replace each other. I know plenty of guys who have crossed between manned and unmanned ISR and they unanimously share these opinions. Dual sensor manned ISR isn't going to be replaced by single sensor unmanned. Take binoculars and a VSLIM, check in w/ GFC as sensor 3, profit.

Irony.... Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

They don't want to do it, anything more than that is making them oppressed or a victim. And we all know the military would bend over backwards to sign them up, and maybe that is also part of the problem. They don't know if they are succeeding because of what they did versus who they are, I would think that would be unfulfilling.

There are benefits to this airplane, its just not what we need, or anyone needs. It's an A-10 with less capability and under mounted engines, with 2 crew! The cost will not outlay the benefits.

What? If the AF gets the Scorp, a luggage pod for the mission bay would happen. Plenty of room.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Completely mindless and fairly funny.

Diddo on the CSO. I've been waiting since November for dates. Sent from my SM-N910T3 using Baseops Network Forums mobile app

Your guys are looking at it wrong, the same reason we all bitch about the AF is the same reason we are employable across the spectrum. The AF expects us to be officers, not pilots, and that gives us certain skills that a lot of people don't have. Civilian employment can be great if you sell yourself as a leader (not going airlines), if fact, I bet you can make more money than an airline pilot on average if you take this approach. Except Butters, he's a sellout.

You wanted students to sit in on the schedule build......come on buddy, you remember.

I think the young generation as a whole needs more aviation mentors. A lot of the pilots i know in the civilian world are second generation pilots or had other family in aviation, and i'm talking about the under 30 crowd. I think this is because from the outside looking in it seems like the hurdles are enormous, whether it be financial or just the lack direction for the proper steps to become successful. The company i work for has a entity with about 16 piston aircraft, we used to pay to have them cleaned once a month by a detail company. We decided to quit that and now pay different youth organizations to come out and clean airplanes every Sunday. The purpose of this is to get kids from every walk of life the opportunity to be around aviation, ask questions, and hopefully spark interest in the youth of the community. 95% of the youth today have never actually touched an aircraft in GA much less been on a ramp. Now i'm just waiting to enter UPT so I have zero idea of the culture of the AF pilot community yet, but I think that actually getting a slot has zero to do with race. If dudes have all the right scores and the personality I don't think it matters what race they are. In my opinion we need to get more people interested in actually wanting to be a pilot.

Comparing infantry officer to pilot is apples to oranges as far as post-military employment goes. I would say flying aircraft of any kind in any mission directly correlates to pretty good post-military employment prospects.

Pilot Candidate Selection Method: Still an Effective Predictor of US Air Force Pilot Training Performance, Thomas R. Carretta, 2011 (behind a paywall, I was able to get to it via my alma mater) US Air Force Pilot Selection and Training Methods, Thomas R. Carretta, 2000 (in dtic.mil)

Interviewed/Hired: Oct 2016 FC1: Feb 17 FC1 Approved: April 2017 (1 Waiver) Package HQ: April 2017/Approved mid April Package to NGB: Mid April 2017/Approved May 2017 Dates: Today! TFOT: June 2017 IFS: Aug 2017 UPT: @ Columbus Oct 2017 ANG Prior Service

Geezus, $20M for a single engine light attack plane. Didn't the A-10 cost about $16M in today's $?? Why don't we update the A-10 design with some efficient engines and spend a few bucks more per flight hour to get a capable attack aircraft. We constantly improve A/A pointy nose fighter designs but act like we've never built an attack aircraft before. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

They do have dets at these schools. My class if I remember correctly maybe commissioned one my year. They just are not getting them to stay in the program which was a problem at my det.

PM sent. I am just getting started learning how to get a UPT slot and become a pilot. The map on the site is a great resource for locations, hiring boards and contact info. Thanks!