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While nice at first thought, dual qual is not as easy as some of you think. I have flown with a lot great dudes who are dual qual, and these dudes happen to be some extremely high functioning human beings - as in way smarter than the rest of us bottom 99%...and capable pilots as well who do fly tactical missions in each type. There's about two of them I would even remotely consider capable of going to combat in one of their MDS in their current state (i.e. without picking an MDS and spending 3+ months getting spun up on how to employ well). Now just imagine asking an average dude to know two separate sets of TTP, different mission sets, etc. (who cares about the motherhood/systems GK...don't care, that's easy). Bottom line, you will predominantly end up with below average MQ-9 guy who moonlights as a below average OA-X guy. Not because he's necessarily terrible as an individual pilot, but because he can't execute two different MDS well; he can execute one at an average capability level. I know some of you can likely point to a guy you know who could probably hack it alright, but it's not about that one guy, it's about the idea of an entire squadron executing in such a manner, and by the way, that entire squadron is not made up of well above average pilots. This may not have been an issue 30 years ago, but shit is complicated now (for everyone), so there's a reason flying multiple types of aircraft as a CMR CGO/young FGO doesn't happen anymore.

Not trying to take this off on a whole other tangent, but anyone else feel like this bureaucratic construct we're operating (in both OIR and OFS, albeit under a much tighter leash in OFS) under was a giant counterdoctrinal mindfuck by the land component to take over not only CAS, but interdiction as well? e.g. Back when I was a hardened nuclear warrior who only did "CAS" in imaginationland, I'd hear stuff like "They have CAS on a tight leash out there because can't have CIVCAS and 'no one target will win this war' and dangers of relying on indigenous forces for targeting" etc. And then I get out here and what I see is: (1) deliberate targets developed well outside the 72 hour ATO cycle tasked by the land component via 9-Line as "CAS" with little/no visibility by the CAOC, (2) clearly offensive targets (i.e. interdiction masquerading as CAS) assigned under defensive ROE in order to circumvent CAF TTPs for avoiding CIVCAS, (3) JTACs who want me to ignore what my sensor is telling me and be a BOC machine because some Army 1-star standing over their shoulder staring at an FMV feed (pushed by a contractor whose idea of a far scan is to go WFOV) must have more SA than I do, and (4) occasionally actual CAS. Oh yeah, (5) Laser JDAMs and SDBs for terrain denial. Watching what the Army mentality has done to both our strikers and ISR makes me both more convinced than ever about the foundational need for airpower to be controlled by airmen... and also more SMH than ever at our so-called leaders that over a decade later still haven't learned how to say "No" to terrible ideas from the land component.

This is interesting but to throw in an additional derail...the VAST majority of RPA ops now are not CAS. You may use the CAS 9-Lines and such, but it isn't actual CAS. I love the RPA community and have killed a lot of bad guys with them, but there's a big difference between true CAS and current ops.

From AFPC site: "Officers are positioned for promotion sequence based on the following criteria, applied in the order listed: -Current Grade Date of Rank -Previous grade date of rank, if applicable -Total Active Federal Commissioned Service -Total Federal Commissioned Service -Regular officers will precede Reserve officers. Regular officers will rank among themselves based on date of Presidential nomination for appointment as a Regular officer -Regular Air Force acceptance date; based on the date of the Air Force Form 133, Oath of Office -Graduates of Service academies, appointed as Regular officers and assigned the same date of rank, on the active duty list in order of their graduation class standing -Date of birth, with the earliest date taking precedence -Reverse social security number, with the lowest number taking precedence" From the looks of other Major selects TAFCS seemed to play the biggest part putting all the pilot types towards the end thanks to our six month "vacation". Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

Makes sense now that the Saudis have ramped up their fight against VEOs. I know the Taco Gilberts of the world think AT-6 or A-29 is the best option because there is already a maintenance backbone, but the Scorpion jet is a growth platform with a huge advantage in speed and range. The speed advantage alone not only reduces the time to respond to a TIC but also reduces the number of aircraft required to cover an area using the lily pad concept. Add in dual sensors and a HUGE internal payload bay and it is truly a game changer in this arena.

I 100% feel you brother. If it wasn't for an awesome Commander? I would have been in the cubicle beside you. I saw first hand how fvcked up the AF filling of the RPAs were. Let me know if I can help. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

I definitely wasn't bottom of my class and didn't suck in the MAF either. Just got pulled into the giant manpower sinkhole that was RPAs in 2012 with terrible timing. If we had bought and fielded a light attack aircraft years ago, I'd stick around to fly that. Now I'll be long gone before that ever happens. Sorry for the epic thread derail. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm drunk and only understood every other word but I completely agree. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

Valid point(s) but I wonder if the problem is not the concept of dual qual but the current execution / concept of it. We (the USAF) have always executed it as an afterthought or in response to a manning crisis / operational need instead of anticipating it or planning to make it part of our strategy to deliver a Core Function / Mission Set. Flight deck commonality, synchronized and reciprocative training, tactics coordination, etc... these and other factors could be planned in advance to execute dual qual way better than the concept now of marriage to a faithful wife and having a girlfriend on the side... one is suspicious and the other only wants more, there has to be a better way of doing this.

Understandable and applicable. Any chance your staff office is the place to lodge the concern that continuing to decrease the general airmanship and tactical exposure/experience/training prior to getting to the ops unit is a failing path?

See, it really is a secret.

The data on the mig's is incorrect. The fighter OG's don't want somebody past 5 years, the syllabus says TX-2 is 7 years, so I'm saying there's a chance……. Is that 2 movie quotes in 1 post, shame on myself. And if there was going to be a "first" dual qual Wing, I'm guessing Tucson would be it.

It would require a major culture shift in the RPA communities. Most sensors wouldn't mind being pilots for pilot pay and rank. Most I've talked to wouldn't want to be enlisted pilot with the current pay scale. To much responsibility for to little money. Im a huge advocate for pairing up RPA squadrons with light attack and dual qual for the 11s. I would never leave if I could kill a terrorist or two every once in awhile in the box and go tear up the skies in a AT-6/A-29/scorpion or whatever we might buy. More than likely RPAs and light attack are going to intergrate regularly on the battlefield and it's helps the RPA manning keeping 11s in the community. Hell, you could dual qual sensors to sit in the back seat.

It's a specific disorder that's swept this part of the world recently, while still in the research phase, neurological experts have given it the name : TDS Trump Derangement Syndrome Said experts warn of its contagious effects. It is highly advised not to attempt to treat said individuals with common sense and logic, you may be labeled a bigot, racist, white privileged patriarch. edit: returned from acronym school, thanks nsplyr; point still stands though.

Not funny, try again. The civil air patrol is calling you…..

Benelli seems to be the 3gun standard. Stoeger is owned by them and uses the same inertia action. Check out the M3K, it comes mostly ready to go.

Hopefully they were tears of joy...that's an awesome assignment both for the location and the mission. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

I'm talking about your paid 3 month European vacation…..and Bendy and Evil can suck it for liking your post. Living down the street from me is a gift, I expect worship. Now how do I like my own post.

Doesn't really matter. Fly a great jet and don't pass up an opportunity to shut up. Encourage your classmates to do the same.

Kill it with fire!