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To continue the derail, a great resource is the FAA Aviation Instructors Handbook (FAA-H-8083-9A). Some of the chapters don’t really apply like lesson plan development etc but the first 2 chapters are good on some fundamentals. I don’t want UPT to turn into a touchy freely Part 141 school where the CFI’s kiss the students ass, but I’d like to see less throwing pubs/choking the oxygen hose Tweet style instruction. And if you’re one of those IP’s that’s convinced every student is trash and they can’t do anything right and are super nervous and awkward all the time, it may be you.

I see the point you’re making (and I agree with you); however it’s also worth noting that the glaring difference between then and now is we aren’t throwing all hands on deck for a world war. Make no mistake, this current idea is rooted in leadership’s failure at even attempting to retain talent.

Apparently, yet again, "PC" related issues wrt a naming. Well, that was the over-the-hump moment, the firing I'm sure deals with a more at-large command climate ("Al Capone" twofer type of thing). Just another week in the island of misfit toys we collectively know as Team XL. I should have got short tour credit, or a campaign medal at least, for enduring 8 years of that place lol. Oh well. 😄 At least this time the shenanigans didn't occur in the presence of an O-8, but I'll digress on disturbing the corpses of the past....(not a great choice of words either, given the guilty party of that episode, committed suicide a couple months ago).

I know under the current rules that you're ineligible but if the rules change and your life circumstances allow you to apply, fucking go for it. Worse case scenario you wash out or you don't like it and you're stuck doing something you don't enjoy for 2-3 years. Also realize that new is strange/different and a new AETC/CC or CSAF could CNX the program if he/she don't like it. Best case scenario, you get to do some awesome flying that you always wanted to do and help some motivated dudes/dudettes progress through a tough program. Sometimes there's a lot of negativity on these forums that tends to drown out what could be great opportunities or experiences for some. In regards to the credibility issue, if you're humble, willing to work hard, and a good dude/instructor, IMO it shouldn't be an issue. I was late rate to pilot, went through UPT as a Captain. I had more combat hours than all of my FAIPs. That data point was completely irrelevant to pilot training and it never came up, because the FAIPs were there to teach me basic pilot skills and I was there to learn. The fact that my FAIPs had no combat or "real world" experience never mattered to me at all because it wasn't relevant to the training at hand. My operational experience also didn't count for fuck-all. Similarly, if you're a good instructor and are effective at teaching the UPT syllabus, the fact you're not military and have no operational experience won't matter either.

When I attended UPT in 1986, the “Little Kitchen” was only the single yellow trailer, no Additions. Now with the new additions it’s suitable for Mississippi Weddings and other events!

I was in UPT when TopGun premiered. We were just finishing up Tweets and heading over to the -38 side. A bunch of us went to see it at the on,y movie theater in Columbus MS. We all thought it was hokey and corny, but good fun. Shortly after, a tidal wave of women entered my life due to their admiration of that hokey, corny movie. Who was I to complain. Outside of being a real Tomcat Driver, it was as good as it gets. So as goofy as the original was, the great memories it conjures up will always have a place in my heart. I thought the new one was way better, more realistic ( to a degree) and I liked how they tied in the original cast and storyline in the new one. I will see it again with my pilot Son, and soon to be F-18 software engineer Nephew. BTW, you are on crack if you think Kelly McGillis, on her best day , is in the same league as Jennifer Connelly!

You should worry because it represents the continuation of the AF's failure to handle retention. It's great if you're an aspiring CAIP, and I agree, they'll be fully capable of teaching the syllabus. But if you're in the uniform, you should be quite convinced at this point that it will only get worse from here, because no one in charge is seemingly capable of wrapping their head around retention. Making your life better will *always* be the last, and least acceptable option.

I wouldn’t call close formation and ET3 “fundamental flying skills”…and I’m pretty sure they don’t teach this in IFT. A civilian IP can definitely learn/be able to teach it, but it will take much more training since they’ve never seen it in UPT. Oh, and here’s a data point: Some T-1 trained FAIPs have gone through CRs at T-6 PIT (and some have even washed out) for lack of formation flying abilities due to the cuts in UPT. As far as being a military officer, UPT is centered around flight instruction based on the foundation of military bearing, integrity, etc. If this wasn’t necessary, then mil cap wouldn’t be a thing. It’s not to say that 23 year old civilian pilots can’t also have these qualities, but there’s no training program to weed those people out who aren’t a good fit. Just think about people you’ve met who said they’ve wanted to be a military pilot but just didn’t have the qualities we seek in a military officer…there’s a reason why we’re different. Also, unless they rewrite the rules, you can’t work a civilian more than 40 hours a week without permission, compensation, etc. This changes the ball game quite a bit. Rucker, Kirtland, and other programs have had civilian/contractor flight instructors, but I’m pretty sure the vast majority have been very experienced military pilots in the past, and their instruction has been more/less limited to contact/instrument flying…they leave the formation and other stuff to the mil IPs. That all being said, my biggest concern is with the comments on this page who think this will make a better IP than those graduating from PIT…and across the board, I just don’t see it. Do you agree with Jice that these young civilian CFIs with 50 hours of C172 IP time will be better than a UPT graduate going to PIT to be a FAIP?

Edit: it, can’t load the gif, but going to assume everyone knows exactly what that clip would be. Mod Edit: Luckily, you're ever-helpful Mods do know how to embed an animated GIF! 😎

I looked it up, he has TWO air medals thank you very much. I just hope he continues the tradition of his predecessor and focuses on social justice issues within AFSOC.

Nothing special about AF Special Operations. Showed up as a squadron commander after schoolhouse and staff-weaseling without a single Air Medal. Tried to make up for this by counting every leg he flew in AFG as a day to get one. A now-retired two-star (that should have had this job) reminded him of the rules, and had him count 20 days like everyone else.

I’ve noticed the AF has been a little more hush hush the last few years in regards to firings.

When I was going through B-52 instructor upgrade, we were “testing” a new syllabus which was shorter by a week so the FTU could produce more classes and instructors per FY. What did they cut? The one week of learning theory and instructor skills…

Nothing yet on my end brother!

If you're looking for job satisfaction as a CSO.. ACJ is where it's at IMO.

Add another in the “same here” category. CFI’d for 5 years during the lost decade. Probably would’ve jumped at this gig for free. I know times are different now with airlines hiring anyone who has looked at an airplane before, but I’m betting they’ll get plenty of applicants. If nothing else those who get hired will at least get to wear a real flight suit to watch Top Gun 2 instead of their Skywest uniforms - somebody showed me an instagram of that actually happening. Still need to clean my vomit off my shoes.

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So a 23 year old, 50 hour CFI, who has never gone through any military training (flight or otherwise) will be better than a 25 year old officer who has gone through a commissioning source, graduated UPT (they still wash people out btw), and has successfully gone through the current PIT syllabus (which also still washed people out)?

Totally agree. This is a win… AS LONG AS it allows us to keep more folks in the CAF/MAF and be more selective about who we send to white jets. Fewer veteran aviators means fewer mentors, which means we can’t send the below average folks consistently and expect somebody else to pick up the slack. There’s a danger of fvking this up by not thinking beyond the next OPR closeout… so we probably will. This is basically a 1/2 priced FAIP who won’t care about the party planning to get ahead of peers. Write the job so the incentives align with quality production, and you’ve got somebody whose job is actually their job. None of these guys have to lie about wanting to be an officer first and fighter pilot second at 22 years old.

I’m not sure it will. 50 hours of instruction is more than a FAIP has when they’re “hired.” As much as we want to think mil aviation is special, it’s simply not at the T-6 level. It’s a Hershey bar wing with easy stall characteristics, forgiving landings, and no mission. As long as these CAIPs stay in their lane and teach stalls, falls, and landings and leave the Blue-ing to the MAF and CAF bros, they’ll be an asset. The airlines use instructors that have never flown an airliner. Certainly isn’t the same as a line pilot teaching you, but as long as they stay in their lane and teach the books, a wise student learns from them, too.

Let’s not forget all the Dems pushing for additional gun control laws while failing to enforce those already on the books.

This should just become the entire hypocrisy thread... My favorite hypocrisy of the day from yesterday is the DUI arrest of Nancy Pelosi's husband. Despite lawyers and multiple freedom of information requests good ole California is refusing to release his booking photo, the bodycam video from the officers involved and any records whatsoever related to the arrest. If it was a member of the GOP it would have been pushed out to every network as breaking news.

...so...like Castle Anthrax type loopholes? ...you're not wrong...

One of those (the 1st one) is a single mission that he put himself and a crew in for, had denied at the ESOG level, then subsequently resubmitted himself for/approved when he was the ESOG/CC a year later.