Leaderboard

I don’t even think it’s important. The GWOT invalidated those schools and the officers they produced. None of their advanced education brought anything worthwhile to the GWOT. Our successes were tactical, and produced by guys & gals in the trenches flying the daily line figuring out a new way to expedite authorities, move stuff, pass gas, engage high speed cars, track squirters, etc. Guys like you. Making the only thing close to a win by pure grit & attrition. Whereas our numerous GWOT failures were produced (militarily at least, I’ll sidestep political finger-pointing) by inexperienced commanders overthinking relatively simple problems. Attendance at these prestigious schools and their prerequisite Exec/ADC jobs is a time demand incompatible with double digit line flying deployments. When these graduates finally showed up down range, it was always in a leadership position however their lack of operational experience and credibility resulted in leading without confidence or operational context; their knowledge of war was theoretical. They didn’t trust their captains to provide that experience, were crippled by a lack of confidence, did not understand how to intelligently take calculated risk, were fixated on irrelevancies while mischaracterizing captains who prioritize mission and ignored irrelevancies as undisciplined, and stuck to poor command decisions out of pride. You couldn’t talk to these people. They just wanted to make it to the end of their tour without anything happening. They despised initiative. The elite IDE/SDE schools and fellowships are no longer prestigious. They produced graduates who simply cannot win, and stifled those who could.

The Air Medal thing amongst AFSOC aircrew is a huge red flag to me in the GWOT era. The amount of deploying the entire command did in the last 20 years and people weren’t able to get Air Medals via doing combat missions really says a lot about priorities, IMHO. I’m sure I’m showing my bias here but I’m not impressed/inspired by GO’s and Commanders that did all the prestigious schools and selective assignments for years and years. I can’t relate to a dude that was a multiple time exec, IDE in res, SAASS/SAMS, DARPA fellow etc. PME is important but the line dudes and dudettes out jobbing 1:1 (or less in certain career fields like AC gunners) don’t exactly connect with “this one time at Harvard”.

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.

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.

We need to be consistent. I didn't support police overuse of force in George Floyd and I don't support it here. Consistency is key. Without consistency there is no rule of law. You don't get to fire a random round untargeted into a group of rioters. Besides, protest are "supposed" to make you uncomfortable.

As an Air Force reservist and veteran he has a responsibility to ask about what happened with Ashley Babbit, and I've yet to see one person on the commission ask why a woman/veteran was murdered by a federal entity on capital grounds and no justice was served.

So weird, because this seems like a great job for military pilots who separate or retire because of the BS but who love that type of flying. Sure, it's less than airline pay, but American won't let you do a split-s in their 737.

8 years JFC you better claim that as PTSD on your VA disability

Agreed. Civilian IPs in UPT are probably a fine idea that’ll work out. But it’s not happening because outside the box thinking on how to win; it’s happening because leadership has failed to make AD a place worth staying.

You mean the video where the group of protesters were attempting to break down a barricaded door with armed police behind it; and then she subsequently tried to climb thorough? https://www.nbcnews.com/video/capitol-shooting-that-led-to-ashli-babbitt-s-death-captured-on-video-99180613572. How was that supposed to go down? What is a police officer supposed to do when faced with this situation? Were police supposed to help her through the door and thank her for her efforts in "discouraging the crowd"? What am I missing here? If there is another video or a different side of the story, I am all ears. What does this have to do with BLM? Are you suggesting the police officer randomly shot into the crowd? I fail to see the connection.

Don't over think it. Go there, be a good bro like you already undoubtedly are in your squadron, and just try to help out where you feel you can. Don't gun for DG. Appreciate the 4 week vacation from flying the line which we all know can be fun but exhausting sometimes. Take what you can from the course, but don't overthink any of it. You might only hear 1-2 useful things there. You might hear a dozen. It depends how much AETC is guzzling their own bullshit at any given time and how comfortable as a leader you've already come into your own style. Do go out and drink, party, have a good time. This is 95% a networking event. Skills you get on making connections become super important in any profession. Even if you're not a drinker just go to hang out. Try and learn a bit about other AFSCs. You can hate them all you want at your squadrons next roll call but for now get some insights from them. I was surprised when I learned how much responsibility certain Captains in fields like airfield ops get. For the wife/little one.... Montgomery isn't a great place to bring them. You totally can but I don't think your wife would be comfortable/happy. I dunno just my 2c. My wife went but we didn't have a newborn. She was REALLY bored in the hotel room all day. Maybe see if you can send her home to her parents for a month?

Wait…are you referring to the “mostly peaceful protests”?

If you mean better than the last guy, well that's a pretty low bar. I'll withhold judgement until the new edicts start rolling out. I wish him luck, he's inheriting a mess of toxic second-tier effects.

Did he say that because he washed out of F-15 RTU and thinks himself a “carnivore?”

Just curious if you think things are still going well?

Don’t you have TSA pre check?

As queepy as it sounds, I had to complete an aviation instructor CBT from the ADLS portal before my first IPUG. It mirrored a lot of the FAA instructor handbook and had some good stuff in it. Surprise, surprise…coach/athlete is more effective than continually shitting on your future wingman/co-pilot.

Hearing around ACC that 19th has decreed that UPT IP's cannot be given alcohol for initial solo, nor can they display their already-received bottles. Was there a specific offense or event that made this happen? Or is the sight of bourbon considered pornography?

I've thought about that quite a bit as well, having read a lot of first hand accounts. On the whole though - weren't those civilian IPs extremely experienced, as opposed to college graduation <2 years ago? Again I can only hope for success and I am sure there are some great candidates out there, but as another commenter noted - this is likely because of leadership/personnel management failures.

Oh don’t worry UPT has been touchy feely for a long time now

Anyone here have usaa funds with Schwab and now can’t access the non-usaa account summary on their website?

That is a FAIP. …but, like all of these other things going on: it’s a half assed implementation of a good idea. ~Bendy Sent from my iPad using Baseops Network mobile app

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.

This If they’re going to be “just as good” as FAIPs because they’re doing the exact same training, then why not make more FAIPs? Oh wait…they already did that a few years ago. And good luck training a civilian to the same standard as a FAIP when the civilian can only work 40 hours a week. Oh, and who is going to train these civilians?—it’s not like UPT has open seats not being filled and that PIT isn’t running 2+ months behind.

Saw Top Gun: Maverick today. Solid A- approaching A for an entertaining movie. Enough of the looking back to tie it in, but good enough to stand alone. Amazing what a haircut and a 'stache can do to an actor's appearance. Rooster/baby Goose was spitting image of the deceased RIO in the film, but nothing like him in real life. Some minor quibbles, but overall a good flying and entertaining movie. Kick ass music to go with the flying. On the bittersweet side, I watched the original in the theater when it came out. I was newly commissioned, awaiting active duty start. I was also newly married to the A-model wife. Naive and motivated, I couldn't wait to join (even on the non-flying side) "we few, we happy few" of the 1986 Air Force. It was gonna be all doing a meaningful job with the bros and drinking at the O'Club. Watching it today was the opposite bookend. Much older, fatter, balder, and with the B-model, I recognized the military as being more the drone admiral's vision than that of the bros. Sigh... And back then, Kelly McGillis' Charlie would've been the choice. Today, the Jennifer Connolly/Penny would be the age/looks choice. Good movie.

It's not about the pay. The Air Force is giving bonuses to people to get them to stay past 10. There are plenty of T-6 IPs that are bailing at 10 when they make $120k+/year. They would love to have a GS-8 fill that slot for half the pay. I've never seen a LT reserve IP. I'm pretty sure no UPT reserve squadron is hiring off the street. I've flown with civilian IPs at my MWS schoolhouse. They were good, but they were not off the street either. They had a ton of experience and were all retired AF pilots. They were also not GS. A civilian T-6 pilot that this program is targeting is going to get zero respect from the current IPs.

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)?

I support a ban on morons like him from serving in congress.

Gentlemen, today and forever...dicks out for a true legend 🥃

We're currently pushing it to the CAF...

Haven’t received any alcohol since the red wedding at Laughlin in 2018. In fact all bars in the flight room were taken down and replaced with VR machines. Most recent thing is that students and IPs can’t drink at the same bar during cross country.

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.

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…

Wasn't she part of the same crowd that: Wanted to hang the vice president Physically assaulted capitol police in order to gain access to the capitol. Sprayed bear spray/pepper spray at police trying to keep them out Failed to comply with instructions to stay back/disperse with law enforcement who are sworn to protect the capitol grounds and members of Congress/staff. Tragic as her death is, the police were doing thier job.