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With my knowledge on how fractions work. It’s safe to say 50% chance phone calls are happening this week! Good luck to everyone! Live-Laugh-Toaster Bath QUAG

All signs point to a tomorrow afternoon phone call [emoji102] [emoji102] May the pilot slots be many, and your celebratory mugs full [emoji481] Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

I don't have a problem with a bunch of my deserving contemporaries not getting sent to fighters when the war needed pilots to fly other stuff. I think institutionally we need to get away from the MWS tribes and gate keeping and realize that what you get out of UPT shouldn't define/exclude your career the entire time. If you want to see some funny stuff, look at some of the UPT grads scores that went non-fighters from the 07-09 year group and then compare it to a guy in the mid-teens that did. You'd rather take a guy who's sole talent is fogging a mirror into a Viper than a thousand combat hour U-28 kid that had the misfortune of bad timing? I know it's more complicated than that but that's always bugged me.

I answered my nations call…. 🫡 Dm me for my address. I like bourbon!

Hearing, vision, severe intellectual disability, psychiatric disability….about par for the course since I first interacted with a FSDO 20+ years ago.

It’s going to be interesting to see what happens if a DEI hire in the future plows a fully loaded aircraft into the ground; reference the Atlas Air crash. That whole story should be a big red flag to the industry. Honestly kudos to Mesa, often known as a bottom feeder regional, for refusing to upgrade that clown. It’s not hard to imagine why Atlas was maybe afraid to fire him. All this to say, it doesn’t matter what skin color you are, gender you are, etc… to be able to competently fly an aircraft. But if you use purely immutable characteristics as your guide to hiring, you will eventually get a poorly qualified candidate at the controls. If you want diversity in aviation you have to start at the ground floor. You need to get kids involved who are from communities that have little or no aviation ties. One of the coolest things I’ve done is be involved with Young Eagles and CAP in the SoCal area. We got lots of kids up in the air and around airplanes who otherwise would never even gotten near that opportunity. Hopefully a few of them stick with it. The problem is, those long term changes take 20 years to show up in statistics, and no CEO is going to let his or her follow ons take credit for something they could fix in a few short years with just biased hiring practices.

That is incorrect. Guard Reserve students have a MASS score calculated, but it is never used against AD peers for eligibility to track -38s. I think what you may be confusing for policy, was that it was colloquially understood that sponsoring units wanted to see upper-50% relative performance. But none of that is neither written, nor procedural in the tracking of the trainee to phase III. What does exist, is the discretion for the sq/cc to provide feedback to the sponsoring unit of either (i) non-T38 (frankly very rare) or (ii) non-IFF recommendation (much more common). AD does not pay for the billet, AFRC does (yes, even Guard bureau slots are centrally managed by AFRC now), so it's their [gaining unit] call. In fairness, the sponsoring unit can and usually does concur with the retread recommendation to heavies or bombers. Seen it happen many times, with (ii) being more common in my experience, through 13 years in the AETC TFI AFRC (that's a lot of letters lol) business. If you performance meets the CTS for T-6s, you will track 38s are a 11f bound Guard/Res guy, regardless of your relative ranking in your class, unless your gaining sq/cc concurs with a non-recommendation from the upt sq/cc. He is incorrect. AFRC buys the billet, the kid owns the T-38 slot, not AD. When he was sent to UPT, he went in with a centrally funded class allocation for T-38 from the jump. AFRC footprint does not change the AD calculus. I know the whole "different color of money" stumps some people, but AD cats nervous about tracking 38 need not look at their ARCF/ANG classmates as anything but guys who for all competing purposes, are there just "auditing the course". They're not your problem, nor your competition, just like internationals.

I don't know the current situation, but prior to rona, the FAA was starting to crack down on hangars. If the airport had received Federal dollars, they were going through and ensuring that hangars we're being utilized to hangar aircraft. They started forcing evictions of people who were using to the store shit or run unrelated businesses. Here's hoping that is actually happening. Anyway, make friends with the airport owner and you'll get a hangar lol. I'm not joking...he who owns the hangars/airport, controls the list... I had a relatively easy time getting a hangar for my first plane, but it's getting tighter in my area. The guys I sold my plane to are keeping it in my hangar as I sub-let it to them. I'm keeping it for my next plane lol. A group of friends and I are trying to get around all that by building our own grass strip and putting up our forever homes/hangars. Just need someone to be willing to part with the right 30-40 acres lol.

A couple of Ivy League leftists with an agenda to ruin America.

FAs should just issue a tool kit to everyone and asked them to fix the plane while in flight. Inflight entertainment will by youtube vids showing you how to do something, but with key parts missing in the video so you have no idea how they got the cover off. Anyone with spare parts leftover has to hand them off to the next pax taking that seat.

The hangar situation across a lot of the US is a total disaster - main reason I don’t currently own a plane. Really sucks.

Is he a white male? Just curious. Because he should step down in a sign of honor to those less privileged.

Don’t be a hot 2Lt and try to be Miss America? Copy—I’ve lived by this code my entire life and will continue to do so.

I went back through 10+ pages of archives here to see if there was a thread I could bring back from the dead. I couldn't find one so I'll make a new one. I just recently transferred from the ANG to an AFRC IMA job. This post and thread will be a place holder for more information when I have more time to sit down and write a novel of my experience with this process. Like anything military personnel/administrative related, it was a nightmare... so far. Hopefully it'll all be worth it. I've got my 20+ years already, but decided I didn't want to fly anymore or do the UTA thing anymore and didn't quite think it was a good idea to retire yet so I decided to try the IMA world. *****EDIT***** I'll start answering some of the questions below. I really had to seriously compare the pro's and con's since my brain was pretty much committed to retiring when I stumbled across the IMA vacancy, but my main reasons for staying in were: I've already been an O-5 for a bit over 3 years. I was one who was good going out as an O-4 and then I promoted to O-5. When I did the math, an O-6 collecting an ARC retirement in 2037 with 6,000 points was over $20k per year more than an O-5. Well beyond what I had imagined, so it was a big factor in my decision. The opportunity to promote to O-6 is a good possibility in the position I'm in. There are a couple of O-6 positions above me in the unit already. I also decided that I wanted to stay in and try something different before I pulled the plug. The ANG has it's advantages in that you can be a flyer for your whole career if you want and retire as a mission-ready line pilot, but a part of me felt I needed to try something else. Military flying wasn't doing much for me anymore and I felt I needed to put that phase of my life behind me. There's only 24 IDT and 12 AT plus MPA when made available (reduced retirement eligible). I really don't need military days to augment my airline schedule anymore as I am very senior in base/in seat, not commuting and loving life. With the amount I was having to participate in my Guard unit (the ops tempo just never seemed to let up), it was basically starting to hamper my ability to pick up open time and make more money at the company anyway. One 2-day premium pickup is worth more than a whole month of ANG pay. No UTA's. I was really done with the whole one weekend a month thing. I won't work weekends and the schedule is very flexible. I'll be the only reservist in the squadron (it's all AD) and the position is basically a deputy Sq/CC augmenting my AD counterpart. So, I figured I'd give it go. Worse comes to worse, I hate it and I pull the handle in a few years. No commitment. Still eligible for TRS healthcare as an IMA (A or B, not C). THE PROCESS (I may add to this little by little): 1. Find the position you want. You do this by going on the Reserve Vacancy site off vMPF. It's in the same area you can find the PERSTEMPO and PRDA links. Click on that and go to IMA vacancies. If you're a flyer, you'll pretty much be eligible to apply for Pilot IMA (11XX) and Operations Support (16XX) vacancies. Note that IMA positions are rank capped, so if you're an O-4 close to meeting your O-5 board, you probably won't get hired into an O-4 IMA position and probably don't want to because you will not be able to promote until you find an O-5 position. If you're already an O-5, you can sit in an O-5 IMA position until your MSD (not a bad deal). 2. Find an AFRC recruiter. I'd imagine this process is a lot easier if you're already AFRC. The recruiter can get you more info about the IMA position. If there is no POC listed on the vacancy announcement, they can get you this info. I'd advise you contact the hiring official via email or phone and discuss the position. If it's local, you may even want to show up for a meet and greet, which I believe goes a long way in showing your interest. Lots of people apply for these positions and many of them are not local. There are IMA positions all over the country. The recruiter will probably have you fill out a bunch of AFRC application-type paperwork to start a file on you. 3. If you're ANG, you'll need to get an AF 1288 drafted and routed through your Guard leadership. Your unit may have other local processes for a separation, but it'll go up through your CoC (up to TAG) for approval. This takes a while. It shouldn't, but it does because FSS manages the whole thing. For me, it took about two months. Once the AF 1288 comes back signed, it goes back to your recruiter. The recruiter will have to put a separation date on your AF 1288. Picking this date is very important as I will discuss in a bit in my take-aways and how I would have done things differently if people actually knew what they were doing and gave me the correct information during this process. If you explore the IMA world from the ANG, expect that this will be the first time everyone is doing this and in the end, you're the one who can get screwed if it's not done correctly. 4. Once the 1288 is ready to go, the recruiter will submit it to HQ RIO/DET - X. Depending on what MAJCOM this IMA job falls under, that Detachment will vary. RIO/DET will review your application and send it to the hiring official after they review it. Keep in mind, you may have already had a hand-shake agreement that you have been hired into that position by the hiring official. If you haven't been hired, your application may just go into a pile with everyone else's. These IMA jobs may be a lot more popular than you may think so it is important to network and/or rush the unit. RIO/DET had my application for almost two months, which at the time, I was told was longer than usual, but apparently there was a hold up with their HARM reviewing my flying records. We're now at about the 4-1/2 cumulative month mark from when I began the process. 5. RIO/Det adds some things to your AF 1288 and will send the package back to your ANG unit's FSS. Your FSS will submit the separation package to ARPC. This happens through the new "myFSS" system, which at the moment, is a colossal train wreck (because vPC-GR was so broken, we had to change it, right?). Even though your 1288 got routed through your leadership for you to apply to get out of the ANG, your separation package will now be routing electronically through myFSS to your leadership again (at least through SQ and OG/CC's) for approval. Even though this should only take a few days, expect another month. 6. Once the package is signed by your leadership, FSS will submit it to ARPC. If there are any errors in your separation package, ARPC will kick it back (there were thanks to my FSS). This will delay the process more. 7. The ANG and Reserves like to play games with manpower numbers so depending on what time of year and what those numbers look like, they may not let you out until it's good for their PowerPoint presentations. Mine sat with a technician for three months. Depending on what separation date you put on your 1288, this could screw you. More about that below. 8. When my 1288 came back from RIO/Det earlier in the process, my FSS told me that once they submit the package to ARPC, it'd only be several weeks for an approval. Why I believed them, I don't know, but I did so when I chose my separation date, I picked one out ahead about a month. Well, the process took another six months. With each and every day that went by past my separation date, my separation was to be back-dated. The catch with this is that I could no longer do military duty with the ANG past this date and I could not do military duty with the AFRC yet prior to being gained, which meant I was pretty much in limbo. Depending on your points situation and your R/R date (which stays the same going from ANG to AFRC), you may back yourself into a corner getting your 50 points for a good year. Your 15 ANG membership points will be prorated based off your separation date. My recommendation is to set your separation date out further in the future and make sure you get 50 points for the year before you separate. I was already past my 20 year mark, but I'd still not want deal with not getting a good year. Also, if you are using Tricare Reserve Select, back-dating your separation will screw with that and DEERS as well because you may show a break in service for a while until the AFRC gains you (could be a week or more). Expect disrupted military email service, CAC certificate issues and you will come up "terminated" when they scan your CAC at the front gate. It will also not work at the commissary (but they let me shop anyway). I am also hearing "rumors" that approved reduced retirement applications that were done in vPC-GR are "lost in space" and especially so going from ANG to AFRC or vice-versa. I am in the process of trying to track mine down. It is no-where to be found in the new myFSS system and vPC-GR is gone. What is even sweeter is that ANG AROWS doesn't talk to AROWS-R and once you are separated from the ANG, you will no longer have access to your orders. So, it'd behoove you to download all of your orders from AROWS-ANG and store them somewhere safe (maybe multiple places) because you won't be able to get them. Ask me how I know. Of course, don't expect anyone to tell you this very valuable information at your unit or find it on any out-processing checklist (probably a good place for it). Luckily, I was able to talk my ANG FSS into downloading and emailing me all of my 200+ orders after I was separated. Don't expect the same treatment. More to follow....

This is a great take on changing world orders…. There’s also a 5 min version. While I would hope that being open globally to trade would prevent us from conflict Mearsheimer has pointed out that this did not factor into WWI. The only problem I see is that China’s continued rise is not certain, what they do release is troubling and it is on this basis that I presume things are worse than they seem especially with them filling their missiles with water over fuel. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

have you ever considered the liberal international order is its own version of authoritarian systems? it really hit me with how the system acted during covid. lockdowns, forced vax, openly lying about the vax effectiveness. fauci himself praised the chinese level of dystopian lockdowns.

We need to draw straws on who asks in the comments of the AF Portal’s UFT page for a more specific date. 😂

At least he passed his duties to his deputy.... Who was on vacation.

I hope she makes it thru UPT just fine. I also hope she makes a profile on BODN and gives all you ninny nannies a shit ton of ball bustin'. If so, she wouldn't be the 1st pretty lady to fly well. Google it. There's the T-bird, Malachowski, Kim Campbell who landed a battle damaged A-10, and not to mention the scores of WASPs, a few of whom I met at while staying a few nights before Oshkosh at my in-law's neighbor's house. As for the media, the called her a Soldier. WTF, over?

When she gets through UPT then the FTU and upgrades, the question is would the USAF let her fly an operational mission that is in a high threat environment? Think of the propaganda coup if she showed up as an POW video from the bad guys. Hey guys we shot down Miss America!! Oh!! never mind she is enrolled at Harvard getting a master's in public policy, to go along with her degree in physics from the USAFA.

From AOPA: Driver's license and the student pilot certificate: The Sport Pilot rule allows a pilot to fly light-sport aircraft without the need for an FAA medical certificate. However, a sport pilot must hold at least a current and valid U.S. driver's license in order to exercise this privilege. The only exceptions are for operations in a glider or balloon, which does not require a driver's license. A person using a current and valid U.S. driver's license must comply with each restriction and limitation imposed by that person's U.S. driver's license and any judicial or administrative order applying to the operation of a motor vehicle. That person must also meet the requirements of 14 CFR 61.23(c)(2), which states the following: Have been found eligible for the issuance of at least a third class airman medical certificate at the time of his or her most recent application (if the person has applied for a medical certificate); Not have had his or her most recently issued medical certificate (if the person has held a medical certificate) suspended or revoked or most recent Authorization for a Special Issuance of a Medical Certificate withdrawn; and Not know or have reason to know of any medical condition that would make that person unable to operate a light-sport aircraft in a safe manner.

It’ll be swept under the rug immediately, and you’ll be a racist, ______phobic, etc. if you bring it up. Just like every mass shooting when the shooter is trans, minority, illegal alien, etc.

In Soviet Russia Operation Secure’s you! Beers for the guys at Raytheon. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Happy because he knew it wouldn’t happen? Causing fractures and potentially an end to the alliance?

It’s certainly not her fault that our society has spent a couple decades fucking over women and minorities who actually earn their way. I truly hope she’s awesome like many of the women I’ve flown with.

Speaking of the ridiculous allegation that Trump is somehow pro Putin, I wonder how happy Putin was when Trump went to Europe, and immediately began twisting arms to get our NATO partners to pay the full 2% that they agreed to when they joined?

Approaching the the last batch of Gen Xers. I look forward to what kinda shenanigans the Millennials will bring to command.

Best line I heard about Austin’s hospitalization was because he needed a “New Spine” and the operation takes time!😀

ADMIN NOTE: Could we please stay somewhat on topic? Thanks! M2

Sounds like the trend of Air Force golf courses closing has been going on for the past couple years. Relevant Reddit thread here. I know golf in general as a sport has declined in a lot of places around the country, due to the usual suspects (lack of free time, shrinking middle class, changes in people's interests, etc). The fact that the AF golf courses have to be self-funded just make it that much more difficult. Interesting to see "inclusivity and diversity" weaved into the official press release. It seems like people in command get extra points anytime they can invoke the holy trinity of DEI. Perhaps this is just the Barksdale Wing CC being savvy and tacking on "inclusivity and diversity" to anything and everything. Need to repave the main road? It's going to be the most inclusive and diverse pavement we can get, utilizing asphalt from underprivileged areas. Need to replace a snowplow? We're going to ensure the new plow implements the highest standards of equity, and drive it around in the summer and winter.

You gotta be an MC dude…

Nada ?