Boomer6

Disagree with the posts about trying to get into the T-38 regardless. If you still want MCs and you go to UPT going to the -38 side will be more of a gamble. AFSOC stuff routinely drops to T-1s. When it drops to T-38s it's usually because there aren't enough fighters for all the -38 grads (afpc at its finest). Also, keep in mind fighter dudes aren't getting sent back to UPT anytime soon due to the shortage, so if you do get AFSOC out of -38s there's a greater possibility of coming back fairly soon as an IP.

This is true, but other bases don't always play ball and if there isn't an AFSOC asset in the drop then they can't exactly trade for one. I've seen several dudes get told, "Go -38s you're universally assignable." They were all disappointed. I don't care if you're #1, if there isn't one in the drop and your flt/cc can't trade some other non-fighter with the T-1 side (who most likely won't play ball) you have a 96.9% chance your flt/cc calls afpc and tells them he needs a non fighter/bomber and they hand him a wide body ISR because ACC owns you. If you go to the UPT side and you still want AFSOC after formation in the T-6 then go T-1s. Your chances will be much better than going T-38s. I can't speak to the ENJJPT side.

I mean the course in Austin called UPT next/pilot training next where they only do sims and fly a T6. Pilot Training Next

Guys at IFF with viper B-Course at Kelly scheduled for August are getting notified that they'e being kicked out and going to Holloman to make room for upt next kids. Holloman isn't backed up right? Anyone know if the UPT next kids have started yet?

I have a hard time believing it too. The only thing that makes me think it might happen that way is because of the negative repercussions that big blue would have to deal with if they went back on either the bonus, ie no more 13 year commitment and bros running each other over to get out the door, or not providing professional pay to individuals simply because they agreed to serve their country for another 13 years. Both scenarios are not the kind of publicity the AF needs right now. In either case, those on the fence and the younger guys would see it as one more reason to get out, and the people answering this question know that. That being said this is all based on using sound logic, so I wouldn't be surprised if that's not what happens.

The question was asked if you've already signed up for the bonus do you keep the bonus and get the professional pay. The answer was, "Yes, you will get both." with a follow-up of "we know there's going to be a mutiny if we try and take the bonus money away from people so a small number of people will end up getting both." Or at least that what I heard from a guy that knows a guy..

Ah, the standard "it could always be worse" argument seems to be a favorite of big blue, definitely a favorite of the kind of ppl telling us we're easily replaced.

Yeah, when significant numbers of UPT IPs coming to 38 squadrons keep going to 88s/89s at PIT and take a month to get through TI with multiple TI cert attempts I'd want more FAIPs too. We're not teaching perch anymore so that's one less thing to hook for. I'm actually curious how DLF found themselves in such a FAIP shortage?

This is the Air Force.

Also, when asked how RTUs, already struggling with absorption of new -38 grads, are going to absorb more students the officer running the brief stated emphatically, "RTUs don't have an absorption problem." Doesn't seem that way from where I'm sitting. What say you?

They're planning on completely getting rid of the UPT class system now so it'll be interesting to see how they implement this..

No sweat. They're cutting the T-6 syllabus by approx. 13 hrs, changing Phase 1 and 2 to a Navy style syllabus, and eliminating sorties/requirements and other training from the -38 side all to up the production. Should have plenty of "qualified" pilots on their way to the CAF in no time!

Wtf are shirt garters?

You're one of the main contributors of that mission being accomplished as far as this thread goes. Posting a WaPo article with ideas from Rubio doesn't exactly count as finding common ground. You stoke the liberal side of the fire more than anyone on here, thankfully you're slightly less antagonistic than Vertigo. The conservative dudes on here aren't much better when it comes to squabbling back and forth. Some of those guys at least admit they're not a fan of the leadership. The politicians are the ones making the issue "brazenly partisan" and the majority of you are falling in line with your side of the aisle. If like minded individuals from a small community as this can't even get closed to agreeing on something what makes you think politicians are going to? Get you're popcorn out.

The BBC is reporting a Su-25 was shot down in Syria. They're saying the pilot got out but was killed by rebels on the ground. BBC: Su-25 Down in Syria

Yeah, we're being told to expect to check out of the dorms at 1600 today if a deal isn't reached. The taxpayer gets to pay 700 captains to travel back and forth to Montgomery.

Not true on the SOS part. We're being told to expect to be sent home on Monday if a spending deal isn't passed. That's coming down from the AETC Deputy Commander Maj Gen Brown.

This.

Vance bros have been wearing them for around two years in the T6 and T38.

Not true. Dude had a great attitude all through upt. Handled it like a champ day of and after. Shoulda Faip'd him. Also, guys don't get E-3s because they piss people off (mostly). If that's how you think drops get decided you should probably talk to someone that's not a Lt. 99% of the time there are no T-1 trades in my neck of the woods. They think their #8 dude is better than our #1 or #2 (no shit) and don't play ball. Regarding heavy drops. Word on the street is AMC told AETC to pound sand if they want any more -38 trained heavy guys back as instructors. AETC said that's cool, we're not sending you anymore -38 trained dudes. Enter afsoc and accept assets.

Can't speak to T-6s but the sit downs are few and far between in 38s. Dude we can't sit post solo kids, no one cares about EPs, we have the timeline to worry about... Hypemic or histotoxic hypoxia both would make sense- contaminated air from OBOGS could block oxygen absorption, resulting in hypoxia. Think along the lines of carbon monoxide poisoning. Which would make pulling the green ring instead of gangloading make sense (actual 100% O2 from a seperate system), and if they suspect that the normal oxygen supply from OBOGS is providing contaminated air, gangloading would only make the hypoxia worse by increasing the amount of contaminants the crew is exposed to. And rather than have the crew try to figure out what kind of hypoxia they are experiencing, just go for your known good supply of oxygen all the time and figure it out later. Shack. Scary shit.

Yes, a none CAF guy can teach an SP to land and keep them from hurting themselves. As several posters above have pointed out studs are getting to IFF/B-course and they can't think or even fly tactical. This isn't a pissing contest. It's a matter of experience. Can a heavy guy go learn to fly a -38, yes. Have there been successful cross flows before, yes. Is it more likely a stud will be better at thinking/flying tactical if he flies with IPs who have been doing it for the last at least 4+ years, or from someone that did it for 5 months at PIT (rhetorical)? On top of that there is a different mentality from students when they're taught by CAF vs. non CAF IPs. If you doubt this ask any -38 IP, or SP for that matter, the kind of growing pains studs go through after moving from 99.69% non CAF IPs in T-6s over to the -38 side. Also, the majority of heavy guys coming back as -38 IPs right now are being given additional rides/instruction in TI because it's very much needed in some cases.

When the timeline or bust mentality is pushed by leadership the only people getting anything remedial are the "raving lunatics" trying to push back and hold some semblance of a standard.

It's depressing the number of times I've heard IPs arguing against giving an unsat with the reasoning of "Is this good for the timeline." The standard at UPT, on the -38 side at least, has been on a sharp decline for the last year or two, because we're more concerned on graduating everyone on time so the masses can keep the "100% on-time graduation" OPR bullet. We're sending SPs to fighters that can't fly TAC to save their life. UPT flt/cc's are sending dudes to fighters because "it's not their job to decide who is good enough to fly a fighter and who isn't, that' IFF's job." Then the studs that can't even fly TAC pass IFF and on down the road the can goes.