Motofalcon

You guys see this? Welsh is getting the 2015 Great American Patriot Award. Previous awardees include Gen Schwartz...but also a Marine general and a MoH recipient. I have never heard of this award so I have no idea if it is something big or another award for participating. Not to take away from his 30+ years of service, but it seems a bit ridiculous, given all the bad/sub-stellar press lately (we are short people across the board right after massive cuts, "you are always on parade, even your private phone conversations", the F-35 debacle, et al) but maybe my view is a bit skewed from reading JQP. Or maybe this is like that order of the sword or whatever the Chiefs give the CSAF - they did it once, so now they do it every time? https://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/Article/637365/welsh-named-2015-great-american-patriot-award-recipient.aspx

Pile-on to the sweet Wild Weasel watch - Bremont is making them this year to celebrate the 50 year anniversary of the Wild Weasel program (1965-2015). That's why there is the subdued 0 by the 5, making the 50. Also, they have a different one for each Weasel aircraft (F-100, -105, -4, -16), in case any of you old crusties want one with your beloved Hun, Thud, or Phantom on it. Finally, these watches are only available to Wild Weasel pilots, EWOs, and other folks associated with the program. You have to contact Bremont (or me or sqwatch to get Bremont's contact info) and they will verify that you qualify then allow you to order. Cost is around $3k (about 1/2 off) FILO!

Update from this years application - my time in service waiver was not approved, so my app didn't make it to the board. I only bring it up because I think this confirms my "no news is good news" hunch on the waivers - the last two years I never heard anything back (about the waivers or application), this year I got an email about 3 weeks after the app due date/2 weeks before the board meeting saying my waiver had not been approved. Figured I'd pass the info on so the next round of applicants will know their waivers get approved or not. Also, my waiver for TIS was approved last year, which was for only a couple months (I think it its 9yr3mo at start date, and I would have been around 9yr7mo at start date, something like that). So, if you are close, I think they will allow it, but if you are over a year beyond the requirement (I'm 05 year group) the door seems pretty closed. Apply early, apply often....

Yeah, wanna know why? Because dudes are seeing the writing on the wall. The VML just prior to the last one (the spring 15) was a bloodbath; out of about 160 pilots on that VML (obviously not all currently in the cockpit - staff returns, etc), guess how many ops to ops assignments there were, as in going from a 3 year tour to another 3 year tour. Just guess. One. One ops to ops in the entire VML (and that includes going to teach at the b course). About 20 guys got to go to Korea, so about 20 left and if they were first assignment Korea guys they obviously got to stay in the jet. Everyone else? AETC tours teaching UPT or PIT (including PIT assignments following UPT - not a two plus two, but two full AETC assignments in a row), staff gigs, A29s, etc. So when the community hears the AF crying about this major 11F/viper pilot shortage, but then nobody gets to actually stay in the jet (did have some guys go from Kunsan to Osan because it was the only way to stay in) dudes are bailing. Which I totally understand, because for a guy/gal to bust their ass for the 3 years it takes just to get to MQT, then work for 3 years in the sq, to then get nothing for it and face a career of 11F "required" assignments that aren't in the F16 - why would you stay? *The most recent VML wasn't as bad as that one, but the porch is still telling us that expect only one pilot per base to go ops to ops, everyone else gets non-viper assignments. So the outlook is not very good, and folks in the community are tired of being told the AF needs them so badly, but then figuring out it isn't in the jet.

Hey dudes/dudettes, I have been reading this thread and talking to anyone I could find about getting in to TPS. Short version - T-6 FAIP, then went to vipers, did a combat deployment (with a fair amount of employments), made it through the IPUG in one tour, FCF guy in both T-6 and F-16. Bachelors and masters in mechanical engineering (2.6 and 3.4 GPA, respectively). I applied the last two years (letters from sq/cc, former sq/cc and wg/cc - two WIC patches, but no TPS grads), but never even got a call back for an interview. I did have to put in for a GPA waiver for my undergrad, and a time in service waiver last year, but I never heard they were disapproved, so I guess they were approved. Am I missing something? Does the FAIP tour hurt me? I would have figured multiple airframes might look good to the DT world or break even, but not hurt my resume. I have heard the golden ticket is to have a TPS grad write you a letter of recommendation, but you don't see too many blue patches walking around your average UPT training squadron/CAF fighter squadron, so it's tough to talk to someone from that world, let alone get a letter. Anybody have any insights? I might give it one more shot this year, but not sure my age waiver will go through. I understand they want young guys (STS) in the community so they can get some good test years out of them, but they also want experienced IPs... kinda can't have both. Any advice would be appreciated, feel free to PM for more details if you want.

Now THAT is a pilot retention program!

Unless something has changed, the reg is that you have to be a previous AETC IP (which means UPT, not MWS) to go back to be a PIT IP. The only way to get to KRND if not a prior FAIP/UPT instructor is IFF at the 435th.

Here's my situation: T-6 FAIP, now flying vipers, just got an assignment to teach T-38 PIT at Randolph. I owe two more years on my UPT ADSC (expires June 2017). Asked about the reg, specifically note 1b, and they said that doesn't apply, but note 1c does, since I am switching airframes (from F-16 to T-38). They say I have two options: 1) Take the 3 year PIT ADSC, so my commitment date moves to the right by about a year (July 2018) 2) Try to accept the assignment without taking the 3 year ADSC, which will make me set my date of separation to June 2017 (end of UPT commitment) AND I may get a different assignment if the porch decides they won't send me to PIT without getting the full 3 years out of it. It basically seems like note 1a and 1b are 100% contradictory to each other, and AFPC gets to pick and choose which one they want to follow. The setting of date of separation was a big surprise to me - I don't necessarily want to get out in 2017, but I want the option... Any thoughts?

Sounds like a gnarly LFE, but I see one problem with it - it wasn't on a Friday. Even worse - it was on a Monday. Every good fighter pilot knows that a sweet 4-ship, and ESPECIALLY a 4-ship in an LFE, should launch at about 1000L on a Friday, and the mass debrief takes place at the O-club/sq Briefing Auxiliary Room around 1500-1600L. Plus, the awards ceremony happens about two weeks later (also a Friday afternoon at the O-club) so you get to cash it in for two parties. What did they have, 3-to 6.9 squadrons participating? Sounds like it could have been a damn good "watch-chasing" over some whiskey...