Longhorn15

So you see that Fingers is trying to reduce future compensation for a large chunk of his pilot force, and you seem to be okay with it. You're not going to convince me that is ok, so agree to disagree. Nice try with the whining comment, it adds a lot to the conversation...

The 1500 hour rule does a ton of good things for pilots that Fingers is trying to undo. 1. Enhances flight safety. If you have doubts, go watch the Colgan crash video again. 2. It makes the regional airline model unsustainable. Most of the majors are already moving former regional routes back to mainline. Good for pilots to not work for regional slave wages, also means more majors hiring to fill expanding routes. This is driving a lot of the hiring. 3. It shifts the supply/demand for pilots. They aren't going to run out, they just can't be as choosy as they were for the last 15 years. They have 10K apps on file and the military putting out 1k+ a year. A lot of the apps are those they'd rather not hire for various reasons. To ensure they're getting quality candidates (mil pilots generally fall into this category) they are having to up pay and benefits to compete with other carriers. Look at pay rate rises over the past 18 months. It still never ceases to amaze me that the AF has made me count the days until I get out of a job that should be so awesome. I love flying fighters, but I hate being in the AF. The solution to keeping your people is not to try and reduce their prospects of future employment, or make that employment less desirable. I think that is a total shitbag move. If I ever had a doubt that I'm nothing but a number to the AF, it is completely erased with this line of effort.

I'm not saying we don't need 11F experience downrange, we clearly do, or that others should go instead. I'm saying if HAF wanted to fix the 11F problem they would get CENTCOM to agree to 120 day non-flying deployments rather than 365s to fill these spots, at least below the O-6 Command level. Make it 120, and you'll get volunteers. When it's 365, you push people out, both the ones that 7-day opt and those that leave at 11 yrs rather than 7-day opt at 14-16 yrs. We are already filling some W11F-coded billets with 120s, due to the patch community being devastated by 365s, why not the rest of the force too? The reason they're focused on 11Fs isn't just undermanning now. Due to CAF REDUX, fighter pilot production was less than half of what was needed from 08-14. Remember the days of 1 fighter per UPT class and ENJJPT guys mostly going to heavies? The chickens are coming home to roost and it's going to get much worse before it gets better, that is why HAF is so concerned about retaining those year groups. Not saying other communities don't have problems, but it's not as acute...yet.

It was pretty good info. The dip in production from 08-14 has rightfully got HAF scared. If they have 30% retention, which I think is very possible, most of those year groups will have 25-40 11Fs, just enough to fill OG and FW/CV. They expect experience ratios to slip and it to get worse before it gets better. Expect to see the quality of the students coming to a squadron near your drop as they cram more through the B-Course. To try and keep guys around they are revamping the assignment system. The goal is more choice and the ability to stay at one place longer. That seems incompatible with cram more through the pipeline, so we'll see. You can get most of the info from the slides and exec summary that are going around. They said goal is summer 17 VML. They trying to reduce strain on 11Fs, but not hard enough. Still 21 365s out there, but no 365s for 11Fs unless it requires an 11F. If they really gave this its due attention, that number would be zero, not 21. They're also looking at how to incentivize hard to fill spots. Whether that is guaranteed IDE or assignment choices, TBD. They're still pursuing pay increases. The numbers mentioned were 50-60K bonus and $1,500 flight pay They still have their head in their ass about the airlines. Overview slide listed airline hiring as the top item. Slide from aircrew survey had airlines dead last. Top 3 from aircrew were Assignments, home station ops temps and promotion. Side note, I also found out that 11Fs are not officially listed as critically manned. WTF?

The Strike Eagle is awesome, and flying with a WSO is nothing like having an IP with you in the jet at UPT. Having a WSO is invaluable when doing DT or CAS, which just so happens to be what we've been doing for the last 15 years. For the initial Libya strikes F-15Es nearly overflew Aviano (F-16 base) on their way down from the UK, while the Vipers sat on the ground. When the COCOM wanted jets in Turkey as a show of force to the Russians last fall, who did they send...Vipers? Nope. Strike Eagles again. If you get a choice, choose wisely.

Yes, we had to destroy our own jet a few days later. Not sure which is worse...

F-15E 1. High, you'll be busy, whether you're at home or away 2. Reasonably stable, but busy. Expect 1-2 AEFs per assignment plus numerous exercises/TDYs 3. Pretty darn good 4. Around until at least 2035, good upgrades planned 5. Mountain Home, Lakenheath - amazing / Seymour Johnson - not so much We bring some capabilities no one else does, but we also have our limitations compared to the 5th gen guys. We're popular right now due to our load out, comms and long legs (for a fighter.) I suspect the reason you haven't heard a ton from the fighter guys is that if you aren't 100% sure this is for you, it probably isn't, as you'll quickly burn out. Deployments are fun, but the 12hr+ days for years on end at home will wear you out if you don't love it. If I have to talk you into a fighter, it isn't for you. That isn't meant to say that you can't make it, but that you may not want to. If you've always dreamed of flying fighters, you will have zero regrets and kick yourself when you look back for even thinking of another option.

Way more than 10% true. "Maggie" was totally clueless, even the tanker plan sucked.

How do you feel about killing people?

The point you're missing is that in Welsh we had a CSAF who actually gets the problems and was unable to affect meaningful change. It could be much, much worse. I was in USAFE when Welsh sent out his "Dear Boss" email and then came and talked to us. Before that talk, I always thought the Generals were just clueless or just out of touch. Trust me, Welsh understands the problems, he is just sadly powerless to fix them. Of course he bows to political pressure on all the social engineering BS, he has to if he wants to have any chance of getting the funding he wants from Congress, or even talk to them about important issues without being overrun with sexual assault questions from Gillebrand. Was Welsh perfect, far from it. My biggest gripe is why the hell are we still doing so many 365s? There are many others. Seeing Welsh's performance over the last 4 years has convinced me that no one can make it better. I think Goldfein will at least minimize the bleeding and damage caused by the next round of politicians, whoever they may be. I hope CH is right.

This is an interesting concept. Very few CAF guys are going to staff these days. In fact, as part of the CAF match, guys are volunteering for remote staff to get staff credit. To give MAF guys an idea, I provide these two examples that I've seen in the last 2 years. 1. A FS/DO who turned down command, went Ops-to-Ops, and not for a command opportunity 2. An O-5, who has never been an IP, got non-vol'd to the FTU for IP duty We saw a few pure-ops guys get BTZ last year from the CAF and AFSOC. I'd be curious to know what directions to the board were. Maybe staff matters more for MAF than CAF? Notice you rarely see 11Fs anywhere but a fighter base of staff? Strange times.

The proposal to increase the bonus to $35K just barely covers inflation from 2000-2016. $25K in 2000 = $34,325 today. The other pay factor worthy of discussion is the ACIP. Hasn't increased in the critical 6-14 year range since 1990. $650 in 1990 = $1178 today. Pay won't keep everyone in, but it certainly won't hurt to take us back to pay rates on par or better than the 2000 era, which was the last time the AF was worried about retention.

I was told 84% as well by my SR. Not exactly sure what it means though. Is that an overall number, is it based on the number IPZ? Anyone know?

Don't confuse the FMS price with a USAF price. Ours is significantly cheaper. There are a ton of extras built into FMS sales. Cost isn't just about purchase price. LO MX comes with a hefty price tag. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

There is a world of difference between quitting at the Academy and quitting UPT. Now for some facts: If you quit the Academy, you fall under AFI 36-3504 para 16, and you are liable to either serve your ADSC enlisted or pay back your education expenses. If you quit UPT, you never have a flying ADSC. There is even a specific note in AFI 36-2107 Table 1.1 note 2 that says you'll have either a 2 year ADSC or the ADSC for the program you quit, whichever is less. There is another section in 36-2107 2.19.1 that talks recoupment of bonus and incentive pays for non-completion of the associated ADSC, but since you never get an ADSC if you quit UPT, it doesn't apply. I personally saw one person SIE over their aircraft drop (non-RPA) in 2009 and another over their track select in 2004. They were separated with no attempt at recoupment of any costs.

ATC cannot route IFR traffic through an active MOA. They either have to send them around, or call the airspace back. If you're losing airspace without your consent, you need to talk to the Chief Controller at your local RAPCON and see why they're giving away your airspace without your approval. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Got my ATP at Cobra Kai recently, and would definitely recommend. Solid instructors, program and big picture examiner. I definitely appreciated the three flights, I would've been way uncomfortable doing a check ride after just 1 flight. It costs slightly more than others, but I'd use them again. Happy to answer any questions via PM. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

PYB is a retard who thinks he is smarter than everyone else about the law. However, being an idiot and going about things in unbelievably stupid ways doesn't make him 100% wrong. I was struck when I was traveling in Europe and one of my British friends told the other Brits to bring ID to an event, then looked at me and said: "You're American, of course you always have ID on you." What right do police have to stop me if they do not suspect me of a crime? We scorn the Germans in old movies when they randomly stop people and ask for the "papers." How is this different?

“Tiger, one day you will come to a fork in the road,” he said. “And you’re going to have to make a decision about which direction you want to go.” He raised his hand and pointed. “If you go that way you can be somebody. You will have to make compromises and you will have to turn your back on your friends. But you will be a member of the club and you will get promoted and you will get good assignments.” Then Boyd raised his other hand and pointed another direction. “Or you can go that way and you can do something – something for your country and for your Air Force and for yourself. If you decide you want to do something, you may not get promoted and you may not get the good assignments and you certainly will not be a favorite of your superiors. But you won’t have to compromise yourself. You will be true to your friends and to yourself. And your work might make a difference.” He paused and stared into the officer’s eyes and heart. “To be somebody or to do something. In life there is often a roll call. That’s when you will have to make a decision. To be or to do. Which way will you go?

Board: Dec 12, first pin on: Jan 14. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

the guys who are Sq/CCs now are the ones who were burned by decision to unmask AAD last time. Therefore they have no trust and actually think they're helping you not get painted into the same corner they did. I don't agree with them, but as with any advice, consider the source. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

F-150 Ecoboost hands down. I get 20-21 MPG on the highway, it takes me camping/4 wheeling in the mountains, and can pull a 9K+ trailer with no problem. Amazing truck. Previous truck was a GMC with the 6.2L V8. No comparison. If you haven't seen it yet, I'd wait and get a 2015 F-150.

They're not. The Eagle has auto CMD settings too. No one uses it because it would waste all your chaff/flare, sounds like the F-35 will be the same. Once again, overly complex and expensive systems designed by engineers who do not understand air combat.

The attitude of the author in that article is about half of what is wrong with cops in America.

His wife isn't any better. Booze was removed from the FS bars at SJ and there are locks on the beer taps.