backseatdriver

No - it's a level of Professional Military Education (PME). The first level (for officers) is ASBC, then SOS, then Intermediate and Senior Service School (ISS and SSS). Most people go to Air Command and Staff College for ISS and Air War College for SSS, however there are a bunch of different programs/schools that serve to fulfill ISS/SSS.

War college is a year long. As far as how difficult it is, I won't speculate being a lowly butter bar, but I doubt there are many who don't "pass." [ 18. October 2004, 01:10: Message edited by: backseatdriver ]

Q: What's the difference between a pilot and his plane? A: The plane stops whining when you shut down the engines. Q: How do you know if there's a pilot at your party? A: He'll let you know.

Captains do not get FAIPed. Whether it is behind or in front of the scenes, Captains do not get FAIPed.

Cumulative GPA is what the board looks at.

Where the heck do you rent a Mess Dress from?

So what does the centerline thrust restriction mean exactly? Can someone who goes through 38s and gets their multi-engine rating with the restriction not go fly in a multi-engine at their local FBO? Or do they just have to do a couple training rides and then they're good to go? [ 02. June 2004, 15:57: Message edited by: backseatdriver ]

I've got two screws in my knee from ACL reconstruction and didn't have any problems with getting on flying status. I've got a buddy who just passed MFS and is on his way to UPT that also has two screws in his knee from ACL surgery. So, in short, it won't be a problem.

Unless the dorms are full enough you won't have an option. The dorms have to be filled to a certain percentage before they'll allow single students to not live in the dorms. I think it's either 85 or 90%, but don't quote me on those numbers because I'm married and didn't have to deal with it.

I guess I was at least half right! :D

I think Intel school is around 8 months, and I've heard San Angelo is a pretty dry town. Don't really know anything about drops, but I'd say you'll probably end up going to an OSS somewhere first out of school. I think the guys with the flying units have a little more experience, but I don't know for sure. On another note, what spec ops stuff are you talking about at McChord?

My advice on finding a good recruiter would be to contact a local AFROTC Detachment and ask to speak to their UAO (Unit Admissions Officer). Even if you can't do ROTC, these guys have lots of information on OTS. In addition, they keep close contacts with area recruiters so they can point you to one that has their stuff together. One thing about UAOs is that they won't hose you with bad info. They're officers and they're going to be able to give you info from that side of the house as opposed to talking to an enlisted recruiter that might have absolutely no clue what they're talking about. Also, it gives you someone you can run info by if you think the recruiter is trying to give you the shaft. [/$.02]

C-21 (or whoever knows), So if you meet your 12 yr gate, you pull flight pay for the rest of your time in?

So basically it sucks and we need to scrap it and use the money elsewhere.

Talk to your Det, but probably not. Changes from tech to tech usually aren't a problem, but tech to non-tech are very rare.

I remember hearing that if you get stationed at Mildenhall or Lakenheath you have to put your pets in quarantine for X number of days/weeks. Is this still in effect? What's the story on this? I'm hoping to get stationed at Mildenhall, so I'm curious as to how this works (I've got 2 dogs). [ 09. April 2004, 18:39: Message edited by: backseatdriver ]

If you do IFT, the AF pays for up to 50 hours for you to complete your PPL. That's probably where you got 50 from. You don't have to complete all 50 hours, just get your PPL.

Travis is nearby San Francisco as well, and all gay jokes aside, it is a very cool city (just steer clear of the Castro District). [ 04. April 2004, 20:43: Message edited by: backseatdriver ]

The T-6 doesn't have a TACAN?

By "spin" I mean break out the ol' whiz-wheel. You start using computerized flight plans and charts towards the end of the training. You actually do tons of "dead reckoning," it's just not the same thing you're used to. Everything you do in nav school is instrument based, there's no visual navigation, except for maybe in the T-1 phase (low-level flights), but I haven't gotten that far yet.

Actually I'm still a student, so ask me the other questions in a few months. As far as typical days at nav school, it varies greatly. Here's a rough breakdown of the type of days: Academics: The course is broken up into different phases (7 total). At the beginning of each phase you have academics. Days vary a lot during academics, sometimes you're in class 8-5, others you'll come in for a couple of hours of classes and go home. Sims: Sim missions are 4 hours long (time in the sim). You'll have 4 hours of mission planning the day prior where you spin up your flight plan and plot your charts and go over the departures and approaches. The next day (usually) you'll have a 4 hour sim with an hour brief and debrief. Flights: Flights are on a T-43 (modified 737) that has student stations in the back. The flights are 4 hour missions as well. You'll show up about 4 hours prior to takeoff to spin up your flight plan, check your pubs, brief with the instructors and pilots and step to the jet for your pre-flight checklists. After the flight you'll have about a 30 minute debrief with your instructor. Whenever you have flights or sims, that's all you'll do for the day. There's no formal release like they have at UPT (thankfully!) where you have to stay at the squadron 12 hours a day regardless of what you're doing. So that's a brief and rather rough rundown of nav school. Enough of me rambling. Let me know if you have any more questions.

Well, I could vote whether the new BDUs are good or bad, but the truth is that I don't care because I wear a bag. :D

I've had ACL reconstruction and have two screws in my knee and passed my FC1A without even needing a waiver. I have a buddy who's headed to UPT after he graduates in May who passed his FC1 as well - same surgery and same screws. I also know a guy who flys 15Cs who graduated from my Det and had ACL surgery. So, Roy Rogers, short answer is no, there's no problem with you having had the knee surgery, especially if you don't have any screws or anything in you. As long as you have full range of motion and full strength in the knee, you should have no problem passing.

AD = Active Duty (i.e. not Reserve or Guard) As for E, it probably was meant to mean enlisted, but since I don't know the context, I can't say for sure.

It's called Educational Delay. Basically you delay your commission 1-2 years in order to pursue a graduate degree.