gimmeaplane

GLOBAL = DANGER. Lesson learned (thankfully painlessly) as a dink...I came about 50 milliseconds away from sending a wise-crack e-mail to a numbered AF commander who had the same name as a friend. Could've been very bad.

I think the entry level of "excellence" required for an ETP will only increase as more people apply for these. Gen Ryan put out a memo in 2001 that basically said "MAJCOM/CCs, quit sending me candidates that don't walk on water. And if anybody tries to bypass a MAJCOM/CC, I will personally eviscerate them." And yes, I paraphrased ;) It makes sense. Policies are (hopefully) set for a reason, so the bar should be pretty high to bypass them. So when you get shot down, don't take it as a personal affront. Presuming flying isn't the sole reason you joined, you'll be fine. There are some very neat/rewarding jobs around.

Oh, and use Edmunds & www.kbb.com. Sometimes they differ widely. Either way, they'll window your expectations.

Okay...I'm a car nut...so here's what you do. Shop outside what's "hot" at the moment--never pay a premium (rules out a new Mustang). If you like all the options, give serious consideration to a 1-2 yr old used car. Options do not add value to used cars, but they add an ass load to a new one. Unless you're really into cars, get something relatively practical (note this doesn't have to mean boring). You'll never pick up chicks by virtue of the car you drive (unless you're in Swingers). When you're ready to buy (not lease), go to the dealer and get a quote. Then go home! Get some insurance and loan quotes that afternoon. If you can do both comfortably, go to the dealer* and don't buy unless they knock AT LEAST a grand off the price. * - much like with a chick's phone number, the 3 day rule applies. And don't forget to budget for tax, title, and lease.

As far as I know, you do need to get officially denied before you can get apply for a waiver/ETP. Nothing quite like waiting 2 months to hear that, yea verily, you failed.

Love it. Very appropriate responses to a back-handed complaint. If you have a complaint...call PA. When they blow you (the public we all serve) off, that should be the first hint that you're ass wrong for complaining about noise when you live NEXT TO AN AIR FORCE BASE.

There's no weigh-in. BUT...if you happen to be MORBIDLY OBESE, you probably want to start working on that. Now.

If there's an URGENT need (like, Osama will escape Derka-derka-stan if you don't have a clearance NOW), there are some things your chain can do to speed up the process. Otherwise, sit back, relax, and contemplate your navel. 18 months is pretty average lately.

x-plane is indeed the bomb-diggity.

So who starts the waiver train (I'm Active Duty)? The Brooks flight doc (who obviously didn't enjoy his job), stated my condition was unwaiverable. The above posts make it sound like there's a waiver for everything, regardless of what the waiver guide states.

Old POWs/vets are always a good bet for motivational speeches. Most of them are more than happy to do so, especially for a group of soon-to-be grads likely to encounter combat in short order. Gen Welsh is the best speaker I've ever heard. But he's kind of a busy man. Heard a good one from the Nighthawk pilot shot down over Belgrade once...but I believe associating his name and the event is still classified. That, and I don't remember the name.

Pretty much what I thought. From what I understood, the surgeon general defers to the ACS. And since the ACS DQ's candidates, it's pretty circular. Was that close? Anyways, thanks for the response.

Here's the question: if something is "unwaiverable," can AETC/SG grant a waiver? Has that ever happened? Is this something to try before submitting an ETP? The reason I ask is because I learned that AETC/SG rubber-stamps the Brooks reports before they become final. That makes it sound like the Brooks report is technically just a recommendation (a recommendation from the highest court in the medical corps, but a recommendation nonetheless).

I always laugh at the people who say F-35s will replace the A-10. Riiiiiiiiiight. A plane with a huge freaking gun and the ability to take a lot of flak and get home just doesn't need to be that high tech. Hell, when the wings start falling off from fatigue 15 years down the road, we should pull the tooling out of moth balls and restart the production line. With F-119s. Now that would be cool. A-10s with F-119s. Gratuitous and useless, but cool.

As somebody currently at WP....BWAHAHAHAHAHA! Seriously, it's not that bad. Lots of outdoors stuff to do. If you're a night life type of person, join the Just Say No to Dayton Campaign's Coalition of the Willing. It's quite possibly the mother of all coalitions. Cinci, Columbus, Indy, and Cleveland are all within driving distance. The Wright brothers did some flying at Kitty Hawk (for winds/density altitude). Later research was done at Huffman Prairie Flying Field, where we conveniently built a golf course. Lots of early research was done at Wright Field (now Area B) until they moved that to the desert. AFRL still lives here, but no flight test. Try and get an ANG F-16 ride. Oh, and sorry, there isn't a sorority row to be found. PM me if you want any more Dayton gouge (where to live, where the aliens are, etc.).

Sounds like AAFES is way outta line. Did base legal go to bat for you?

It was the SR/KC/F/E/A-99 developed from alien technology in Hanger 18. Or the story was total bull. Something that black is about as likely to make a position report as it is to shoot an approach at JFK. Take your pick.

Was it an AWACS scope or a briefing playback? Range data can be 3d-ified. Good for explaining to the ranking types why they want to buy more Raptors. And 130J's And KC-767's And oh shit--we're buying an entire new Air Force all at once! Honey, where did I leave the checkbook? But I digress.