FourFans

So we can't discuss "that the Jan 6 violence was a result of FBI 'encouragement'" but instead we should readily believe that the the Jan 6 violence was a result of Trump, his sons, Rudy Giuliani, and all the Alex Jones type "media" figure's 'encouragement'? I'm literally no neither side of this argument, but what you just said doesn't pass any kind of logic test. That's literally a dressed up version of "Don't listen to them because they're wrong. Listen to me because I'm right!" Can I buy some facts please? People here are attempting to follow facts. Such as the fact that a man was recorded actively encouraging a mob...who then decried him as a fed btw...to go into the capitol building. The FBI put him on the watchlist...then promptly remove him from their watch list entirely, and then refuse to acknowledge who he is. Even if he is/was an FBI plant, what he was inciting the croud to do is illegal...and he was recorded...with his knowledge...inso doing. Yet no FBI pursuit. That doesn't sound suspicious to you? At all? More importantly, if you can't see the political benefit of encouraging a political opponent's base to riot and go into (can we call it invading?) government offices, I beg you to step back and see the forest for the trees. The benefits are incalculable. Why do you think they're bring it up again a year later? One person died, and then the capitol of our republic, by the people for the people, was shut off from the people through military means. Meanwhile, where is the outcry over the CHAZ? Where are the news stories commemorating how the federal, state, and local governments are helping the hundreds of citizens killed, injured, displaced, or otherwise negatively impacted by the events all across the west coast? Do you even know the death toll from the CHAZ? I'll spell it out: Getting your enemies to attack you and make you look like the victim when you are in power gives you more power. That's how bullies and thugs operate. They bully who they don't like until that person attacks them back, the bully times it so the response occurs in front of the principle or the police, so the bully looks like the victim. This is nothing new, and politicians are REALLY good at it. If you cannot objectively see how both sides of the political spectrum, especially the extremists in power seats right now, are crafting the narrative to sway your opinion, well, I politely ask you to stop watching CNN and/or Fox News for a minute and read a little more history about how countries collapse. We're showing all the symptoms friend. It's not good...and the current leaders are making it much, much worse.

Awesome post. ...but brown is better...

I separated in 2020...it was a great year to start a new AFRC job AND a new Airline job. I was set for a May date, but got a 3 month delay to Aug. It's possible, but definitely not enjoyable. I didn't get my approval for the delay until 3 days before my May separation date...no stress there, right? In your shoes, I'd set a separation date 12 months out and try to stick with it. Set your airline available date to that day. The MOMENT you get terminal leave approved (which should be 90 days prior to get orders in hand, not a commander's verbal), re-update your available date on all airline apps. The airlines understand that these mil dates can be fluid, so if you interview, get accepted, then have the date change because AFPC is...well...horrible at their job, you're probably ok for one 'I can start training on this date' change with the airline that hires you. The airlines appear to do class scheduling about 3-6 months in advance at the most. It feels like it's a lot less then that at some though. The ACMI I used to work for gave some guys who were waiting for a class date 3 days of notice to get to class. The only DO NOT is to say you are available when you know you're not, and then plan on getting grace from the airline. You say you're available, be available.

As guys are saying here: Blast to all. Take the first one you get, then get picky. As a mil guy, you need to do one important thing: FLUSH the concept loyalty-based transactional employment. The military actually drills this into us, and we don't realize it. Yes, be loyal to your union and company, but in the end, it's all about the Benjamins. They'd furlough you, so don't feel bad about "wasting a training seat" or some such. Be civil about it if you need to drop out of a class, but don't sweat it either. Speaking to cargo. Yes, it's AWESOME. You'll fly nights, but it's not really that bad, and the pay is worth the disrupted sleep cycle. (by contrast many of those pax pilots are striving to get on a widebody...where you fly lots of overseas nights) Not dealing with pax is completely worth it. Don't buy the hype that cargo is a difficult one to land. If you're specifically looking at UPS or FedEx, yes the process isn't as simple as the pax carriers...but it's not rocket surgery and it's completely worth it. No one knows how UPS hires. Fill out the app and keep updating, it's an exercise in patience. FedEx still has the kick-in-the-shins 2-day interview process from hell. Oh yeah, and update that app every 2 weeks and start as far out (over a year is good) as you can. Both are excellent companies with outstanding pilot groups where you'll want to spend your career. It's the best part-time job in the world. Last bit: Don't be afraid to spend time at a last choice airline. I separated at 17 years while 3 years non-current, joined the reserves and a not-first-choice airline where I worked for a year. It got me a type rating that probably led to getting hired by my top choice. Experience is experience and it helps you get hired. That's happening a lot these days. I'm in training now at my second 121 carrier. We had several people no-show the training, and one guy quit training halfway through to go to another carrier...this is at a top-end company mind you. I saw that happen in both of the 121 training pipelines. It happens all the time. I've personally hear of guys no-showing to training (by taking a different job) at Delta, United, America, UPS, and FedEx. PM me if you want more specifics. I spent the last four years giving this whole process a very hard stare, so it's fresh.

Surprisingly some of the best naval aviation videography I've seen recently. Definitely worth a look, even with the CGI, the F-35 shots are pretty cool.

Did some googling, and it appears this STO trainee chick has been a golden child her whole career. It appears she was an elite college runner at USAFA who got out of her 2LT years by training for for the 2016 Olympics...but it doesn't look like she went. According to her USAFA running bio she wanted to be a pilot, but apparently didn't make that cut either. Not sure what AFSC she was in before trying for STO, but it feels like this all has nothing to do with capability, and has everything to do with creating the first black female STO, regardless of standards. Sounds like she wants the beret without the bruises. Welcome to a military created by diversity and inclusion. I'm sure Russia and China do this too.

Because I haven't said it in a while... I hereby reword my normal perennial statement: "Don't take the bonus!" It now reads: Take the bonus. The signing bonus from every airline hiring right now. Seriously. If money is a factor. Leave right now.

Good. It's about time we stop hammer home the importance of a perfectly flown VOR-A instead of focusing on the employment end of the stick. Glad to hear that's happening earlier in the program. Students are universal in this: They will meet whatever bar we set.

...you might be surprised what really happens these days...

Quoted for posterity and emphasis. This statement nails dead on the problem with our public policy decision making these past two years...and probably farther back then that. America has been lied to for too long for us to naturally trust anything that comes from a politician or federal agency.

While I'd like to agree, what I've witnessed in 2021 has me doubting that all people actually know this. I'm pretty sure there is a large section of our population that believes...wrongly...that the 1st Amendment means they can say whatever they want and receive no consequences, regardless of what they said.

Those wondering what happened to Rainman...he's been located.

Wait, you watched John Wayne moving pictures...in color?! I knew you were a hippie

Ah, dismissal of opposing viewpoints based on derisive and stubborn refusal to apply critical thought to one's own point of the view...that distinctive quality in younger generations that older generations seriously hate. Hey boomers, guess where the generation you raised learned that skill. P.S. Guess who approved all the scooters, hoverboards, and other such stupidity in an attempt to make the military trendy...especially in the USAF? Yeah, boomer and gen-x general officers and chiefs...and not the good ones. Not hating, simply identifying facts.

Stop it. You know how many times that's been said in this country? From Loyalists to Hippies to Socialists...someone different has posed a mortal threat to our country...yet here we are. I'm not denying the existence of threats, they are quite real. However melodrama and 'the sky is falling' never once countered one of these threats correctly. Rather, a levelheaded, rational and logically compassionate understanding of facts that then lead to appropriate action (incremental changes) have always helped advance our country. The only people I give no quarter to are those who want immediate action, right now, to destroy the extreme threat to our existence! When you fight fire with fire, all you get is ash. We all need to calm down, yell less, and listen better. Declaring the end times at the top of our lunges does not help. For reference, imagine a SAC warrior's response to seeing golf carts carrying lazy crews to their airplanes, instead of those crew members running at top speed to practice getting off the ground before the Bears get here. Same idea. Just because it's different doesn't mean it's wrong... I'm looking at you M2!

“I knew I wanted a flying job, nothing too dirty or fixing things,” Widman told the Tampa Bay Times in 2005.

In my civil life, I operate a plane that will land itself in bad weather. Why on earth is weather even a discussion topic in military aviation at this point? It should be motherhood that in a briefing would sound like: "we'll autoland if needed, standard, next?" I know. I know. I also fly basic female dog airplanes in the reserve... I'm just saying, Lemay would be very sad at the state of how our military leverages tech right now...rightly so...

Curtis Lemay is turning over in his grave and muttering something to the effect: They're F'ing clouds. Fly through them and get the F'ing job done like warriors should! Don't bring it weak, you weak dick pussies!

Can't speak to the lifestyle, but the general feeling I get is that it's less glamorous than you'd like...but it's only for a season. I interviewed at a regional along side another applicant who was career apache guy (no fixed with time). We both guy the CJO. He was told to expect about 2-4 years there based on needing to transition to the left seat (1-2 year) then get 500 (1 year)-1000 TPIC (2ish years) depending on where he was trying to get hired next. He seems surprised it would be that quick. It all depends on hiring movement...and right now it's moving quick. For context, that was late 2019 pre-covid. Not sure the environment now. One lesson I did learn in all my interviews: publish the app and push submit as soon as the app is ready, and let the companies sort out who to hire. You can't get hired if you don't publish the app. Go for it!

...meanwhile the cargo guys are too busy either buying their 4th house or out on their boat to answer this question...

While at the same time, the military is bullying it's members to take an experimental vaccine with unknown efficacy "because I said so". If the military were truly ok with non-conformity, I wouldn't hear about first sergeants yelling at troops to stop asking questions and get the shot. At heart, the military wants people to innovate, but only in a small box. In the same right, congress and the president want a military that is agile and creative, but not one that might buck their authority...even if it should when congress and the president are acting unconstitutionally. Having a soldier, who is also his/her own authority as a congressman can clearly get sticky when the soldier sees things he/she wants to change based on personal opinion, which then translates into policy decisions as the congressman. A STRONG moral compass is required.

Any long-term cargo dudes want to chime in? From what I can see, it sounds like cargo and pax are two completely different worlds right now. edit: I'm just now starting at Brown. I've read the APC side, but I have a different respect for the views expressed here.

I'm trying to remember if the pushback was this bad when they mandated the Anthrax vaccine a minute or two ago. I got 9 rounds of that burning hotness and never heard a peep about how experimental is was or not. Did guys quit the military over that thing too? I was too focused on flying and deploying to really care at the time.

74 the premier life...seriously. The rule on the 74 is that you are never more than 6 hours away from a nap (if you want it). Let me me paint some beautiful awesomeness, because it is NOT all mushrooms and bad management at Atlas...though I still do have my apps updated... (grain of salt) Pros to take advantage of and enjoy: - a pilot group that is ALL about protecting your rights. You will eventually meet MEN (I mean that with strong emphasis) like J. You'll know it when you meet J because that guy, is, awesome. You may not agree with him, but he will break management spins if they even think about bending the rules. We took off more than 2 hours late without even a second though because of catering rules. It sounds whiney and entitled (I'm a career herc dude...but yes, it's legit), but for a 16 hour flight, it's not joke, and he was serious about it, and got it fixed. Long story short: there are men and women in the pilot group here who will bend over backward to make sure you are taken care of. Moreover, those men and women do actually care about your personal situation, and they make sure, beyond a doubt, that you are taken care of if you bring a issue up...even if you were wildly ignorant on the subject (said from a former mil dude just finishing year 1) - Epic locations. That's not understating it. We stay in epic locations. TWA hotel in JFK (yeah that ritzy tony stark hotel AT the airport which is built around the legend of TWA that only lazy rich people stay because they don't like the 16 minute cab ride to the airport...yeah...that one). Incheon: wanna get a great scenic overlook of the bay that 'Merica brought freedom too?...or just an awesome Korean community build on completely reclaimed land? You're paid to do so. Kazakstan? Wait...what? Yeah. Kazakstan is a routine layover where our crews spend $40 to go skiing all day (full equipment rental). Quito Ecuador. Amsterdam. Anchorage (many will poopoo this, but for the uninitiated, ANC is really cool, especially in the summer). Hong Kong. Narita. Nagoya. Sydney. Hawaii. Leipzig. Ramstein. Frankfurt Hahn. MultipliemiddleeastlocationsasdeterminedbyAMC. This company takes you places that NOONE else goes to. It's a travel nerd's dream. - Epic aircraft. 747. 767. 777. (sorry 737 guys...but...not sorry) These are epic aircraft that pilots wait a full 20 year career to fly. We get in the left seat in 5 years or less. Seeing the way things are going...it'll likely be less. - International Perspective: We have men and women employed at Atlas who have either left their home countries...or who simply accept a long commute...simply to work in a US based company. I've personally flown with, and learned a great deal from, Peruvians, Columbians, Ukrainians, Finlanders(is that how you say it?), Mexicans, Canadians, Germans, Spaniards, Australians, and Brits....all who live in their home countries because the rules of this company allow it to happen. I think that is AWESOME. More importantly they bring a thankfulness about the job that most US grown pilots simply don't have. It's a basic fact I've come across in my travels: Non-US people appreciate the US more than Americans do. It's refreshing. - (for perspective...minor cons)...I've also flown with flat earthers, severe anti-vaxers (conspiracy theory dudes...I've got no problem with "it's new and untested" doubters), anti-400er (dudes that seriously miss their flight engineer), and dudes that don't believe in bathing...and I've enjoyed every minute of hearing perspectives that are not from my echo chamber...though sometimes the smells have hurt. Atlas could be the most epic destination airline for bored airline pilots. The only reason it isn't is because the senior management has no concept of what "leadership" really means. Who knows. Maybe they'll figure it out soon and plant Atlas in the 'amazing airlines' category for good. It could (and should) happen...just as soon as they replace those senior "leaders"...but who knows. FF

For posterity sake: I complete year 1 in three days. I made GROSS $62,000 (including per diem and COVID pay) in the past 12 months with Atlas. No VX and only broke guarantee on 2 months (last two months of OE). I was scheduled to break it on 5 months, but the schedulers do a fantastic job of keeping you right at or below min. We planned for it and I'm also a reservist. Without that AFRC paycheck and a big savings buffer, we'd have been hosed. Plan accordingly, and keep your apps updated.