FourFans

"The Air Force said airmen whose service commitments expired in fiscal 2016 or earlier will be ineligible, as are those whose commitments expire in fiscal 2018 or later. Airmen who have been recalled under the Voluntary Recall to Active Duty program, inter-service transfers, colonels or colonel-selects, and rated officers who are medically disqualified from aviation service are also ineligible." Aside from the normal restrictions, notice how there's no early-eligible option (2018) or re-attack options for people taking prior bonuses wanting to re-up. Seems like chaff that will only profit a very select group of pilots to see who bites instead of a broad reaching attempt to retain talent. Not saying it's not shrewd, but it's certainly not a massive confidence booster. Almost like they're trying to find out EXACTLY where the "line" is where they can retain just enough pilots without over-shooting. I'll be interested to read the actual message.

The best advice I've received since getting passed over came from another man who had a similar experience (checked the right boxes, nothing negative, excellent line operator, surprise non-promote): "Your life just got a lot easier, you just don't know it yet." He pointed out the importance of people (for however long they might stay in the AF) that can call a spade a spade without worrying if it will hurt their promotion chances. He also pointed out that once you're done in the USAF, no one gives a second thought to if you're a retired major, colonel, or general...it simply doesn't matter. If you're a pilot, a dispatcher, driver, or someone else, that's your job, end of story. He flies big civil planes now where his work day is done and he's headed home before the engines stop spinning, and a driver is waiting on him to take him to the hotel which is already paid for. (strange how you never hear about dispatchers, drivers, and baggage handlers in private aviation demanding the same treatment as pilots at those companies in name of "fairness") That perspective made me realize it doesn't matter who gave the "you're not promoted" news nor how. No changing it, and it's the AF's loss. No matter how important they might be saying pilot retention is, they've made it clear again that line performance will not get you promoted nor continued. To the AF, it all boils down to lines of text on a piece of paper, regardless of how excellent your aviation record, how many lives you've saved, or how many combat sorties you've flown. To me, none of that defines my value as a pilot or a person. If the AF doesn't want talent, that's their problem, not mine. How much more do I need to know? FF

Holy thread revival batman! Losing airmanship has been a going trend. It leaves more to be learned on aircraft specific handling later on, but the brain bites opened up for learning systems management (FMS, HUD flying, systems, etc) earlier in on makes it an even tradeoff. Most modern aircraft have built in redundancies and safety features that make advanced stick and rudder airmanship less of a requirement. For better or worse, modern jets won't kill you as readily as the F-104, so do we really need a trainer that mimics that lethality? I'm on both sides of the fence having seen what happened in the C-130 community when we went away from the T-44/C-12 training pipeline...which was overall a negligible impact on the community as a whole. I'd prefer stick and rudder skills, but the mission also needs a more broadly trained pilot now.

I have to laugh at this. I asked for an appointment to get AFPC feedback, I was told the next one is in august. Yeah. I'm sure I'll get highly important feedback if it can wait that long. Sent from my iPad using Baseops Network Forums

More cardio can help you with that. Sent from my iPad using Baseops Network Forums

You clearly missed the vast majority of Austin if that's true. Sent from my iPad using Baseops Network Forums

...until the Active Duty military is forced to secede from Texas. ...assuming of course that repealing adversaries is similar to repelling them...

This is precisely why I posted this under this topic. I would argue that "what's wrong with the Air Force" is really just a reflection of the current national attitude and amnesia about how we got where we are.

Couldn't find a better place to put this, but an excellent read. https://foreignpolicy.com/2017/05/29/the-end-of-history-is-the-birth-of-tragedy/

I dare say this thread needs some moderation. Sent from my iPad using Baseops Network Forums

Back on the topic of PRFs and promotions - heads up to all the MAF officers here: There is anew Facebook group called "MAF Assignments and Mentoring" which is run by the flyers at AFPC MAF officer assignments. They're taking direct feedback as well as posting data and stats as soon as it's available.

Tyler, scoobs, Chang, and hatedont just might be related.

Life ain't fair. Any arguments based on "fairness" are invalid. It's the Air Force. Walk into any organization (that's not the AF) and you will find people in charge at every level who have an intimate understanding of what the organization's primary function, mission, and purpose are. (Does the CEO of Ford understand cars?) Pilots see parts of all the support, decision makes, and execution functions of the USAF simply by the merit of their job. Pilots can and should lead the Air Force at all levels. Competition selects quality. Simply by going through the selection process of pilot training, higher quality raw material is selected. Ever hear about the guy that washed out of finance tech school and used UPT as his backup? Not a knock on personal value, but not everyone has what it takes to do certain jobs. That doesn't mean that all pilots are good leaders or even good people. It simply means that pilots come from a pool that is stress-inoculated, studious, and highly adaptable. Those are known qualities that can contribute to the growth of a good leader. But that person has to be properly mentored. Properly taught humility. Properly taught how to lead by example. Properly given the chance to failure in an environment where mistakes can be made and learned from. (for another post, but this is exactly why the service academies exist) A generation ago, they understood the value of doing difficult things for the positive impact it a makes on one's character. A smart man once pointed out that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Instead of a society pursuing character and hope, we now live in an instant-gratification-every-thought-and-emotion-I-have-deserves-an-audience-and-it's-your-fault-my-life-is-so-unfair society. The Air Force is simply reflecting that. Promoting self-servers and a lack of mission focus are just a couple symptoms of that fact. I argue that the collapse in the Air Force is due to moral decay. You can't swing a dead cat these days without hitting an O-6 convicted of sexual harassment or conduct unbecoming. With moral fiber like that, is there any doubt why the AF is failing? No amount of promotion process fixes can correct a lack of moral conscience. Until individuals start holding themselves to a higher standard, learning what sacrificial servant leadership is about, and learning how to pursue character, we will continue to see the fallout of moral collapse. FF

Gunna leave this right here. https://www.skiesmag.com/news/canadian-pilot-shortage-real-says-industry-consultant/?utm_source=skies-daily-news-top-story&utm_campaign=skies-daily-news&utm_medium=email&utm_term=top-story&utm_content=V1

Ouch! Well done hanging tough through that!

Fair point.

Azimuth, you everyone beer for posting that picture. Good riddance! You might as well have posted a picture of this guy. (DISCLAIMER: If you were in the 41 AS in the 2008-2009 time frame, don't click that link, you already know who it is.) FF

brick? Hell, he was drinking scotch somewhere...probably Redbreast 12...

...by having a P

P. IDE (correspondence, but that's not supposed to matter says AF leadership...we all know the truth though). No negatives.

I second your notion, but let's be clear. There is a significant difference between a "qualified individual wanting to fly" and a combat effective pilot who maintains a skill level actually needed to compete with peer adversaries. The former is a FAIP. The latter is already endangered in today's Air Force. The USAF is digging a new hole inside one that it's already been digging for years. We're at the point that simply having someone willing to fly, regardless of actual skill level, is considered a win.

Data point: 11M, patch, 11 years in ops squadrons, 1000+ combat hours, clean record, highly effective instructor, NATO staff.....not selected. Any doubts on what the USAF values?

IPZ. Guess I'll just wait a year. Thanks.

Aren't you forgetting Iron Eagle?

I'm chilling out in a NATO black hole, but I got a phone call saying I didn't O-5. No information on continuation offered or available when I asked. Am I supposed to get a letter offering or denying continuation?