Toasty

I had my instrument ticket before I started nav training. I think it has helped me alot in recognizing plates, reading enroute charts, and other little tricks (flying an arc, holding patterns, etc). However...this is only a personal, small gain. My classmates with no IFR time whatsoever are doing just as well as I am with it. Its not worth the thousands of dollars if UPT is your only motivation to do it. HOWEVER (pt. 2) if you plan to do alot of civilian flying, I would definately recommend it.

Last drop had 3 HC's actually- no AC's though. You can still get AC's as an EWO, but its looking pretty thin as a nav.

Yeah, actually there's a spitoon at each instructor console....WTFO? We don't do celestial nav at Randolph anymore either. The only "slow" parts are enroute on long legs.

Nav and EWO are two different courses at Randolph. They're slowly moving towards the CSO being an interchangeable nav/EWO/crewmember when the whole shibang goes to Pensacola. I doubt the Buff schoolhouse is going to take the time to teach a nav how to be an EWO.

However, that would be implying that the B-2 is running off the same technology as the B-52. I can see them staying on the older aircraft, simply because they're necessary there. J-model herk doesn't have a nav, because it has newer systems. And like was said before, the nav does alot more than DR's and taking fixes...if you can take a saturated crew tasking and lower their workload with another competant crewmember, why wouldn't you want that?

Do they do V1-type takeoff calculations on jets like that?

It was hard to tell the locations from the way they setup the drop, but I think they were all to D-M.

I heard of a guy who failed the land survival test (ie two weeks after class started) twice and still managed to graduate...if that's any indication.

I completely retract this statement. Apparently the AFPC gods struck again...and dropped THREE HC's to Randolph tonight. We also got THREE EC's, THREE 52's, two AWACS and a JSTARS. No MC's or AC's. Friggin 'a.

Doesn't sound like they're dropping HC's to Randolph navs. I'd appreciate it if any of you can get me in touch with HC navs.

I think it depends on your individual situation (family and whatnot). I know some guys who want RC-135's for the location, and some that want spec ops, knowing that they'll be deployed year round. Personally I haven't even began looking at the herk bases, but I like the mission over the other choices.

I know my butterbars are still shiny and new, so disregard this post if I'm totally off-base. I think the point is the whole "force development" concept. It puts proven leaders into new areas, not only to develop the leader, but give new insights into different fields. However, I'd imagine you wouldn't see that happen too much from the non-rated INTO rated fields. Point in case: My former PAS was an F-16 guy, and on his second assignment as a Colonel, was put in charge of information ops in OIF. He didn't know the first damned thing about IO- but they weren't interested in his expertise, they just wanted his leadership experience. Then again, I have no idea if there are any proven statistics that say putting rated leaders into non-rated command positions increases mission effectiveness.

Actually, that's exactly what happens! Some ROTC guys find out within days of commissioning that they got a pilot slot because someone else SIE'd or medical DQ'd or something like that. That UPT list isn't frozen until you swear in.

You just went through the Academy, got a pilot slot on accident and you don't even want it, and now you're asking how to separate? Jesus Christ. Can you even fathom how far I would go to give up my nav slot and take your pilot slot? Either give 100%, or for the sake of hundreds of those like me who aren't going to UPT, go to your commander right now and turn it down.

Judging by the thread starter's name, he'll be a POC in the Fall. We're talking about a POC job position, not a GMC volunteer thing. I had that job my junior year as well. We did alot of high schools, and mostly advertised the scholarships available and Air Force opportunities. It sells itself to those that are interested. Hitting the JROTC units is a good spot too.

I'm reporting for casual on 8 June, but won't start class until 20 Sept. If I get shoved into the dorms for casual, can I get out of them before my CSD, or am I stuck there?

And IM is...what?

I believe the number is 900 days from when your pay started. Therefore, it covers 4 year guys, but 5 year students end up falling short of their graduation date.

Think they may have confused "back up controls" with trim/rudder/throttle?

I'll be taking my car along with everything I own from Florida to Texas; so you're saying I'd be better off renting a u-haul with a trailer for my car(which I'd like to keep the miles off)? [ 02. April 2006, 01:08: Message edited by: toastychicken ]

Check it out- The 562nd added a new page to their website with a BUNCH of great FAQ for us. Cheers to whoever put that together https://www.randolph.af.mil/12ftw/12og/562fts/inbound.htm

Here's a couple more... Is there any sandbagging on the 43? Just curiosity. What's the setup onboard like? Facing forward, facing the wall, windows/no windows, that sorta thing. Any good nearby housing developments? Might be interested in getting a real house, not an apartment.

Hmph, the VAQ doesn't have any such sticker. Just took us a day to figure out you have to use the fan in an open window to get ANY kind of cool air into that room. But then the neighborhood gets to hear all your "business"...

The piano bar "Howl at the Moon" on beachside was worth the money. Great entertainment, even if the jack and cokes cost $7.

I was there this week as well- the VAQ was decent, despite the complete lack of cold A/C. The Full size bed was also a bit cramped for myself and my girlfriend. The base's dock and rental boats were great- went tubing and waterskiing in a rental pontoon boat, and that thing hauled. They wouldn't let us out into the bay though- apparently the calm winds were causing "moderate chop"...yeah, ok. Still a good time. The beaches were great as well- not crowded at all, even during peak spring break. I would definately look forward to dropping by again in the future. Edit: Oh, and the liquor shop by the commissary is absolute GOLD. [ 25. March 2006, 15:54: Message edited by: toastychicken ]