brabus

Just FYI, if you decide to fly helos for the Army, it's better to go Warrant Officer than a commissioned officer if you want to fly for a career. All I've been told is Army officers are lucky to do about 3 yrs flying before practically the rest of their career is spent doing the leadership thing, with very minimal time in the cockpit.

My brother got a full scholarship last year w/ a Psych major, so non-tech is definitely doable, but not easy. Either way, doing engineering just so you can get a scholarship fails 95% of the time. In my 4 yrs I don't think I saw more than maybe 2 people make it through commissioning and an engineering degree that did it for the scholarship. Sure the scholarship may have been an incentive for the engineers, but the majority of those who made it did engineering b/c they wanted to for reasons other than just a scholarship.

You can still be career-oriented, but you have to work to make it happen. We're at Vance and Enid's much smaller than what we've been used to our entire lives. My wife's an IA/Poli Sci major and was understandably down about the whole job thing for a while (she's very career-oriented and would rather die than be a housewife). She has since found a great job writing for the newspaper/magazine in town (she very much enjoys writing) and working on the advertising/marketing side of the house as well. It pays more than I make and she's happy. However, it took a lot of work and patience to get there. Bottom line is you can make anything happen, even in "BFE" like a UPT base, but you have to realize it's not going to be as easy to get that job as it would be in a major city. I'm sure you will be able to find something you'll like that even if it's not in politics, international relations, etc., at the very least it can be a great professional resume builder; because at this point, a college degree doesn't mean a whole lot w/o a good resume. Keep positive and you by no means should look at UPT as you giving up your dreams. If that's what happens, it's your fault and no one else's.

I live in one of the houses that's right next to the tracks and honestly it's not a big deal. I really thought it was going to be before moving here, but w/in 2 days or so I just got used to it. A train usually comes by anywhere from 11-2am, which sounds bad but they don't blow the horn and I've personally never been wakened by it...the only reason I know it comes then is if I already happen to be awake. There might be one or two other trains during the day, but it's really not as bad as it sounds.

Look at it this way, at least you'll be do something other than flying a desk for a tour or two. That in itself makes it all worth it...especially from your position.

Apparently he was renamed to Rubal (the lowest form of currency). I got a good laugh out of that one.

Sounds like my last sim..."well in PFQ-24-1A, paragraph 2.3.4 stated..." "Uh sir, what pub is that?" "Well when I flew F-4s..." (15 min tangent ensues)

I'm not getting worked up, I just think wearing your dogtag chain on the outside of your flightsuit is incredibly . Contrary to popular belief, it is actually very easy to just put the damn things in any one of the multiple pockets on the flightsuit. This also negates the "they rub on my neck" problem. Wearing them like that is just as stupid as the scarf thing. Just my opinion.

HD, you mean people are wearing their tag chain on the outside of the flightsuit and then just tucking the actual tags into their flightsuit? Please say I'm misunderstanding.

WTFO !

Can't your commander tell them to get their shit together and issue you the stuff you NEED for deployment? I know a lot in the AF doesn't make sense, but how the hell can they deny you something so basic as a flightsuit that you must have to do your mission. It seems a "nice" word from an O-5+ could change that wait time.

I'm pretty sure the rules don't forbid you from owning property in another country. As long as you're an American citizen (who just happens to own property in HK), it shouldn't matter. You may have to deal w/ some extra security clearance questioning, but I couldn't imagine much beyond that.

On a 1/2 way related topic...can you get PFPS for personal computer use? I figured it was just another program you had to use at work.

I've never said a word and never been asked either, even with 3 gun cases just laying in the back seat. I'd say something if I got the random inspection deal, but otherwise no need to mention it.

Sounds like you have good reasons for enlistment. Have you thought about student loans to pay for school/living? You may qualify for FAFSA...in which case the rates are ridiculously low and you don't have to start paying them off until 6 months after grad/commissioning. You even have further option to defer payment. I recommend looking into that avenue before you give up just b/c you don't have a lot of money to pay for school/living. I'm not bashing enlistment by any means, but if you know what you want, go for it and use student loans as a means to get there. Not to mention you could get a scholarship from ROTC and then you're really set. Money should not be the deciding factor (student loans are not a bad thing); take the cost of school/living out of the equation and then decide w/ the remaining variables if enlistment is still a better option.

I know I don't have total SA on the enlisted to pilot gig, but IMO it seems like a dumb idea to enlist knowing full well you want to be an officer/pilot some day. If that's your goal, go for it NOW, don't wait. Enlisting is a good idea if you're not sure what you want or know you want to do the enlisted track. If you're sure about wanting to be an officer/pilot, don't waste time getting to that goal. If it's about money, that's what low-interest-rate student loans are for. Compared to ROTC, it is EXTREMELY competitive to not only get the AECP type stuff to be commissioned, but get a pilot slot. I can't give you odds, but just to make some up...ROTC - 1 in 10 chance of pilot, enlisted route - 1 in 1000 chance. I know those numbers are pulled out of my ass (sts), but they should give you the overall perspective. Choose wisely.

Didn't know that. Despite that fact, I'm still pretty sure that from a commissioning standpoint you can only be a US citizen. I'm not 100% sure, but I've definitely heard that a few times. I'm sure your cadre can dig up a reg somewhere that addresses this better than the one you found.

I've heard way too many bad stories about storing your firearms w/ the sky cops. I will NEVER do it, under any circumstances. I'm sure people don't have problems (ref Hacker), but too many people have problems to make it worth it. If you care about your guns, do you really want some 19 yr old d bag cop either shooting them or even just merely handling them (i.e. banging them on walls, throwing them around, etc)? There should be no problem having one of your buddies store them in his house off base. At Vance, they allow us to keep them in on base housing, just not in the dorms. So that may also be an option of CBM. Either way, find out what the exact reg is an do whatever it takes to avoid the cop shop. Also, on another note, you have to usually give 24 hr advance notice that you're going to come by and pick up your guns. Some may be fine w/ that, but if I decide to go shooting Sat morning, I want my guns now, not be told "too bad, you gotta wait till Sun."

I think BL is it may not affect your secret clearance, but you will have to denounce for commissioning/getting your TS. On somewhat of a side note, I thought the US didn't allow dual citizenship period (civilian or military), but obviously the OP has/had it...so does the State Dept only allow dual citizenship w/ certain countries?

I also remember it being about a month to get one, so I wouldn't waste money on the "rush" thing...and I paid about 80 bucks, so look around a little more.

No one cares. But, don't say you don't drink due to religious reasons, but then one day get caught having a beer (b/c you like to have a beer once in a while, but don't like getting tanked...therefore you thought "religious reasons" would be an easy out). If that's the actual case, then be honest and don't bullshit the religious thing. But, if it really is religious, no one will care and everyone will respect your decision.

Shack. I should have just said that all along...regardless of your's or my opinion on if PC sims are useful is irrelevant. It is GUARANTEED that you have way more important shit going on than those. Prior to UPT, the important shit is knowing boldface/ops limits like the back of your hand. If you really want to get sporty, look at the "T6 by the Numbers" on t6driver(dot)com. If you're good on boldface, look at that, but don't go any further. Between those two things, you'll have plenty to look at prior to UPT. EVERYTHING else should wait until you start UPT.

The only relatively useful thing is flying instrument procedures...but more just for the procedural aspect and not the actual aircraft specific aspect. However, by the time you get to the instrument phase, you'll be right at home in the T-6 and basically the PC sim would only be useful for "chair-flying" approaches...but in my opinion, I do just as well, if not better, just doing it in my head than having to try and spin CDIs w/ a frickin mouse cursor.

I don't assume, I know. By all means, buy sims/planes for fun, but my recommendation is not to by either for the sole purpose of an "advantage" at UPT; You'll be 100% wasting your money. But if sims et al are something you like to do for a hobby or whatever, then go for it. Expecting to get an advantage, even if a slight one, out of something like this is dumb. Sorry, but that's the way it is. Take it from someone who has been thru the whole UPT T-6 gig...it won't help at all. I doubt you'll find one person on this board who has been thru T-6s and actually thinks a MSFS sim will give you an advantage. I'm not coming down on you personally, but just the idea that a computer game can give you any advantage. I'd hate to see anyone spend money/effort on something that helps zero.

Go to t6driver(dot)com...it'll have everything you'll need.