brabus

USAA is a good company, but you're still dealing w/ insurance agents. They will low-ball you until you bitch and moan to the point they can't stand it. You can make the argument that the car's resale value is significantly reduced after it is fixed due to the extensive accident damage. You can provide proof of this by finding a car of the same year being sold that has been in an accident vs on that hasn't. It will require some extensive searching probably, but you can find it. Another option is shop around for different prices and hopefully you get one in the total range. Thirdly, I would demand OEM parts. No way would I ever settle for non-OEM parts on my car, especially when the accident wasn't my fault. All of this can be accomplished by, for lack of a better word, harassment of your insurance agent. They low-ball you b/c most people just accept it and move on. If you complain enough and be a big enough pain in the ass, they'll cave. I've seen/been a part of very similar situaitons as your...in this instance, brute force complaining will get you closer to what you want.

I've met far more Academy grads that are "normal" than ones who are tools. The AFA does not produce any more weirdos, tools, d bags, etc than ROTC. As someone else said, the tool/cool ratio is about the same. I had never really been around a lot of AFA guys until coming to Vance (besides the very few who came up north to party), but needless to say I was surprised to find out how most of them are just like me...who would have thought. I guess the only thing that sets them obviously apart is they all know each other in some capacity it seems. But other than that, they're no different...personality or capabilities wise. I'm wondering that too. But I do remember one time sitting in Finance for 6.9 hrs and there was dude sitting next to me in blues, so we were just talking a bit and finally I asked him where he went to school. The guy literally just made a fist w/ his right hand and just showed the ring to me without saying a word. Now there's the definition of toolbag. Luckily, he's one of the few that I've met like that.

I heard back in the day AFA grads had priority over ROTC/OTS guys in different parts of their career. I've also been told that is much less nowadays. Just my guess, but I bet it has more to do w/ the type of person and not exactly where they went to school. I don't have proof, but I would think dudes that have that 30 yr Gen career somewhere in their head have a tendency to go for AFA over ROTC. Just a guess though.

I had a license when I got a slot, so no I'm not one who got a slot w/o a license, but I know countless people do/did. And that's exactly why I said this a couple posts ago..."but if you can finish up in 10 hrs or so, just get it done. Plus, the more hours you get, the more "air sense" you'll have...it can only help you." I very much agree you should get a PPL if at all possible. I think it can help some especially who may not make it through IFS w/o prior flying experience. However, it is still incorrect to make it sound like a PPL is going to make a difference when getting a slot. If there's any difference at all, it's minimal. Now actual flight time does make a difference. I strongly doubt any CC will rank a dude w/ 45 hrs and a PPL over a dude w/ 45 hrs and no PPL just b/c the first guy has a license.

I get this info from BTDT...you? I don't care what your rando-reg says, it doesn't matter. Countless people w/o PPLs get pilot slots every year. I will say it is POSSIBLE for a CC to consider PPLs when ranking cadets, but I bet it's safe to say 98.69% of them don't do that. There is absolutely no other place in the entire "pilot slot ranking system" where the PPL matters. So unless you're Det CC is the one guy who actually ranks one cadet above another just b/c of a PPL, then it doesn't matter.

The pilot license doesn't matter at all for getting a slot in ROTC, but if you can finish up in 10 hrs or so, just get it done. Plus, the more hours you get, the more "air sense" you'll have...it can only help you.

We did both our class patch and friday patch through Progressive Specialties. You can email them at sales(at)progspec(dot)com. They do great quality work and their prices are pretty descent. He's also very accommodating...i.e. we only wanted 35 friday patches and he did it for us (there's only 6 of us, so no need for the usual number). I couldn't find one company other than progressive that would let us do that. Give them an email, you won't be disappointed w/ the quality, price or their genuine care about the customer (unlike several companies I've dealt w/ in the recent past...where has customer service gone?).

Work on basic flying...holding it level, turns, descents/climbs/level offs, pattern and landings, etc. Those are what you'll start with anyways and that's what will build a good base for something like IFS. As much as you can, get used to how radio comm goes. Not much you do at your local airport will emulate IFS, UPT, etc. but the more you can fly at a towered airport the better. The comm "overload" will actually make you better. Do all those things and see if you can get 15 hrs in and solo possibly. That would be a great boost going into IFS.