SocialD

15 days a month....as a guardsman!?! Most full time pilots only work 18 days a month (if your unit works 4x10s). Aside for the airlines, how could anyone find a civilian employer that puts up with that kind of schedule? How does the squadron have the days to support that? When I was interviewed they made it very clear that they were hiring you to be a guardsman and wanted to know what you planned on doing for full time employment. If they expected 15 days out of me, I would tell them to put me on full time orders. It's not a that I wouldn't want to be there, but you can't expect someone to come out there half the month on random pay days, especially if they have a family to support. To the OP: As has already been said, if you really want to be a fighter pilot, you better be willing to move. When you get off seasoning, you will still have to get 6-8 sorties a month. This will require at least 4-5 days a month. Throw in mx or weather cancels and that number goes up pretty quick. We have dudes that only live 3-4 hours away that have a hard time making their sorties. As Rainman said, the seasoning days are not enough. Everyone seems to think its 2 years, but it's actually only 1.5ish years. There are ways to stretch it out a little, especially of you deploy, but I wouldn't count on it. If the squadron has an alert commitment, it does become a little easier to get days. But I wouldn't count on that either...I think we'll find that gravy train is going to end for a few units, wrt alert. Which brings up another point...have a back up plan! Do yourself a favor and plan on living somewhat close. I would have moved anywhere to get the chance to be fighter pilot. It's the best job in the world and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I cringe at the thought of working back in corporate America! Do they still not allow you to say fuck? Ya....let me know how that works out! Do that and I can almost guarantee that you will not get hired anywhere! The flying community is very small and everyone has connections everywhere. If I don't know someone in a particular squadron, i'll bet that I know someone who does, just sayin...

With tailwheel flying...there are those that have, and those that will! Present it the way you just did and you should be just fine. You have acknowledged that you fucked up (not made excuses), you learned from it and moved on. They will respect that much more than if you try to hide it. If they don't hire you because of that then fuck them, no one is perfect. The Champ is still one of my favorite planes to fly!

Changing sides is a national past time for the Afghans...it doesn't take something like this to have some change their minds!

Hopefully they don't read this story and find out about each other...

What about the RWQ? Or was that already shutdown?

Not sure, but it probably involves one of these...

If it's even a question, you've already found your answer... FWIW, being a young guy in a fighter squadron is the best just in the world!

What about when someone leaves their ID laying around the squadron? So it's no longer fair game to copy it, blow it up and post around the sq for all the mark on or write off handed, semi-funny comments? In all seriousness...I never knew this.

Heard it wasn't going to be funded next year....budget cuts dude! This isn't the only thing going away...

40 seconds that should be required viewing for the entire Air Force! http://www.tubechop.com/watch/227747

Would love to see that! I mean look at this guy...sleeves rolled up, facial hair out of regs, glasses on his head!!!!!!! He's probably no good at his job and should not be trusted...

Better than rotting away in the desert, only to be chopped up. Plus it's a decent post USAF career opportunity for a select few.

FIFY.

I couldn't agree more! It seems some people will grasp to anything they can to rationalize why "we" should stay open. This time I'm more along the lines of why would they keep us? Others seem to have been through enough of these to know not to believe anything until the iron arrives/leaves the ramp. If you're not at least thinking of plans B and C, you're probably screwing up right now.

to SGT Meyer!

Leadership loves to preach that too. IDK, there seems to me be a pretty significant cut on it's way. I'm not normally a doom and gloom kind of guy, but I'd rather be prepared than live with my head in the ground. Based on your locale, I would say you'll be fine. Just saw your edit...hearing the same thing!

Might just find out come Feb. Me thinks the Guard is low hanging fruit....I will be dusting of my resume and exploring my options! What's the number to that truck driving school?

This.

No worries, back when we lost those two 38s w/in a week, we were down for a while. No big deal...they'll just roll graduation back as required (two months for my class). They threatened us with that too...never happened.

Wait....you can fly WITHOUT a GPS?!?!? Now you're just talking crazy!

WOW, this just amazes me! How can things get that screwed up?!? After two paychecks, and zero progress, I would have walked into the WG/CC office and explained my situation. Saw that happen once...holy crap did this piss some people off, but the problem got fixed immediately. Or he could have gone the other route and file an IG complaint....that tends to get peoples attention!

Hah, this reminded me of a time the Deid when I was still an E. A fellow maintainer and I were in the beginning stages of getting Chiefed, when my flight chief (a MSgt) walks up and says to the Cheif "whatever you're bitching about doesn't matter, these boys are getting food so they can get back to catch their jets, move out of the way!" The look on that Chiefs face was hilarious. My flight chief was very old and very crusty (crewed jets in Vietnam), he was not worried, nor did he care about the ramifications. If you worked hard for him, he took care of you...we need more guys like him!

Yup, sure would hate for big blue to have to admit that they are totally fucked on certain things...we all know that won't happen! There were two raptors flying today...

From all the guys I've talked to, that have flown it, they would gladly give it back...they never wanted it anyway. That program seems to be a fuck job from the beginning! No need to apologize to me, I could give two shits about that plane. Other than the fact that is seems like a waste of $$$. Me give it back? Look, I'm kinda a big deal....but i'm not sure I have that kind of pull! I'll see what I can do!