WheelsOff

Same. ‘08-12 timeframe had some of the worst drops ever since the 90’s on the -38 side. And they wonder why those year groups are leaving... Second someone else’s post below about going Guard/Reserves rather than AD. FWIW, I got to teach Gen Holmes’ son when he came through UPT a few years ago...he was going straight into a fighter Guard unit. The COMACC 4-star’s son didn’t go the AD route like his father did. Let that sink in for a minute.

It doesn’t change the calculus. The calculus, for reference: all non-flying deployments filled by rated personnel that could be filled by a non-rated person is a BS deployment.

Valid point, but ya, since UPT IPs aren’t current in their MWS and actually flying on these deployments, it 100% will be some useless BS deployment to do absolutely nothing worthwhile to contribute in any meaningful capacity.

Can confirm. I heard it straight from the 19AF/CC’s mouth at the IP all call yesterday during his base visit at CBM this week. No details on how many, other than “a few” per cycle...

Haven’t heard anything about taking slots away. But as to production numbers getting cut; it’s because they were too lofty in their projections to begin with. The jets are broke, especially at CBM, and 19AF realizes that and has adjusted fire as a result. It’s kind of like popping those cheap enhancement supplements at the gas station that boast 9 inches but only give you 6...at the end of the day when the big innovation boner wears off, you realize that your equipment can only do so much.

Last year it was a rep from most of the fighter FTUs, a few IFF/UPT reps, and someone from PTN. This year I hear it drew a bigger crowd, mostly made up of the same demographics (just more representation). It was meant to be the CGO mafia taking issues into their hands to crosstalk amongst each other to figure out how to unfvck the mess the AF has created. As with any idea originally born with good intentions that gain traction; my fear is that some “good idea fairies” may have weaseled their way in to push their “innovative” agendas...

Anyone in the know care to give a report on the “Pipeline” (aka FTU) Conference from SJ this week? Let me guess, it was similar to last year’s where they blamed the problem on MAF/AFSOC guys teaching 38s, PTN being the greatest thing since sliced bread, VR sims are the wave of the future...what else am I missing? Edit to add: A little sarcasm/poking fun aside (although sadly true), I’d genuinely be interested to know.

Fair enough! Didn’t mean to sound dismissive of the guy as an individual; although his background doesn’t qualify him as an “expert” (like others have mentioned), it does give him a unique perspective. I guess what I really meant to say was that I get tired of the politics in here/elsewhere that seems to inject itself incessantly into whatever topic at hand is being discussed. Edit to add: Anyone know if Mattis’ new book talks much about Iran? Of all the people I know of who are in the book-writing business these days (not many, to be honest), I’d *think* he’d be one of the most “qualified” on this particular subject.

That’s too bad. I hate it when people take the time to write about an otherwise interesting subject and completely politicize it. Everyone is pushing an agenda these days and it’s exhausting. Guess it belongs in the pile of “good kindling” as a fire starter for my fire pit...

I’d be curious to hear from the F-35 bros just how “successful” they are compared to the guys who earned their wings the “real” way. I know, I know...a little jab at PTN. No offense to these guys who went through that program, it’s totally not their fault. And I hope they truly do well for the sake of our lethality/dominance over our peer adversaries. This whole PTN thing is just yet another one of the AF’s weird social experiments, brought to you by the Kwastinite gang. By the way, what happened to that guy? 😏

If your target is Delta then I wouldn’t look anywhere other than the Delta CTP/ATP program. Seems like they aren’t calling anyone these days except for people that have done that program specifically. (Maybe mil2atp as well since apparently they also have a connection, although I’ve never personally known anyone that’s used/ops tested it...)

So this is where we are at as an AF now. I don’t know whether I should laugh or cry at this. Probably both. Good on her for creating her own business for a niche market...hopefully it does well for her!

I personally believe the AF will always value the academia/desk jockey/duty title/awards crap over being a skilled aviator/instructor. Why? Because it puts rated folks on the same playing field with the shoes. We’ll see if these new split career field promotion boards have an impact on that or not. One thing you can bet on though is that the AF will never quit implementing these social experiments they like to conduct.

I think there’s a boat with 6,900 dudes floating in the gulf calling your name...may wanna go check it out. Bring your crayons.

The airdroppers in the different communities do a fair amount large, multi-ship (often dissimilar aircraft) formations to an objective area, via a LL, threat react/get the giant gaggle back together, to mass drop on DZ then min close an LZ. I think a lot of CAF guys discredit the MAF since they simply don’t have a good understanding of what some of them truly do. Sure, the physical flying is different, but there is a big picture/airmanship/SA skillset that is developed and is transferable when teaching a student in UPT, regardless of airframe (T-6, T-1, T-38). I think heavy guys get a bad wrap when it comes to “aptitude” to teach as compared to fighter dudes, and that’s because the MAF as an institution largely doesn’t value good instructional ability (even flying skill in general) in their pilots. They care more about winning quarterly awards and your next PRF than any sort of proficiency in an airplane, and it’s sad. All of the non 11Fs that are instructing these days came from the 2010-13 year timeframe when most fighter FTUs were backed up. The fact is most of them would have flown fighters too if the AF hadn’t screwed the pooch on fighter manning. It’s not these guys’ fault. I’m thoroughly convinced that when someone pins on their first star (and arguably the chicken for some), all common sense in decision making goes out the window in favor of self-preservation when trying to chase that next star.

Reference my comment that nobody’s left. I get it dude.

Are we talking the new 19AF/CC that has started turning away non 11F/B guys in the 38 PIT pipeline? The hard truth is that they haven’t paid their fair share of the AETC bill in years, so while on the one hand I feel their pain/frustration, the cynical side of me doesn’t feel bad when they all bitch about the quality of their wingmen. I know, I know, #pilotshortage #nobodysleft. It’s obviously a symptom of a much larger AF problem.

In some cases I’m sure that’s an accurate statement. However, also realize that in this era of “everyone gets a fighter”, most of these kids graduating today need to understand they’re lucky to be in that position (many would have been flying RPAs 8-10 years ago!), and many were gonna struggle in IFF regardless. It’s a challenging program even for the students who did very well in UPT. UPT has been so watered down compared to what it once was. And it’s not these students’ fault; it’s just a byproduct of bad choices made by subpar leadership cutting corners to create pilots faster. Edit for emphasis on #pilotshortage

Back in effect as in they still are only hiring 11F/B? If so, that’s absolutely ridiculous. Last I checked the back of the Form 8 doesn’t say an 11F/B is more qualified than a dude who flew an E-8, for example. As stated, it’s not like they’ll be able to be picky based on the manning trends.

I was talking about 11F/11B types. The only ones 38s will be getting are the MAF/AFSOC/heavy ISR backgrounds for the foreseeable future. And even then, as you alluded to, some of those communities won’t let them go back and instruct in AETC because they can’t afford to let them go either (reference the OP’s comment about 150 bodies to fill 249 billets).

Some bases are not yet.

AETC manning has been bad and will only get worse, as you referenced in those numbers. I’ve heard very similar figures. With that, do you think the 38 reserves will finally start to hire non 11F/11Bs? With rare exceptions, they certainly won’t get any more coming in to the active duty squadrons in the foreseeable future...

Like they ever had any sort of control over that!

Is this whole 80%-11F/20%-11B thing still even a thing in the 340th for guys looking to fly T-38s for SUPT/ENJJPT? If the average makeup of the active duty T-38 squadrons (11M/11S/11R heavy) is any indication of where things in the AF are moving with its manning cluster****/pilot shortage, I don’t think AFRC can afford to be that picky any longer, no?

The B-1 is broke af and that community is trying to figure out what to do with all their new pilots who aren’t flying (friend of mine PCS’d to the schoolhouse a year ago and in that time has flown the jet TWICE). The B-2 is cool but fairly tough to get into unless you know somebody, so I hear. I guess there’s always the Buff?