kapilot

wouldn't it make more sense to drop the wings and transport them over?

I'm still a ways off from being at this point but I will remember to make an appointment when I get there. Thanks for the input. Heck who knows maybe we'll all get 777 types.... (sarcasm)

At what point does that happen at? After you finish Altus right out of UPT, or after you become an AC. To get this type on your ticket what do you have to do? Is it a simple visit to the local FSDO or is more involved? Is it the same for the BE400 and MU300 for the T1 guys?

Here is my take on the KC-10. I love it because we have a lot of different mission types. Pros: 1. You get a type rating. The DC-10s are practically phased out in civilian life, but it still looks good on your license. 2. When you go on a mission, you keep the same airplane. Very rarely do we crew swap, less bag dragging. I've never done it in 8 years. 3. KC-10s do airlift. The KC-10 can haul roughly 170,000lbs on 27 pallets. Although cargo isn't the mainstay for the KC-10, you will see it. 4. KC-10s do receiver and tanker air refueling. They can refuel just about everything in the US, NATO, and most foreign countries arsenal. The types of missions vary. You can turn holes in the skies with fighters on the wings, or hit the C-17 on the east coast and be home for dinner. 5. You'll go on "business efforts". This is when a fighter or testing unit hires a KC-10 for AR support / testing. For example, you'll go to Eglin for 2 weeks to support live fire missile testing / AR proficiency for the fighters. 6. Fighter Drags -- the KC-10's bread and butter mission. Here you move passengers, cargo, and ferry fighters across the oceans. They're extremely complex and challenging. The aircraft must be "in-place" 24 hours before the movement. If the mission doesn't start at homestation (which it rarely will), you will get 24 hours off where ever the fighters are (that can be good or bad). Because of limitations for the fighter pilots, you will fly banker's hours. 6. DV Support. The KC-10 flies a lot of VIP / DV support. In fact, once I became an instructor pilot, most of my missions aside from the desert deployments were DV missions. 7. You have a engineer. Cons: 1. If you want to get promoted, KC-10s aren't the answer. We are a small community, we do not have a WIC, and you are the red headed stepchild of the Air Force, AMC, and the tanker world. 2. You will get deployed and unfortunately, you will be more deployed than ever before. There's nothing more demoralizing to come home from a 3 month deployment and before you get to your house, the scheduler is calling you to put you into crewrest for a 2-week Channel mission. Yes, its rare, but it happens. 3. If you don't like spending time in an orbit pattern or having airplanes in close formation with you, don't select the KC-10 4. No glass cockpit ... yet. 5. McGuire 6. Consolidation AR. Since the KC-10 is receiver air refueling capable, any tanker leaving the AOR with extra gas gets consolidated into a KC-10. This is to maximize the gas "in the box". The result, you're cozy 5 hour mission gets extended to 8, 9, maybe 14 hours. :( 7. No low-level or air drop. 8. No defensive systems. 9. ATP-56B ... soon you will understand

5. KC-135R Are these still out there?

I agere a BMW does seem a little much for a LT, unless you have a silverspoon somewhere I think I would find something else to do with the stash. If your set on one though I would look into a preown. Maybe a 3series sometimes they have some good deals. If so look at getting one through a bmw dealer so as to get the pre owned warranty.

My vote is yes. Try it out in wiki and see how it goes. I think an evolving glossary would be beneficial. Toro: oooouch! well played I think I've learned my lesson, thanks for the link

The only reason I bring this up is because it has helped me a lot in the past, and even now on occasion. Especially when I first started my AF quest by reading on here and trying to learn how to secure a slot. Now that I'm well on my way I've noticed that sometimes there still is an occasional acronym or term that I find myself reading and scratching my head trying to learn the meaning through context. Question: is it possible to update the glossary from time to time or is it easier for readers just to ask definitions in the forums and get destroyed by everyone for not searching. Or is it possible this is already being done and since i didn't search to learn that I'm about to get destroyed?

UPDATE for those in the same shoes. Got MEPS scheduled a couple days ago. I was told by my recruiter that he had sent it in right after he got it and decided to call when he hadn't heard anything for a couple weeks. They in response stated that they had not received it so he resubmitted. And a day or two later we had everything scheduled and ready to go. Who knows and at this point who cares as long as it's done. On a side note to anyone reading this. It seems that the norm is 2 or 3 days to get your MEPS scheduled once you submit your paper work unless you have some recent type of condition that requires more paper work or records to be submitted. Regardless I would judge that if you haven't heard anything in 3 to 4 days start calling because there's a good chance its sitting at the bottom of a desk somewhere.

Ninline They're right a lot of it depends, but if your going in a day before the event starts you'll prob be ok. Last years attendance was a slightly down (or at least it seemed) beacuase of the economy and parking wasn't as much of an issue. I would advise take someone with you whos done it before also, but if not no big deal. You can fly in and out during the event but only at certain windows throughout the day otherwise you'll be turned back. You need to get on the airventure website and start reading. It is almost ridiclious how organized this event is. Also order the airventure NOTAM as soon as you can and start studying landmarks and procedures for your aircraft. Between the NOTAM and their website all your questions should be anwsered. https://www.airventure.org/flying/

Quote from Aurora85 "Yep..XL seems to be the flavor of choice lately ;) You cant do Whiting with the Guard/Reserves or Moody."

I never went the ROTC route is this what it's like? These are a lot cheaper by the way. https://flyboys.com/kids-flight-suits-home.html

Is a long wait for the commissioning physical (MEPS) normal? I've had my paper work in for two weeks now and still haven't heard anything back. I've searched and it seems like MOST people get theirs scheduled in about three days after they submit their papers. I've been sponsored for the reserve board this sept. It's been a month now and essentially no progress has been made. Starting to become concerned that i won't get everything scheduled and completed in time.

BUMP

Thought I would share this. I found it the other day and had to listen more than once. Let the great general school you on our current situation.

This post was made a while ago. Can any recent reserve guys chime in on this topic and give an updated opinion? I assume it's still restricted to XL VN or CB but I wonder where most reserve guys have been going to recently. And Since this thread has anyone actually put in a request and had it approved?

So much for the cake walk

I'm a little confused on what's going on with AFRC officer training right now. I found this in wikipedia... "As of October 2007 Lt-Gen Bradley of AFRC has mandated that Air Force Reserve Officer Candidates attend the same 12-week OTS as their active-duty counterparts." I feel like I've read something like this on a forum somewhere but can't find it again. Can anyone shed some light or direct me to a good source? Seems like I've read that it can go either way AMS or OTS regardless if your prior or non prior. Thanks

I'm set to visit the 136th in a couple of weeks during their drill. I have visited a unit before during their drill and everyone seemed really busy. Is this the best time to visit? If so does anyone have any advice other than "be yourself and don't be a tool". What I guess I'm asking is if everyone's busy what's the best way to go about this. Should I A:show up morning and hang around all day talking to people as they come available or should I B:shoot for lunch or the end of the day when people may be more apt to slow down...or am I C: just making way to much of this.

Stiffler, Greasy thanks I'll try that today. The unit I'm trying to contact is the 136th air national guard unit at the joint air base in fr worth, tx. If anyone knows anyone there I would be extremly apprecative. Is it possible to mail beer?

This is exactley what I'm trying to do at my neighborhood unit. I'm having a really hard time getting in touch with someone who can let me through the gate. All I've got so far is recruiter's voicemails and I never get calls back. I've callled the base 1-800 number but they have no idea what I'm trying to do...even after I explain that I just want to get in touch with a pilot in the unit. Is there a particular position I should as to speak with, or should I just show up at the gate and tell the guards that I'm trying to get in touch with a pilot in the unit. Please help!

I don't care what type of aircraft I end up in I just want to fly military. I fly "profesionally" now and feel like I could use the training and I want the experience and challenge of military aviation. Sounds corny but I wanna be the best I can. "It can be hard/awkward to just show up at a unit you don't know anything about if you don't know anyone" Yeah totally! I had an interview at a reserve unit not to long ago. It was tough being thrown into that enviroment with a group that's so close and being the stranger. I found it hard to keep the conversations flowing at times. Which was weird b/c most consider me a pretty outgoing person, and ive never really had that problem before. I guess it was due mostly that I was the stranger, in a family. Thanks for the advice. If i have another opportunity I'll try think ahead of more questions to ask them. thanks

I'm 26 and a half years old. Do I have time to do this? What if I did do this and got picked up by a unit somewhere else would I have to stay at the one I enlisted at or could I go to where I was offered a slot at?

I've been trying to get picked up by either a guard and reserve unit for a while now with not a lot of luck. I'm aware of the process and the good ole boy system that most operate under. I wanted to post and ask advice of anyone who may be able to contribute. If you don't know anyone in a unit what's the best way to get your foot in the door? Especially locally, how often did you visit the unit. Who should I be talking to set up the visits? For those of you who did rush units...What was your strategy? What was effective and what was not. When is the best time to visit? etc. etc. Thanks

Here's another question that I've been seeking confirmation for. Im 26 and 2 months old. I realize that the new rule for pilot selects is that you must have your package in by your 28th birthday. My question is if I take the AFOQT right now would I still have time for a retake with the way the boards fall in 08 and 09. In other words do I only have one chance at the test or can I take it get all of my other stuff done on my package, and if I don't like the AFOQT scores can I retake for another board? I realize that I wouldnt be able to retake for the upcoming board. I think the anwser is yes I would be able to but sometimes there are hickups in these type of things. Would appreciate any experienced insight, other anwsered questions have been extremely helpful you guys are great