xcraftllc

My favorite part is of course the J's themselves, so FWIW I've found that when making it at home for an evening snack, it's best to drain a whole jar of mild (or "tamed") J's into a strainer, heat up some oil in a sauce pan to med-high and fry the J's on their own, then make some popcorn in a popper separately and mix in the J's right at the end while their still hot and oily. The simultaneous technique works well with a popcorn machine at work but it's a bitch to make it just right with a manual popper at home. Besides, you get a lot more of the nice crispy J's with this technique. Certainly not practical for snacko work though.

I posted up a google earth file (zipped) on this base locations thread. It has all the guard and reserve fighter locations on it. I used it back in the day before I was hired:

Cool, give this a shot and let me know if it works. Sorry for the weird naming convention, I kinda made my own shorthand, here's the basic flow: First Number: Wing or Group; which will have a W or G identifying it as one or the other. Second Number: Squadron; designated by S. Third number: Airframe: 0=A-10, 2=F-22, 5=F-15, 6=F-16; a "T" will follow if the unit is a training unit. After a space, there will be a "G" for guard, or an "R" for reserve. The icon symbol also corresponds to the type of unit, based on component and airframe (for quick reference). I think most people will get it after looking at it for a while. Example (using the best unit in the Air Force): 187th Fighter Wing, 100th Fighter Squadron, F-16 (non-training unit) Air National Guard: 187W 100S 6 G, icon is a fire symbol This is by no means perfect or official. I'm sure it's missing some units and has a couple errors by now. I didn't bother adding some units that essentially never hold boards like the Alaskan F-22 reserve unit and the aggressor units. What would be a friggin huge shack is if someone who had a ton of spare time and ran out of things to masturbate about added all of the rest of the units in the total force and added links to the units' sites to each point for quick reference. This is as far as I got for my purposes, hope it helps! Guard-Reserve Fighter Units Zip.zip

Which reminds me, anyone know how to attach a Google Earth file? I made a Google earth file with all the guard and reserve fighter unit locations back when I was applying to units but when I try to upload it here it says it can't handle that file type. Figure now that I'm hired I should share the wealth cuz I would have loved to find something like that back in the day without spending all the time going through the Almanac making it.

Dammit we were almost back on track lol! I guess mc-12 to RPA stuff is kinda assignment material though. But while we're at it, this is scoobs: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=r-M_GqSEDDk My theory is that the Chinese are responsible for the baseops outage during the last week, they were data mining for opsec leaks! So anyways back to the track selects and assignment subject, what's the deal with del rio not being allowed to make videos for drop nights? (I heard they can't make em there anymore)

Interesting, I guess it makes sense though.

To my understanding they actually do the takeoff and landing portions too (for the Grey Eagles anyway, I think they have a net system for one of the small ones). They deploy with their equipment and have an option to use direct line of sight control. What I mean by the "mission commander type" is an officer at the control facility who is there to supervise, call the shots, takeover if necessary, etc. Again this is just my understanding from what I've heard talking to the guys who were deployed with us. Seriously though, didn't mean to derail the thread!

(Yeah we might need to take this to another thread). Basically, the Army's argument is that enlisted UAS guys are fine because they are essentially always under the supervision and leadership of an officer in some capacity (usually in the form of some kind of mission commander type at the UAS control station, sometimes that's a warrant officer). Actual manned platforms are basically commanding themselves, therefore you need at least a warrant officer. I think the same argument can be applied to the big blue. Basically manned aircraft need to have officers (people with higher education and leadership training), but as long as there is an officer present, enlisted personnel can operate drones.

It's pretty unnerving reading this thread. I'm very relieved that I went guard when I made the switch to the AF. Army flight school was stressful, and I managed to come out on top and get what I want, but at least I didn't have to worry about stuff like this! The Army doesn't do very many things right with regards to aviation, but one of the things it nailed is the way it handles its UAS (RPA) program. The program always was, is, and always will be completely separate from regular flight school, and the operators are enlisted. That's not to say they let any old joe fly a Grey Eagle, they have high standards for applicants. Here's the reality: For an enlisted guy, flying a drone is cool, something to be proud of. If they get to do it, they feel accomplished and will likely continue to serve. No one goes to the Academy or puts all their life's time, money, and energy into getting into flight school to go RPA. This is a life commitment, we grew up our whole lives dreaming about flying and working hard to earn a career in the field. Say what you will about patriotic duty this, and just happy to serve your country's needs that; it's not ok to take someone who devoted their life to being able to fly, send them to flight school, and then pull the carpet out from underneath them and give them RPAs, even if it's only a temporary assignment. Guinneapig fury, I agree with making the guard/reserve units that are already flying drones more active in order to fill gaps but if you are suggesting that more guard units be converted then of course I think you're wrong. We're basically a Total Force now and one of the only ways that the AF has been able to stop some of its best pilots from leaving is by letting them palace chase to guard units. The guard is more active than ever, and the AF cannot meet its mission requirements without the help. As far as to how even just temporary assignments affect retention, someone did an interesting survey on the subject. Note the timing; about two years prior to the huge 11F shortage and bonus offerings: EDIT: Grammar

Oh, gotcha. From what I hear the reserves are are actually hurting for pilots pretty bad right now so you have a good shot. Good luck! (Didn't mean to come off as a dick just wasn't sure what you were asking).

The 187th FW (AL) will be holding another board this year. Check out their Facebook page and website for details.

Ummm... Just look in the "Upcoming Boards" thread for that stuff man, that's a little vague. There are many UPT (assuming that's what you meant) boards and that thread is pretty decent about posting them. Good luck but try to do a little more reading ahead.

Can't stand the robotic narrative but some guy made these "myth busting" videos that have some good points:

Well, I’m finally set to be out of the Army on June! I figured now would be a good time to clarify some stuff and go over some of the challenges I faced, since this was not nearly as easy as I thought. If you are considering this seriously, please understand that the process is long and difficult (unless you’re getting out anyway), and will involve a great amount of risk with regards to both a future career in the Army, and the shear amount of time and money lost that you have to put into this endeavor. Again, be sure to clarify everything with your chain of command and branch management before you start this, as there is no way you’re going to slip anything past anyone. Basically, everyone has to be on board for your transition from the beginning or it doesn’t stand a chance. Please contact me if you are considering this, before emailing your Branch Chief and other senior officials, as we don’t want to piss anyone off or burn any bridges. First and foremost I want to clarify that if you are Active Duty Army, the Conditional Release (DD368) is NOT the only thing you need to be released as I had thought. There are two different obligations involved with being in the Active Duty Army; a Military Service Obligation (MSO) and an Active Duty Service Obligation (ADSO). The MSO is usually 8 years from whenever you enlisted, appointed, or commissioned, and simply requires you to serve in some capacity in the Army, whether that be Inactive Individual Ready Reserve (IRR), Guard, Reserve, or whatever. Most people will just do IRR when their ADSO is up. The DD368 allows you to transfer from this into whatever component it is filled out for (in my case the ANG). The ADSO usually comes from some investment the Army made, such as flight school or qualification courses like IPC. These must be waived by the Assistant Secretary of the Army, Department of Manpower and Reserve Affairs (ASAMRA). This will be accomplished by a memo in your resignation packet asking for the waiver. Also keep in mind that Tuition Assistance waivers will involve you paying back a prorated amount of the money. Please note that a waiver for an ADSO from flight school is rare, and usually only happens if the Army is well over-strength in your particular MOS/rank. When I started this process, the Army was downsizing and the Kiowa fleet was being dissolved producing a lot of airframe transfers into the Apache world, but right as my packet was reaching the desk of the G-1 at HRC last month, the Army decided to start moving Apaches from the Guard to AD, creating a new need for Apache pilots. At one point I was actually told that I was not going to be released, but after more conversation, I was given a second chance, mainly due to the fact that I was already so far along and myself and the ANG had already put so much into the process (including my FC-1 physical). In the end, the case was made for me by some very helpful people in my branch management, and the ASAMRA was graceful enough to grant me a waiver. This didn’t come a moment too soon since as it stands, I may very well be getting into UPT just in the nick of time! If you are not already at the end of your obligation, your resignation needs to be submitted with a date that is at least 180 days out from HRC reception, and if you’re older like me, this can be frustrating. I was extremely humbled by this process. I definitely owe some good people in my chain of command and branch management, because this one almost got thrown out.

Can't say anything on the 5 year policy, but regarding your eye surgery, I think LASIK is easier to work with than PRK so just keep that in mind (you might have been using PRK generically though). Also, keep all of you documentation on that, especially the pre-op numbers, as well as all of the follow ups, there should be a 1, 3, 6 month and a year. Deaddebate is a great contact here for that. I didn't have some of that paperwork since it had been 8 years since mine and I just barely made it work with my FC-1 physical.

Too bad we're broke and our R&D/Acquisitions system is almost useless, cuz a KC-2 or similar LO tanker design would make extending the range into the WEZ pretty easy. I mean I get it the B-2 is a strike-capable aircraft itself, but on it's own it would have to go in there without escort. Oh well, at this rate we're doing pretty well just to modify an existing airliner design to use as a tanker, and get it at only a slight delay and mild cost overruns.

Frankly I'm not sure cuz no one mentioned it, but I'd imagine that there was and will always be some ground station that can still take control of it at any point. It might be a bit of a stretch but I wonder if the AF is big on this semi-autonomous thing cuz they're worried about finding enough willing operators to control a ton of drones in the future, given the difficulty they're already having with the current workload. That's the end issue, we can envision all this great stuff but still need to find the time and money for training, and with the budget now adays, it's hard to imagine something like this happening any time soon.

Interesting. They've been doing this experimentally with Apaches for a while. I've only flown models with the ability to pick up video feed and location data of unmanned and manned assets, but there are tests featuring the ability to actually operate the UAVs. The feedback I've heard is that it's nice to be able to tell the UAV what to do, but not really "fly" it per se. "Flying" it doesn't really add any advantage, but being able to punch in a grid and order the uav to go orbit over that area and transmit a video feed etc., is nice.

Well looks like no one's saying much so I'll help you out with what I know; Frankly, the "likely hood" of you being selected at one unit or another has a lot to do with what that particular unit's situation is and how good of a fit you are. For example, I know some of the guys at Homestead and they are more concerned with what you are going to be able to do for a day job than other units are. This is because they've had some issues in the past with guys getting through training and not being able to find work. Alabama on the other hand is more concerned with physical fitness than other units because they've actually had someone fail fitness requirements before they were able to make it to flight training. So and and so forth. I'm not sure about Jersey. In general (so I've heard), the Reserves are hurting for guys right not so you can always try to apply unsponsored if you want to get going but none of the reserve units you want to fly for are hiring at the moment. Careful though cuz you could end up not getting a sponsor for a while and end up flying who knows what and who knows where. Last time I checked, Homestead wasn't holding a board any time soon, but either way what you really need to do is start getting to know the units that your'e interested in, and what they're looking for. Visit during a drill if you can afford to. Definitely get those tests done and do as well on them as you can, especially since your GPA looks a tad low; not bad but not good ya know.

Any good CAS pilot performs ISR while he's at it...

Good stuff, I Good stuff, it's been a decade and a half but it's good to finally see some of these things actually strutting their stuff at airshows showing the taxpayers that their money is actually buying a real thing. You can make whatever criticisms you want about the program as a whole, but at the end of the day, it's pretty impressive to see what those B models can do. Tactics and practicality aside, that is a real-deal stealthy 5th gen fighter that can go from a hover to supersonic speeds and back.

lol I would agree that a 2-seater isn't needed. One of the consistent things we've heard from the pilots is that it's a very well-behaved jet and easy to fly. Also, the sensors and avionics seem like they're good enough to keep the workload reasonable for just one pilot (I would imagine anyway). The same can be said for training since much like the F-22 and A-10, as long as the aircraft flies well, you don't need to start in a two seater. I think if we give Lockheed any more money to put toward the cockpit, it should be to find a way to get rid of that damn canopy bow. Or I don't know at least put some mirrors or something on it lol, it's huge!

You know I just came across this thread today and it's interesting to see those poll results given the current issues that the AF is having with retaining experienced pilots today (2-3 years after that poll and thread). It would be interesting to poll all the pilots leaving and ask how much TAMI-21 had to do with it. Also sorry for the folks here with TAMI-21 PTSD, I don't mean to induce flash backs of flesh peddling trauma.

Says they're doing all that on a budget of $330mil. Sounds like pretty well-ran program if that's the case. I guess it's a lot easier when another country has already done most of the research though. I wonder if the production version will have DSI.

Speaking of which, this actually contributes to the argument that when the T-X finally comes out, it should replace T-38 and T-1. Sure simplifies logistics and scheduling.