PK...

EPIC!!!

Him Him

Bruh... contrary to what has been the norm for foldings that aren't held to a specific timeline, our Maintenance bros worked their asses off on this one. Those guys have our gratitude big time! The admin planning started around noon on Friday when we heard the initial rumblings that we might be out the door. Maintenance hadn't even touched any of the aircraft since we weren't 100% sure it was a done deal. We got the green light from headquarters around 1700 the same day. Maintenance showed up at 0700 the next morning, folded three birds and were ready to go by late morning. HH-60 crews walked in the door at noon, two C-17s landed at 1300, and we were wheels up by 1630.

Sasquatch... glad you guys were spared the worst. There was a lot of devastation; and as you said, the sights were surreal... even more so from the sky. The HC-130s in the air were our sister squadrons from New York, California, and Florida. Those guys did some solid C2 work helping the helos down low get into some tight spots to get folks out. As the days rolled by, some of our Guard bros that are also involved with civilian rescue for their day jobs saw on a few EMS forums that gas around the local airports were contaminated. Didn't really validate the claim 100% at the time but one thing for sure was that fuel started running out very quickly in the area. The few airfields that had gas were packed with hundreds of aircraft coming in and out to gas up. Major props to the local FBOs and Airport Fire Departments too... they reserved the gas for rescue aircraft only and met us every time we stopped with clean towels to dry off and some quick hot meals to scarf down as we listened to the radios, jotted down the next tasking and were wheels up as soon as the tanks were full. On the days when gas started getting scarce, we were lucky to have the Kings (Herks) to coordinate Air Refueling as opposed to spending valuable time on the ground waiting for fuel. We were in the air for 10+ hours when you saw the Hawks getting gas overhead. A very humbling and rewarding experience indeed. Couldn't have done it without those guys.

Good word... makes sense. Much appreciated --- PK...

Question came up in recent discussion with an old friend and I really didn't have an answer. He's flown charter, skydive aircraft, did the whole CFI thing for a little while, and is now flying CRJs with one of the regionals. On the quest to step up to the majors, he's also been scoping out some of the common foreign employers: Emirates, Korean Air, etc. He's had in mind to apply to a few Guard units as well and was wondering if the idea of working for a foreign company is even allowed while serving. Of course there are many considerations with such an idea: age limit, traveling back and forth overseas, employer's willingness to accommodate Guard commitment, deployments, etc ... but the question is just hypothetical for now. Anyone here dealt with this before? Or at least know someone that's flown, or even just worked for a foreign company while in the Guard? I fly on the helo side of the house so other than general knowledge on the standard airline employment process, I honestly don't know if this is a common question with the fixed-wing Guard bros. Whatever insight you guys have on the topic will be appreciated. --- PK...

RUCKER 16-03 1 x HH-60G 1 x UH-1N RUCKER 16-04 3 x HH-60G 2 x UH-1N --- PK...

Will be greatly appreciated. Have some bros at LR that are kinda in limbo right now. For them it's just to finish up there and wait to see what comes next.

So... word on the street is Kirtland's pretty much done with the HC legacy course... i.e. soon to be HC-Js only. What happens to the Guard/Reserve bubbas coming out of LR? (or even brand new UPT grads). I'm assuming in-house training at individual ANG/AFRES units could be a possibility for LR grads. Fresh out of UPT folks though... maybe Dobbins and then back home for the HC bit? Anyone have the latest on this?

Student. Starting this FY, the CV-22 is once again open to Rucker; however, my understanding is that it's not exclusive to helo studs (as it used to be). AFPC will still pull from the T-1 / T-38 tracks as needed. --- PK...

RUCKER CL 16-02 4 x HH-60G (2 GUARD) CV-22 3 x UH-1N --- PK...

MIDN, I kinda went through what you are thinking about doing; however, my situation was slightly different. Wanted to fly & wanted to do ATC... but flying was primary. Figured I could hit the ATC four year commitment first, and then apply to Pilot Training later. Eventually turned out that I absolutely had to go the ATC route first since my medical paperwork was not clear whenever my ROTC class was putting in their pilot applications. Unlike you, the decision was made for be based on circumstance. Loved everything about the ATC career field but still kept focus on flying. Applied and got picked up on active duty...and while at my pilot training base, applied to a Guard unit, got picked up, and switched over to the Guard. Long story... but It all worked out in the end. Looking back at everything that happened through the entire process, I took a lot of chances and consider myself to be extremely lucky. I happened to be in the right place, at the right time, and with the right people. There are so many factors, situations, and people involved to where if just one thing had not been in place, I would never have made it to pilot training. My advice (just like the others above): go first for whatever field you wouldn't mind being "stuck in" for the rest of your career. If you want to fly, go for it first. Buddy Spike speaks truth... inter-service transfers are a hassle on their own. Lastly, it's fantastic to have clear dreams / goals, but avoid making your final decision by how "cool" you think these career fields are. Make sure you find & talk to pilots & submariners to get a very clear picture of what life is like as opposed to just meeting them and observing their personalities. Good luck --- PK...

RUCKER 16-01 HH-60G x 2 UH-1N x 2 --- PK...

CBM 16-01 (T-38) F-16 x 2 (Holloman & Tuscon... Both AD) T-6 FAIP T-38 FAIP B-52 Eurofighter & Tornado (Both Saudi) CBM 16-01 (T-1) C-17 x 2 (1 Charleston, 1 ANG) KC-135 x 2 (McConnell, 1 AFRC) T-1 FAIP T-6 FAIP C-130H (ANG) KC-10 (AFRC) JSTARS HC-130J (DM) CV-22 (Hurbie) MQ-9 x 2 (Creech) --- PK...

RUCKER 15-10 HH-60G x 5 UH-1N x 2 RUCKER 15-11 HH-60G UH-1N x 2 --- PK...

Taking care of each other during tough times. https://www.gofundme.com/r85p2ze8 Much appreciation to the bros that put this together for JJ's family. --- PK...

"You will lose friends in this business" Very hard to swallow the grim truth in those words... especially today. Rest easy JJ ... Rest easy brothers. --- PK...

BRIDGE OF SPIES Looking forward to this one. --- PK...

Good words... much appreciated! Looks like it's pretty straight-forward... hang tight for now and we'll see what happens. Chapter29, thanks for the offer. I'll PM if anything strange comes up that you may be able to give some insight on. --- PK...

(Thread revival) Brethren, Trying to help a bro dig for some info on the FEB process. Boarded for not meeting training standards at the schoolhouse... Final R ecommendation was retain & retrain to different platform. Package has been up at MAJCOM HQ for the last 5 months. Rumor mill now is that the AF is just going to kick everyone with a pending FEB decision out. Questions here: Anyone know anything about if there is truth to this rumor? Anything to do other than just sit and wait? Don't know what I don't know about FEBs and how exactly the paperwork routes up the chain to the MAJCOM/CC. I'd appreciate any insight anyone can give. Who and what to ask... If there is need or it's worth contacting some office at the MAJCOM level. Right now all they are getting from squadron leadership is "we don't know but we'll let you know when we hear something." My apologies... Intentionally leaving out exact platform & MAJCOM to preserve anonymity. Please PM me if that info will help focus any advice or direction you can give. Thanks --- PK

CBM 15-03 Assignment Night T-38 Guard: F-16 (DC) International: F-2 or F-15J (International - Japan) Active: F-15E (Seymour) U-28 (Hurbie) U-28 (Hurbie) T-6 FAIP (Columbus) MC-130H (Hurbie) AC-130H (Cannon) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- T-1 Reserve: C-145 (Duke Field) Guard: C-130H (Mansfield) Active: C-130E/H (Yokota) C-17 (Charleston) C-17 (Charleston) C-17 (Travis) C-21 (Scott) C-5 (Travis) HC-130J (DM) KC-10 (McGuire) KC-10 (Travis) KC-135 (Eilson) KC-135 (Fairchild) KC-135 (Scott) T-6 FAIP (Columbus) U-28 (Hurbie) --- PK...

CBM 15-01 Assignment Night T-38 U-28 (Cannon) F-15C (Klamath Falls) B-1B (Dyess) F-22 (Tyndall) T-1 Reserve: C-130J (Dobbins) KC-10 (McGuire) Guard: C-130H (Charlotte) C-17 (Stewart) Active: KC-135 (Mildenhall) KC-135 (McConnell) EC-130 (DM) E-3 (Tinker) C-130 (Yokota) C-17 (Dover) C-17 (McChord) C-17 (Travis) C-17 (McGuire) C-21 (Scott) FAIP T-6 (CBM) FAIP T-1 (CBM) --- PK...

Random call: Anyone here on the boards starting at CBM this October (16-01 Specifically)? --- PK...

Google is your friend! Good luck out there dude! --- PK...

Not sure about ENJJPT because I haven't personally seen theirs, but welcome packets from the other UPT bases usually have the start, track select, and graduation dates for all classes during the fiscal year. If you have bros at any of these bases, you can ask them to send you a copy. You can probably also call the Student Squadron and each base and ask if someone can send you a copy. Cheers --- PK...