Snuggie

The issue is that I have already answered the Special Needs Screener for our 1st PCS truthfully. Which once that was turned in raised other flags. Even if it wasn't an issue for this PCS to Little Rock the 1466 that would be required for Ramstein would have caused the same problems. For those who have been OCONUS, how easy was it to use Tricare standard overseas? We are willing to pay co-pays and other fees if it allows the flexibility of seeing local doctors. Plus we don't have to worry about KMC finding a spot for her, which I would hope would make the EFMP approval process a no brainer. I have a while until I need to get to Ramstein, right now I am just trying to get cleared to PCS to Little Rock for training. But from what y'all are saying I need to start to work with the EFMP people as soon as I sign in to the Rock.

Thread bump: About to enroll my wife in the program due to a medical issue that sprung up that requires a specialist (thankfully nothing life threatening). My question is does the military consider if there are non military docs in the area that take Tricare Standard before making a PCS decision? Also would the same apply to OCONUS? As of now I have follow on orders to Ramstein but I am worried those will be changed/cancelled due the impending Q code. I have done some of my own research and it appears there are a number of the required specialist in the Ktown area that would take Tricare Standard Overseas. We are already preparing to annoy the local EFMP office until our paperwork gets cleared. I'm looking for any more information that could help us out.

The gym at Creech has been 24/7 for a while. They want you to have a "wingman" while working out but that's about it. Besides its nice to have the gym to yourself at 0200.

I'm going to try to not start slow this year and finish better then .500. So I'm in.

2. Don't expect to leave for something where your seat moves. You could get a teaching slot at Randolph or a ALO tour, but the rest of your time will be spent flying the line. I will "2" guineapigfury. Just because you are "home" doesn't mean you are at home, even more so if your wife works. When I am on swings (1600-0000) I rarely see my spouse unless it is her or my weekend. Also mids sucks. 3. I believe every base but Creech has on base housing. I know of one person who doesn't commute the 30-45 minutes from Las Vegas by living in Indian Springs, but I wouldn't suggest it. So just plan on adding 1-1.5 hours to your day, every day. 4. It use to be that if you were at Creech you could expect to stay there for 4+ years. But now with bases opening all over the country you can expect a standard PCS cycle and move every 3-4 years. I've been at Creech for 3 years and have done two 120 day LR deployments. I would expect the deployments to extend to 6 months sometime in the future; to get in line with the rest of the AF. If you aren't stationed at Creech expect a 1.5 month TDY to train, which just adds to your time away from family. Bottom line: If your goal is to contribute to the war from CONUS, and not deploy as much as some other AFSCs, then sign up. If your goal is to not PCS and find a back door way into a real jet, the UAVs is not the way to go.

There was a guy in my UPT class who did just that. Since he was a guard guy they washed him back to the next class where he subsequently failed another test. They didn't let him back after that.

I asked my sq/cc this week and he hasn't heard much. What he has heard is as of now the timeline for follow on assignments is being slipped but not cancelled. He thinks the delay will be 3-6 months.

I finished Bleeding Talent a few weeks ago. The author makes some very good points and hits on the frustration that I've seen expressed here and I've had in conversations with my fellow pilots. This book is an extension of the Atlantic article (Why our best officers are leaving) that came out a few months ago. I think his plan would solve a lot of the management problems that the military has, but it would require somebody to get promoted high enough under the current system to be able to change it. And by that time the Kool Aid is too strong.

Boxhead hit it on the head (sts). There are still some squadrons in ACC in which you are in the seat 6-7 hours a day and if you have anything more than a minor additional duty you are at work 9-11 hours a day. At least in my squadron the average is to only fly 4-5 hours a day, which is doable with additional duties. The shift schedule is the bad part of the UAV world that I believe gets overlooked. If I'm on mids and there is a wing meeting for my additional duty I either have to stay after work late (possibility screwing up when I sleep), come in on one of my weekend days, or miss the meeting. Same goes with other appointments. This is not a problem for the daywalker, but it is for your line guy. I believe the UAV promotion rate will go up naturally in the next few years. Now that there is enough manning to send people to check their boxes (SOS, staff tours, etc) it will go up. The timing was such that because the AF doesn't consider the MWS and the lack of being able to box check the promotion rate was lower than average.

Progenex (a protein powder mostly used by Crossfitters) has a 20% military discount. You just have to email them at customerservice@progenexusa.com from your .mil address and they will give you the coupon code.

Another UPT-D drop came out a few days ago. C-130J x2/ C-17 x2/ U-28/ KC-10/ KC-135 Guess the drops are coming more frequently? I wasn't expecting another one until January.

2nd generation AF pilot. My dad did 10 years on active duty and another 15ish in the reserves as a Academy liaison officer. While on active duty he flew F-4s, A-10s, and F-16s. I've flown preds and reapers so far in my short flying career.

Below is the latest UPT-D drop for the 18 guys at Creech and 5 at Cannon. Just like previous UPT-D drops there are no locations associated with the aircraft. (1 x B-1 / 1 x B-52 / 7 x C-17 /2 x C-130E/H / 2 x C-130J / 2 x KC-10 / 4 x KC-135 / 1 x EC-130H / 1 x RC-135 / 1 x MC-130H / 1 x U-28)

Let's do this! I'm game.

I saw the last UPT drop list. Not great for a 38 guy but a very nice heavy drop. A ton of C-17s, -130s, and even a C-5.

That was an Army pred that hit the -130...

Sure I'll take that Pred slot to Cannon!

We are on 5-1-2s, 8 hour shifts. Rarely does somebody get called in on an office day unless somebody else goes DNIF.

Yes! I knew it would work.

Do you a copy of that syllabus? If so could you PM me it please?

I'm not 100% sure, just what I have heard through the rumor mill. So I'm not going to spread bad information, hopefully more details come out soon.

I knew one of the guys on that plane, a toast.

Agreed though this other casual is on the Air Forces time. It counts towards the 10 year commitment unlike the pre-UPT casual.

Yes and no. You can be dual qualed but most UAV pilots are not. The differences aren't too extreme between the 1 and the 9 and it would be relativity easy to bounce between the two.

If the main purpose is to use it at Costco then I would get the Costco AMEX (True Earnings). No annual fee with your Costco membership, 3% cash back for gas, 2% travel, 1% everything else. Not sure if it has all the extras that you want but if the goal is to have a card to use there I would look into getting the True Earnings card.