HU&W

Go find an officer recruiter. Or a guard unit. Really, REALLY, just go to OTS. Don't bother enlisting with hopes of maybe getting commissioned later.

Why not? Her dad was until a few years ago.

Excellent points. My list for sustainability aligns pretty closely, but with some amplifying points, in priority order... 1. Dwell. And it needs to be implemented yesterday. If there were 1000 F-16 pilots and 1000 F-16s, the AF would balk at a COCOM request for 1000 tails. The same should be true for maxing CAPs. Dwell doesn't need to be 2:1 or even 1:1. Make it 1:2 (programmed) like everyone else. Dwell needs to be by squadron. An entire squadron should spend four months preparing to fight a specific 5-6 CAPs for two months, and then hand the fight over to another squadron to prepare again. That's three squadrons sharing each CAP, three 6-CAP squadrons for every 6 CAPs, etc. There are not enough squadrons today to do that, so we should cut CAPs today. If we really need 60+ to survive/win our various wars, build enough squadrons to support that. "Because we're used to that many" isn't sufficient justification. 2. One daddy rabbit. MQ-9s shouldn't be split between two different MAJCOMs with two different priority sets. Having a bit of experience in both, my opinion is that the better strategic alignment for the MQ-9 is the MAJCOM that has the preponderance of other M-designated aircraft. If AFSOC does take over, yes that means Creech should be the third AFSOC base, and it should have all the BOS a normal base gets. Regardless, no major base should be the tenant of a host wing that's over an hour away. 3. Stop managing the manpower, policy, and systems as "RPAs". It's literally the only aircraft that's categorized according to its cockpit design. The only similarity between the MQ-9 and the RQ-4 is that the fly-by-wire goes through a satellite datalink. They are no more similar than a C-17 and F-15 that both have glass cockpits. 4. Companion (alpha) trainers are a great idea, but only during dwell, not combat. We need to be building airmanship for our 18x pilots beyond the 39 hours they get during IFS. I like the Cirrus SR22s the academy uses due to the minimal life support requirement.

Turns out, the plan is to make flying 'fun'? https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-air-force/2018/01/16/virtual-skies-air-force-hopes-fun-tech-transforms-pilot-learning/

1. Read this. https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_te/publication/afi99-107/afi99-107.pdf 2. Don't sacrifice being the best pilot by splitting your attention on a degree that won't get you closer to your goal. Every iceberg can only hold so many penguins. 3. TPS gives you another masters.

Hazlewood only works once you've used up TA. And only if you're a Texan.

I went to OTS from enlisted with later crossflow to UPT. The odds are stacked against you. If you really want to be rated, apply for it from the beginning, even if the politics seem less favorable. If you want to be an O, and rated is a secondary consideration, apply now.

Buy a Harley when you get there, on base.

EO 12564 https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12564.html and the Bond amendment https://www.dss.mil/documents/pressroom/bond_amendment.pdf are against you. Especially since the DEA still classifies it as controlled/illegal, regardless of state laws. https://www.dea.gov/divisions/hq/2016/hq081116.shtml. If you really want it, be prepared to work hard for a waiver.

Yep. You need to use laser foil.

We've made those before on my wife's machine out of those seatbelt luggage tags they sell at clothing sales. Just names, but wings would be pretty easy to add. I like the idea. I'll bet I could convince her to make you one.

2 same. My mom was just told she needs skin cancer surgery, but that it could only be scheduled right after the first of the year. Due to skyrocketing premiums and out of pocket costs, she had already cnx'd her plan effective the end of this month. She's putting off the surgery until she turns 65 in June. Our healthcare system is beyond reason and majorly in need of reform.

It's when you're not one of the chosen, but you haven't realized that the only winning move is not to play.

True. Does "Ops guy" = A code?

You mean like loads, sensors, BA, and gunners?

Interesting

https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_sg/publication/afi48-123/afi48-123.pdf

So, train pilots and then send them to tech school to finish out their 4-6 year enlistment?

I think what we have here is AETC trying to put in their own solutions when the root cause (and solution) is in AFPC.

Easy. 20 year enlistment.

LOL. I bought my wife a Bernina embroidery machine a few years ago for anniversary. She's done some great patch work for me over the years.

That's a lot of writing, and quite a bit of detail for a BF. Surprised it's not a little more student(and hypoxia)-proof... GREEN RING - PULL DESCENT - INITIATE OXYGEN HOSE - DISCONNECT

I'd recommend shooting first. And not missing.

If we're really trying to find a way to somehow skip phase II or III, why not just have qualified zoomies fly the T-6 during their Senior year at the academy, track select at graduation, and press?