SPAWNmaster

It's OTS now. With the "Total Force" thing they just combined it. I still have guys at my unit that call it AMS but it is straight up OTS. If you are guard you are more likely to do OTS at the DET12 squadron which is considered the "Guard" squadron but really I've heard of both squadrons training guard/reserve types.

I commissioned March of 2016 and had a similar experience in DET12. The level of intensity is pretty low threat and if anything is suitable to preparing for the official PT test so think of it as just staying in shape if you show up already physically prepared. IMHO the biggest risk to washing out comes from personal injury. Since a lot of the PT is cadet led I would be careful to stretch like you normally would and just take care of yourself. Idiot cadets who have never done PT in their life will be tasked to lead exercises and will find ways to get you hurt. Also watch out on the LRC (or whatever the obstacle puzzle challenges were called) for the same reasons. The squadron runs are kind of nice in terms of distance/pace/workout to start the day off bright and early (4:30AM) but they are actually physically terrible for you. A friend of a friend I may or may not know injured his knee in the latter half of the program because of they way they do those runs. My 2cts

Feel free to PM me I'm at Rucker now.

I hadn't heard until recently about the whole OBOGS issues and resulting stand-down, 60 minutes interviews and all the press and whatnot about the F22. Just curious what ended up happening. Anyone know of any resolution on this? I'm a rotary student so doesn't directly affect me but just genuinely curious...

I can't speak for the operational side since I'm still in training but you should know that CV-22's are dropping to both T1 pipeline guys and TH-1H rotary pipeline guys. I understand it to be more common to T1's now and have heard the schoolhouse finds the fixed-wing time to be more appropriate preparation for the Osprey than the rotary side. I guess what that means to you is the Air Force understands that there is a lot of crossover between fixed wing and tiltrotor so I wouldn't be too worried about any stigma.

There are a lot of really experienced folks here commenting with more authority on the subject than I can give. With that said, I'm currently in Phase 3 so figured I'd share my take so take it for what it's worth. Like others have mentioned, I don't think you miss anything by going to IFT. In fact, there is a lot of downside to include: 1) exposing yourself to needless elimination. This happened to a buddy of mine who I thought would have had no problem getting through T6s, really sharp guy with a good attitude and apparently decent flying ability who just ran into some bad luck on a few consecutive rides in Pueblo. Poof - pilot slot gone in an instant flying a composite-airframe lawnmower. 2) Having to endure what is effectively a giant fraternity haze (aka the "kick in the nuts" people talk about) for longer than you need to...you will get plenty of it in T6s (and T38s if you go that route). You would rather show up fresh to T6s ready to kick ass than risk getting all burnt out early. Like others have said attitude is so much of the game... 3) delaying your training by getting stuck in "waiting for orders" land. Some of these guys sit on casual waiting for months to go, when all you have to do is show up to UPT and start the grind with your PPL. Along those same lines, any sort of injury (for example having too much of a party with your pals in Pueblo and getting hurt) exposes you to even more delays in your training. It can happen in UPT as well, but why risk it with yet another opportunity in the pipeline to get set back. Really the only thing you might get from the IFT experience based on what I heard from my classmates who went is the procedural stuff (learning to recite bold face or do stand up in front of a crowd, getting up at 5AM to do formal brief, reporting to fly, MATL, etc...) But you will learn all of that in your first week in T6s anyways! That's what happened to me and I didn't feel behind because of not going to IFT. Don't get me wrong, I could still flop on the rocks as I finish up UPT but my guess is if I wash out now it will have nothing to do with not getting to go to IFT. If you are really concerned about being uncurrent, why not go do a BFR to freshen up? Or better yet, hop in a pitts special with a crusty old flier down at your local grass strip and spool up that inner ear fluid in preparation for T6s! In all honesty, IFT or not, unless you have prior HP or turbine time you will likely have the same learning curve as your buddies coming in from IFT. Anyway that's my completely unqualified 2 cts...feel free to PM if you have any questions about my experience. I'm a guard guy with a PPL, did no go to IFT, did not feel behind or unprivileged because of it. YMMV

Rucker class date is later

Appreciate the info. I just figured since I'm guard if I came off orders during these months off that I could get some good civilian flying in just for fun. Sounds like that's not possible as far as trying for the add-on though.

This is the clarity I was looking for. Thanks! Makes sense all around... Was just hoping to use new skills during downtime....but guess I'll have to sit tight....

I'm in the middle of pilot training and have some downtime before my Phase 3 starts. What I'd like to do is do the Mil Comp commercial/instrument test solely to get my instrument add on so I can enjoy instrument flying during my down-time. However I am about 30 hours shy of the 200hr commercial requirement. The Part 61 verbage on mil comp requirements states that you need to have an instrument check and documentation of qualification in a military aircraft (e.g. T6 time) but makes no distinction on how to apply the equivalency testing towards only one rating (e.g. just the IR add on versus commercial/instrument simultaneously). I spoke to Sheppard Air but they wouldn't give me a straight answer and said to check with the FSDO. Waiting on FSDO response (I have never been surprised by a speedy response from the FAA) and hoping to get clarification. So ultimately the question is, can I take the commercial-instrument mil comp just to get the IR add on to my private, being that I am short of the commercial civilian hour requirement?

Not sure if my dates are getting to be a little too out of date to be helpful to anyone but since I'm mid pipeline thought I'd post. I'm guard FWIW. April 2015: Interviewed/hired June 2015: Swore in August 2015: FC1 October 2015: Received OTS/UPT dates January 2016: OTS (grad March) IFS: EXEMPT April 2016: UPT October 2016: Track to Phase 3 ????: MWS ????: Seasoning

Hi all, just an update on this with resolution. My chain quickly looked into it and came to the speedy consensus with the Med Group that there is nothing forcing me to ground test the hypnotics at this juncture. It was mentioned to me that it's possible that downrange or back at my home unit the answer may be different but for now I am fully accommodated for. I also did have a chance for a follow up conversation with the flight doc in question who was polite about the whole thing and acknowledged that this was something that hadn't really been dug too deep into in the past so I think it was a new question for a lot of folks, which is fair in my mind. Either way I'm just relieved over the original concern regarding elimination for not ground testing. Thanks again for all the input.

Thank you all for the advice. In particular thank you for finding that bit in AFI 48-149. I am not interested in pencil-whipping this thing and wanted to approach the right way. I ended up letting my Flt/CC know that I had the discussion with the flight doc and am awaiting further guidance from my chain. I do not have any issue taking the antibiotic. Thanks all

The flight doc himself told me that ground testing is required by AETC mandate and if I didn't do it that it would stop me in the pipeline and I'd be sent home. Can anyone validate this? I don't want to cause a big stink nor create a bad impression upfront but I'd like to stick up for my beliefs.

Hello - I have a religious requirement about what I put into my body (at least when it comes to psychotropics and other substances including caffeine, etc). I was told that I have to ground test no-go pills before my UPT class starts next week. Flight doc indicated that if I wouldn't proceed with the ground-test, the air force would show me where the door was. Are there any waivers or known ETP's that, AFI's, etc. that might let me skip this? Please note, I fully understand why we are ground-testing, I just can't reconcile it for the religious reason I mentioned before. Thanks for any advice.

All replies noted. Exactly what I'm looking to hear, thanks for advice.

Hi all. I know there is a lot archived here but am having a hard time with the new search since the site upgraded. Mainly wondering about good sources for t6 gouge that I can scrub before my class starts. In particular are boldface and ops limits up to date on the following site? https://www.t6driver.com/gouge_boldface.html The page looks like it was last updated when geocities was the hot shit but has lots of resources. Would hate to put time into something super outdated.

Ah - that's it! Thanks for the reply. I was under the impression that they would have more officer school days within the "next week or so" about 2 weeks ago so hopefully that'll work out. But in the mean time we are planning, as you suggest, for the worst and trying to get everything squared away in anticipation of last minute orders.

Hi there, Have dates for January OTS with a quick follow-on to UPT. I'm feeling pressure at home since when I leave for OTS my wife will have a newborn and will get to pack up the house by herself...so we're trying to get as much done as we can in advance since I won't be much help till I'm back from OTS. We need orders to get the ball rolling on move.mil, SCRA benefits, on-base housing applications, etc....but I'm told that my guard unit ran out of "Officers Days" and unsure when we'll be able to get orders cut. I'm just hoping it's not last minute so I have time to get as much done as I can before I'm gone. Regardless, can anyone explain to me what Officers Days are and what the relationship is with getting orders cut? I didn't quite understand when it was explained to me by my FSS folks and didn't press the issue at the time as I had a busy drill weekend. Thanks

Hi All, I just wanted to follow up, just got the news that my waivers were approved. Below is an abbreviated rundown of my experience - hopefully this information will be helpful to others: In all, I had 3 waivers. 1 for childhood history of asthma before the age of 11 (approved indefinitely following complete pulmonary functional test and methylcholine challenge at Wright-Patterson FC1 9/2015). 1 waiver for exophoria of 12 prism diopters that was asymptomatic and self-correcting. 1 waiver for a retinal hole that is asymptomatic. Both vision waivers up for renewal september 2018. I was advised that because of my airframe (HH60 pave hawk) both from a performance perspective (e.g. not going high altitude, not pulling many g's like in vipers, etc) as well as from a manpower perspective (pressure from the NGB to get butts in seats) that they were willing to write the waivers for me. I was given a range of 4-6 weeks for the AETC determination, they had the waivers approved and in the system in 3 weeks. However my unit was not notified and when my supervisor contacted her medical contacts, we were told there was still no results (as recently as a few days ago she made this phone call). However, NGB had given me slots for OTS and UPT so I figured they had to have a good indication about it. Turns out results were in the system - and all I had to do was walk over to our on-base medical squadron and have one of the docs log into the system. Waivers and flight physical all had been approved weeks prior. Not sure why we weren't sent official notification since the flight docs at Wright-Patterson said that would be the procedure but either way it's good news. This was just my own experience, but hopefully might give ideas to folks who are waiting in limbo or wondering about these sorts of waivers.

That's really helpful, thank you for the perspective!

Thanks guys. We are just trying to plan as much as we can especially given how challenging we expect the program to be and the stresses expected on our family life/structure.

Not sure if this is the right thread / subforum but figured I'd try... I will be going to Vance for UPT Phase 1+2. My wife and I will have a newborn at this point and we have been playing with the idea of bringing my mother in law to live with us to help us support the UPT lifestyle. Can anyone speak to Vance housing rules or AF rules regarding having family living on base or sharing our housing? My concern is making sure we could get my mother in law an ID and whatnot.

Thank you for the honest answer. I am 20/15 DP and the phoria was near. The optometrist and ophthalmologist both felt I had a strong case so I will hope for the best. Was kind of trying to get an idea of whether I should celebrate quite yet or not (my selection and enlistment are all being kept close to the chest until we know for sure we can share the news with my broader family/friends circles). You have answered my question thank you!

Hi all, sorry if this is a weird question. I just got back from my FC1 at Wright-Patt. First of all, great team there and great experience (as great as it can be being poked and prodded so much). My question is regarding the certainty of getting medically approved once issued waivers. I was written two waivers - one for an exophoria out of spec (12 prism diopters) and another for a small hole in my retina. The docs agreed to go to bat for me given that my other numbers are all very strong and they recommended (requested?) that I complete an annual follow up study. Now according to a straw poll I did at the FC1, 3/4 of my cohort there had one or more waivers required. So is this sort of thing common enough where a waiver is considered a "sure thing"? Or should be I be sweating it, waiting for AETC to officially approve the medical packet + waivers before celebrating getting the waivers?