So, update:
Thanks for all your help and suggestions.
My SQ/CC, OG/CC and Wing/CC all lobbied the porch to keep me in the Viper (and keep the WIC door open), but it isn't looking good: short of a miracle, I am still headed to IFF this fall. On the up side, my RNLTD isn't until mid-October, and my losing SQ says they will try put me through the IPUG before I PCS out of here. So that is a pretty nice consolation prize, and I am very grateful for everything they have done to help.
Question now is: when am I eligible to get back in the jet, and does the clock start before or after I finish IFF training? If I get to Sheppard in October 2016 and am in training until January 2017, when do I have enough TOS to start asking to get back to the Viper?
Thanks, all.
(Sorry, this is probably better suited for the Fighter Assignments thread, but I wanted to update those here who have counseled me so far.)