dream big

Same reason AFPC dropped one fighter per class, couldn't figure out B-course slots and 5 years later we have a fighter pilot shortage : gross incompetence

Ain't that the truth, I would have killed for a Viper going through UPT, but there was maybe one fighter per class. Man how times have changed...

He's an 08 guy...too late lmao

Hey I know the author! Super smart Air Force Captain

OSD and congress have to sign off on it I'm pretty sure. Takes time!

Or has it? Where do a good majority of Air Force pilots want to be in a few years? ;)

If you're a pilot I wouldn't necessarily freak out. Tech companies invest in ideas all the time - in this case, as the article states, if not necessarily to replace manned commercial airliners but to find "innovative solutions and ideas." It's akin to a C-130 engineer or navigator freaking out in the 1980s when the first J model concept was researched. 30+ years later most of the total force 130 fleet is still flying Hs. Airliners are still flying 1960s airplanes. I don't know many people alive that would get on an automated aircraft, maybe a generation or so from now I especially wouldn't freak out if you are an Air Force pilot. Some of our mission sets are too dynamic to be automated (DACT/OCA/airdrop/low levels/etc.)

Flying military airplane into combat (relative term - I support the real warriors on the ground in the s****) with the people I have has been the most rewarding thing in my life. Whether it was bringing fallen soldiers back home, transporting medical patients or rescuing Philippinos from a hurricane ravaged city, it has been an honor. That being said, active duty and all the non flying duties may wear on you. You've obviously read enough here to know it won't be all gravy and pudding. Know this though: most of the BS won't really hit you until the 3-4 year mark in your 10 year commitment. Plus, you may be in a position to influence your squadron for the better when you're done with UPT-so don't let the negativity here get you down. Keep your head high, build relationships, deploy, travel, it will be fun, I promise.

They tried man, they tried their hardest to fight this to include the IG, zero help from anyone despite multiple witnesses and character statements. They were also relatively young and despite this tried to use the system to their advantage. To be fair, one of the guys got his reduced to LOR and is doing okay.

Azimuth, wow man. Sorry you had to go through that. WTF. This is one of many reason my peers and I are leaving in droves. I know countless females in the military that will blatantly lie and desecrate a guy's career if she thinks it will improve her situation. At an unnamed overseas airlift base..there was a brand new copilot. Fairly attractive. Flirting with all the other LTs constantly. No big deal right? Well her boyfriend was an IP at another "desired" airlift base......Break break, out of left field she claims she is being "sexually harassed," and claimed two Lt NAVs specifically were sexually harassing her (they weren't.) She even claimed sexual assault after one of them "touched her shoulder." Despite 30+ witnesses in their favor, they weren't given an ounce of daylight to tell their side. Reprimanded/Article 15 without question, grounded for several months and didn't make Captain. Said female made her way over to the "desirable" airlift base to be with her boyfriend. The military justice system is a joke, corrupted by the SJW and political correctness that has infected this once great military the past decade or so.

That tends to happen when you only have one engine.

Idk man, money? Some of us also enjoy flying ;). I can see how a separated Air Force guy would kill to work that little and spend time with family- but flying only twice in 90 days and most of that probably only on the bunk? Sounds boring. Different folks for different strokes though!

What he said, you'll drive yourself mad. I will say this : every assignment is what you make of it. Know very few of my bros flying manned aircraft that don't love their job, myself included. I was pissed when I didn't get pointy noses but now I absolutely love being a low and dirty herc driver. I would kill to go back to the time to "learn to fly, drink beer and chase tail," fun times in Enoidville.

Didn't congress tell the Air Force a hard no to the A-10?! Besides the McCain McSally/Arizona bloc of congress is strong.

Very true, but at the end of the day, isn't that the case for any business? It's economics, a business wants to maximize profits, one variable to doing that is minimizing costs which paychecks are a part of. Just like employees seek to do the minimum amount of work for maximum pay. Not defending pressures for lower pay, just saying it's economics. On the other hand, I'm personally convinced that there are factions in the Air Force that enjoy screwing pilots/officers. Whether it was a former squadron commander who got all jolly when he talked about how it was his job to QC the Air Force by giving out reprisal paperwork, whether it was that piece of work Celusta (old SOS commandant and LR AETC wing king) who told pilots to stop complaining and bragging about how he would end the careers of pilots that didn't want to play the game, or the lovely finance shop that would have their doors closed for lunch when I could hear them behind laughing at me when I was asking for help after being 3 months behind on a $10K travel voucher. Best advice I heard about an Air Force career: "The Air Force is your second wife and you are in a disfunctional marriage. Eventually you guys will get a divorce- best do it in your terms because she will screw you all the way to the bank." At least in the Airlines, there are features such as Unions, contracts (not the fake ones that the Air Force never follows,) and the ability to quit and have control over your life. But what do I know, just another whiney entitled zipper suited sun god that just wants to fly planes and hack the mission.

Even if 20 year retirement-> going to the airlines vs. getting out at 10 and going immediately was break even in terms of income, it completely ignores all the other stuff we love to gripe (rightfully so) on this forum. I'd take a paycut today to escape most of the AF BS and just focus on flying (which includes doing the necessary jobs (scheduling, training, tactics, instructing etc.) to run a flying squadron.

I'm in my early 30s, if you are in somewhat decent shape it's easy to pass. Getting a 90 (what I shoot for so I don't have to take it in a year) takes some effort due to the run and giving up beer a few weeks before but doable. I can't run an 8 minute mile and a half anymore and I prefer to focus on lifting weights which is arguably a much better workout then being able to run. Airmen in their early 20s have zero excuse to fail it! I find it pathetic that guys have to bring their colleagues to "cheer them on", for f**** sake this is why the marines and army shit on us. That being said, I think we put way too much focus on the PT test. As long as guys are passing commanders should focus on other things, like taking care of their people and making sure the mission is getting done. Morale runs?! I'm not taking part in your flamboyant fun run.

Guys on active duty (at the 10 year point mind you) are completely clueless about the opportunities to continue their service in the guard/reserves, mil leave and still flying for the airlines. When I became aware of all of that my decision matrix to leave active duty went out the window, it was a no brainer. Wait, I can do the same job, part time, still potentially work towards retirement with a quarter of the bullshit, oh and STILL fly for the airlines and make 3x what I do now, AND live where I want!? Why anyone would stay on active duty is beyond me. The fact that these opportunities stay under wraps speaks to the skill of various commanders in protecting the company (sarcasm.)

Every year you stay in the Air Force is a year people are giving up in seniority, which equates to millions of dollars on the back end of an airline career.

Do you provide anything of value on here, or anywhere for that matter? What is your issue? Wife ran out on you and alimony payments taking their toll?

Exactly, I've been bringing this up for months any time this discussion comes up. Same job, same beans, same freaking deployments, still serving the country and achieving national security objectives. When the shooting starts you activate the units. Problem is...looks like they are having parallel similar retention issues.

My 2nd or 3rd landing in the thing: came in several knots hot over the threshold in gusty winds, pulled power, the gear slammed on the pavement right at touchdown speed...my IP says: "well that's one way to kill energy...". Several years later, doing assaults in the 130 and little has changed.

Getting passed over and getting to focus on flying/instructing/developing wingmen (not the catch all Air Force term) & copilots is a silver lining....IF you actually get to do that. I've seen so many passed over guys shoved into a cubicle on wing staff flying once a month (instructors). Their next door neighbors, the wing execs, are weapons officers. Wtf are we doing..

Aren't SRs by reg supposed to sit down with you and give you feedback, or maybe I'm thinking of the actual PRF itself? As for actively screwing, a former commander I had the privilege to exec for would brag about how he will screw over people's careers if they don't fit his mold of leadership. If there is karma he will be a known entity to said folks at Delta/United/AA when he goes in for his interview, if he makes it that far. Conversely, another former commander would sit every officer down after every OPR, PRF and wouldn't hesitate to tell a guy he was #5/10/20 out of 20 and what they can do to fix it in the next year.

Does this mean Qatari customs dolts will be bigger a-holes? I personally know of several aircrew to be permanently banned from country: one for having a can of dip, one for having a funny moustsche drawn on his CAC, and one for "making a funny face" at a customs dude. The Deid is reason 847 why guys are bailing left and right. F that place and F the Qataris.