raimius

This has screwed over several of our younger airmen, as their IQT got extended, resulting in large negative adjustments when filing their vouchers (so, they got almost nothing their next paycheck). I'm cool with it going away.

It's hit or miss. We have one awesome flight doc, and one that asked me if I was a pilot during my PHA...I guess my medical records, seeing a flight doc, and the pilot wings weren't enough of a clue...

I showed up on the MPF outbounds roster before my CC was notified. Sometimes I wonder if the system is really this screwed up, or if we just tell ourselves there is a system.

I have not seen a P320 Carry sized with safety, but I have seen the Compact version with one. It's usually labeled as "MA Compliant."

Exactly. How many ops units are having to run more grade books than the school house? I know mine does. The AF is transferring BASIC aircrew training to the ops units, and still lying to itself that the products are going to be the same. Eventually, this will get people killed. We are already seeing an increased normalization of high fatigue, all-inexperienced aircrews, and guidance to "maximize training" (often during operational sorties)...and the new aircrew with even fewer hours are just starting to arrive, and its going to get even worse. I used to have a fair number of flights where I could do proficiency and skill development with people. Now, I spend the vast majority of time on operational sorties or just trying to do enough to log the currency requirements (sometimes at the same time). We are going to get more inexperienced crews and more so-called "experienced" crews that have fewer and rustier skills (even if their beans look good).

AFPC can't meet their own suspense or make a system designed to give people more say in assignments actually do that? I'm shocked! Shocked, I tell you! /sarcasm I guess I'll keep waiting.

The idea isn't to be Rambo. A carbine buys you more time and distance, which opens up opportunities for other people to help you out.

Our population tripled between 1860 and 1920, and again between 1920 and now. I'm not sure how you conclude that doubling it in the next few decades will overload the US. The upper Great Plains isn't exactly crowded...

Holy crap, they did it! Some Strike Eagle guys were trying to push this last year. I couldn't get ACC or AFCENT to buy into it. I'm glad someone finally did! The training, mx, and SERE TTPs were the sticking points then. (As well as the cost to buy non-inventory major parts). The seat kit dimensions were a big technical sticking point. The original plan was a GAU-5 with the barrel cut at the gas block and the upper and lower disassembled--not a great thing for someone who just ejected at night, IMO. The QD barrel really made it possible. That restores a little faith in the AF sometimes getting it right.

Can you do better than a 50% base pay pension for 4 years of work, compared to 4 years of another job? Money and QoL

Have you all actually seen progress with "revitalizing the squadrons?" The main thing I've seen is copilot's with less flight time on arrival, and transferring additional duties to the front office--along with more aircrew because we don't actually have any admin troops.

Now...we're doomed...

Interesting view. For an USAF pilot, the straight replacement cost of training is in the multi-million dollar range, even disregarding the morality of trying to protect our people when the tech is readily available. I'm going to disagree with you on this one.

Our Blues/Service Dress/Mess Dress is enough "looking special" for me. In a utility/combat uniform, I don't want to look special! I like the 2-piece overall. It's pretty decent. More normal pants pockets are nice.

Thanks, I was kind of wondering on the timeline as well.

Who needs training when you can graduate them sooner?

Watching that video sucked.

Yeah, the AF is so short on pilots that it just reduced the bonus for some of them... Is $500/yr going to make a huge difference? Probably not, but it certainly sends the message that Big Blue really doesn't care that much about experience retention.

$6k/mo is equivalent to a $72k/yr bonus...without a fixed ADSC. I doubt it! Big Blue would not suddenly give that good a deal. I'd expect stop loss and 365s first.

Sounds like a good time to look for the door. When people ask if I'm going to stay in, I usually answer, "If I get to the end of my commitment, and still like my job." If that answer to that question is a "no," it's time to look elsewhere.

I think they know we have a retention problem. I think they just gave up and decided to "grow their way out of the problem" rather than face the reality of why they can't retain enough experience.

As annoying as it is, there are some missions that need to be practiced to maintain capability, and are not done regularly out there. Hopefully, the guy running exercises will be able to cut the unnecessary ones... As for OREs...yeah, that doesn't make sense.

I strongly doubt it.

At least one of them delivers to the gate, if you call ahead...