Bergman

Unless it has changed, the FBI website career area states you can NOT be in the ANG/AFRES as an agent, for reasons already stated. www.fbi.gov Knock yourselves out!

Amen, AG! VANGUARD is definitely the buzzword in the ANG right now. The Air Force times has done some articles recently (July/Aug) that shed some light on the subject. Something about the AF wanting to cut 50% of its fighters by 2007. Hmmm...combine that with the stated policy of wanting to move more airlift/tanker activity to the ANG/AFRES side of the house (guessing due to less proficiency/training requirements...i.e. easier to maintain CMR status for less $$) and it's not a good time to be an ANG fighter pilot, IMHO. The slides I've seen call for 50% redux in F-16 wings (24 to 12?) and going from 7 to 3 F-15 wings. As stated, states with multiple fighter units will probably "get it" first. Indiana and Ohio come to mind. Some states have been proactive...TX and OH switching one unit each to an FTU probably saved them from closing. As for The Bats in Sioux City...it's been a painful process. 80% of our guys flew A-7s then F-16s for 15-20 years. The -135 can't really compare! At least they did the right thing by the new guys...if you were in F-16 FTU they let you finish. They also gave all the F-16 guys an open invitation to switch units. About 3 or 4 took them up on it. The interesting thing to me is that the 185th started converting from F-16s in roughly 4th quarter CY 2002. The story I've heard is that the Kansas guys didn't even know they were converting until sometime after we had already lost our -16s. They are already done with their conversion to R-models while we are still not complete with ours (and we got the E-model!). Just goes to show what your political delegation can do for ya!

Hey all, some coworkers and I are putting on a skit (of sorts) tomorrow night and I will be playing the stereotypical pilot role...entirely too self centered and arrogant. What I need is some good one-liners...something along the lines of "What's the difference between God and an Air Force pilot? God can't fly jets!" bwah hahaha. Anyway, you get the point. So...fire away! I know there's gotta be some good stuff out there.

Pilots "who want out" are a rare occurence RIGHT NOW. Think back 5 years ago and they (we?) were jumping out like rats off a sinking ship (need proof? Look at the $25,000/year bonus plan to keep pilots around). Now that the airlines have tanked and appear to be staying that way for years to come, all the pilots want to stay in. While I agree with the previous posts - military flying is the way to go - I will add a downside for you: being away from home 200+ days a year. Yes, it can be fun. Yes, there are good stories. But after 3-4 years of it, TDY gets old. Having said that...not a day goes by where I don't wish I could've gone to UPT on Active Duty (rather than going ANG). Anyway, like all things on baseops.net..."IT DEPENDS" is probably a good answer. You will probably like the flying, but your tolerance for being away from home or being told where to live might be less than someone else's. Unfortunately for you, there's really only one way to find out...and that's to try it!

You can definitely go from a heavy/MWS to a C-21. In fact, AFPC usually encourages an MWS tour followed by either an IP or C-21 tour (aka a "white jet tour"). You can not go from a FAIP assignment to a C-21. Eventually everyone must suffer through 200 days per year TDY....

Have a look at this discussion: https://www.dynamictruth.com/cgi-bin/ultima...t=000635#000001 The requirements for U-2 pilots are in there, as well as some other info. As for getting hired by an ANG unit to fly fighters after having flown -38s, it can be done. We had a few people who flew -38s at UPT then went to heavies, then flew -16s for us. There are a combination of factors to think about...A) did you fly -38s? B) How old are you? C) How high ranking are you (junior Capt vs. Major could make a big difference) The bottom line is that the unit will have to decide what they are willing to accept. If they hire a non-fighter person, they are going to be gone nearly 6 months for RTU, if not longer. It's almost better to send someone to UPT...at least then you get a young 2/1Lt with lots of ADSC remaining...

If you flew -38s at UPT, regardless of your follow-on A/C (fighter or bomber) you won't have any trouble moving to a heavy unit (flying wise, at least). The appropriate FTU is all that is required...9 to 12 weeks depending on airframe (9 for C-17, 10 for C-5, and 12.5 for KC-135s. Don't know how long the process is for KC-10s or other heavies, but probably similar).

PilotZ - You can expect to go back to UPT and complete 6 months of Phase III in the mighty TONE! I've met 3-4 folks who have done it (albeit for -135 ANG units) so it can be done if the unit is willing (sts). Do the KC-10 units do all of their training 'in-house' or with airline sims/contracts? Is there an actual FTU for them? Any difference between AD/AFRES training? Just curious.

Are the E-3s in Kadena and Elmendorf just detachments from the wing at Tinker then? I know Offutt works that way, so it'd make sense that the other ISR folks would as well. Of course, just because it would make sense doesn't necessarily mean the AF would do it..but I digress...

Back in my nav school days, after getting fed up with being forced to use acronyms rather than just remembering what you needed to do, we invented the BULLSHIT check: B - weather U - Holding L - Obtain clearance L - Letdown plate review S - Descent check HIT it - let's go We thought it was funny, at least. 96-09 baby!

Herkeng -> Sounds like the MPF guys are feeding you some B.S. IIRC, the NAF CC is the first person in the chain of command with disapproval authority for any waivers. Certainly it is NOT the E-5 at your local MPF! Now, they may have meant that the waivers aren't being approved, in which case I would say "OK...I want to submit mine anyway and see what happens." If you want to pursue a waiver, they MUST submit it for you. Has anyone heard something different?

The CSAF is the same for Active Duty, ANG, and AFRES as they are all part of the 'Total Force'. Gen John Jumper. As to how long it will take to process a waiver, "it depends" is accurate. As AirGuardian mentioned, whether the Generals are in the office has a lot to do with the timeline. Also, these things are staffed by Maj/LT Col types (who are most likely the ones that actually make the decisions) so their whereabouts might come in to play. Anyway, without getting too far into the weeds on the workings of how they are processed...mine took 128 days. Seems that 3-4 months is fairly typical (based on conversations with other ANG folks and with the flying training guys at NGB). One guy in my unit took over 15 months to get his...they lost it twice! Once they had approved his medical waiver, he needed an age waiver! DoH! Having said all that..."it depends". Perhaps you will get lucky and it'll only take a few weeks. "Plan for the worst, hope for the best, and take what you get" - Bergman. Good luck! Pray for the pentagon distro system to work smoothly.

Having successfully Palace Chased myself, I feel marginally qualified to offer advice (was a previous Nav and was allowed to nix 8 months from my ADSC to switch to ANG for UPT). Anywho... Step #1: Obtain a UPT slot with a Guard unit. You will have much more credibility throughout the process with an O-6 (ANG Wg/CC) backing you up (writing letter of recommendation/intent). Also, my Palace Chase paperwork specifically said, "Released from Active Duty pending successful completion of Undergraduate Pilot Training." Again, much easier to plead your case when you've already got a unit and UPT slot lined up. Step #2: Obtain support of your AD Wing Commander (he is the one that signs the base-level portion of the form). In my case, I was already on good terms with my AD Wg/CC, having been through the UPT process on AD (was #1 in the wing when the reg changed limiting folks to 5 years commissioned service, thus making me ineligible to compete) Anwyay, he already knew who I was from previous applications, so no suprise when my Palace Chase crossed his desk. I will add that my Sq/CC supported me as well and had already talked me up to the Wg/CC before any of my applications went up the chain. Bottom line: do good work at your current/future location and obtain their support. Without it, you won't Palace Chase. Step #3: Hope for the best. Your timing will be pretty good, as the Active Duty is 3900 Officers over their end strength right now (per a conversation last week w/ the Recce/U2/UAV assignments Officer at AFPC). The AD is really looking to get rid of folks right now, so this could be win-win. It boils down to "Palace Chase me now to UPT and keep me in the 'Total Force' for 10 more years. Otherwise, I lose this opportunity and will separate completely in 2 years." Sounds like an ultimatum, which it is, but it makes good personnel sense for the AF to retain you. The only real problem I see is that the AF will want to get their money's worth out of your intel training. But, if you have a UPT slot already lined up it should be a no-brainer. Lastly, how old are you? Reason being that if none of this works you can always just wait out your intel ADSC and apply once you are 'free and clear'. The longer you are on AD, the easier it will be to Palace Chase and also the easier to get hired by an ANG unit (more stuff to fill a resume'). So if it doesn't work out, don't jump off a bridge or anything! Good luck! Let me know if you want any more specifics. I can dig up my old forms if you need the form #'s or anything. I believe that the AFPC contact for Palace Chase is CMSgt Allick. Don't know if she's still there or not, but she was incredibly helpful.

Not to add to the hype, but that pretty much agrees with what I've been told by my unit and the Commander here at AMS. The Bureau has pulled back MPA and ADSW days from just about everyone and is telling them not to expect anything "until possibly FY06 or later". My days here would have been pulled back, but my orders had already been cut so they let me take the tour. I've talked to the folks back home about getting orders for FY05 to complete my upgrade training and was told it would have to be done on FTPs and UTAs due to there being no days available. Rumor has it that the NGB is WAYYY in the hole $$$$-wise this year and is trying to recoup their losses/funding by pulling the days back. Of course, these stories are from just two units. Your experience may vary (hopefully for the better!)

A quick look at the "bible" (AFI 36-2205) has yielded the following info. I should note that it appears the verbage concerning Navigators in conversion units being accepted up to 34 years old [for UPT] has been removed from the reg. 1.1.6. Applicants must not exceed their 30th birthday or 5 years beyond their Total Federal Commissioned Service Date (TFCSD), by the start date of the board’s first available UFT class. For those applicants who exceed the above criteria, and had at least one opportunity to compete for UFT, commanders must justify why supporting a waiver on an individual over other qualified candidates who meet the criteria is in the best interest of the Air Force. For waivers to be considered, the applicant must document an Air Force administrative, counseling, or medical error occurred within the last 2 years that prevented the applicant from applying for UFT. NOTE: See Attachment 2 for age and commissioned service waiver procedures. If the applicant can justify a waiver using this criteria, they must submit a complete copy of the UFT application, to include a completed flying class I/IA physical, certified by HQ AETC/SGPS, with the request for an age or TFCSD waiver processed through the applicant’s immediate Squadron/CC, Wing/CC, NAF/CC, and MAJCOM/CC, and forwarded to HQ AF/DPFMF, 1040 Air Force Pentagon, Washington DC 20330-1040, for processing and forwarding to CSAF for final action. All waivers are reviewed on an individual basis and, if approved, allow the applicant a one-time opportunity to compete for UFT. If the requested age or TFCSD waiver is approved by CSAF after the board cut-off date, the applicant will be eligible to compete on the next selection board. The disapproval authority within the MAJCOM chain of command for age or TFCSD waiver is vested in the MAJCOM/CC. If the application is disapproved, it will be returned to the applicant. ANG waiver requests must be processed through the State Adjutant General to HQ ANG/ DP. If the request is disapproved, it will be returned to the applicant’s state headquarters, who will forward to the applicant’s unit. AFRC waiver requests must be processed through HQ AFRC/DPMB. The CSAF may delegate the approval authority for all age and commissioned service waiver requests.

The San Antonio FSDO apparently has their feces consolidated. They got the MU-300/BE-400 on my ticket without incident (in Oct 03).

The AF issues the infamous "G-Shock" watch to all nav and pilot students.

At XL, they offered the Commercial/Instrument/Multi-Engine (w/type rating for T-1 folks) course for $125. Show up some Saturday morning, study as long as you like (a pared-down FAA question bank), take a practice test, then take the actual test. Assuming you pass (I was told no one has ever failed), they'll give you the test results sheet you need. Take that, along with a letter from your commander verifying your flight experience (this was provided to every graduating student "automatically") to the local FSDO (San Antonio for XLers) and they'll hook you up. On a side note, the new FAA licenses are pretty sweet...credit card type with a pic of Orville and Wilbur on the back!

You can't forget that BILLETTING will drive your cross country...at least it did at XL! If we couldn't get on-base lodging rates, the DO wouldn't approve it. That may have changed in the last 6 months, but definitely something to ask about prior to spending 40 hours planning that great cross country to vegas (been there done that..in a TWEET!) One last comment...in TONEs, Chuck and I had a GREAT plan to RON in St. Louis. Decent weather, rooms and transpo taken care of, an FBO with fuel contract and 24 hour service. CNXd by the FAIP..."because I don't feel comfortable flying into Class B airspace". WTF!?! In a $4M jet with every bell and whistle. YGBSM. Guess it was better to make that call rather than getting in over his head (STS) but IMHO any AF pilot can handle Class B at night (vectors ILS full stop).

Good news on the selling back of leave for us ANG folks. If you are on contingency orders (ONE, OEF, OIF, etc) any leave you sell back DOES NOT count against your 60 days career total. Also, if you are on orders for less than 365 days you can sell back without pentaly (just learned that from our finance guys last week - aparently that is a recent change to the reg).

I asked the AMS Director of Operations that same question...and here's what she told me: - Longer days for AMS. Not much free time throughout the day to workout, study, prepare briefings, etc. Basic day seems to be 0600 to 1800 or so for the students at AMS. - A few less briefings. Specifically, some of the UCMJ, PCS, TDY briefs that are basically Active Duty focused information that's not all that applicable to ANG/AFRES people. She was adamant that the programs cover basically the same material, with those couple of exceptions. Looks like the AFRES leadership is starting to agree...they're sending some of their UPT folks there right now.

I agree that you at least want to wait until you get your assignment before buying that great LT Mobile. It would suck to drop $25k on a Mustang (or other rear wheel drive car) and then get that much-desired assignment to Grand Forks or Minot and not be able to drive the thing for 6 months a year. As far as brining your shiny new ride overseas...there's the potential for damage when shipping there/back, the fact that Japan uses right hand drive cars (and the left side of the road), and just the additional hassle of having to worry about it (shipping, damage, etc). If it were me, I'd fly over there and drop $2k on a beater car that I can sell for $2k when I leave after 3 years of abuse. As a side note, you can't get RC-135s to Kadena straight out of UPT. You have to do a tour at Offutt first (3 years or more). That's not to say you won't be TDY there so much you think you've PCSd....

Hmm...looks like there is a difference between what the regs say and what happens "in the real world". I am shocked and outraged! haha Whatever gets the job done, so long as it doesn't roast my nuts or cause my jet to explode.

Yep...the pubs issue place at your UPT base. You'll have plenty of time to learn the stuff once you get there. My advice would be to relax and enjoy life now because you won't have one if/when you're at UPT. $.02 "Live by the gouge, die by the gouge". Be wary of what you get from unofficial sources. The BOLDFACE changes all the time (student harassment program, I think) and it would really suck to learn it one way then have it change right before you actually NEED to know it (harder to un-learn something than to learn it). $.02 more for a total of $.04 on this post.

You've also got to watch out for the "Phone Colonel". When I was working @ the pentagon, I used to get calls all the time from guys who would start the conversation with, "This is 'colonel' so-and-so and I need you to get me _whatever_ RIGHT AWAY". Come to find out, after checking the Global Address list, they're only a Lt Col trying to get something past you. Yah..whatever buddy. I'll see your O-5 and raise you two O-6s and an O-7!