Non Blue PME

[LT4Life]

I'm curious if anybody has been to JAOPC or CWPC in the past few years and if either, or both are worth the time. I have been offered both but don't want to waste my time. On the flip side an old boss also said to take whatever schooling they'll give to ya. Thoughts?

[Fud]

I'm curious if anybody has been to JAOPC or CWPC in the past few years and if either, or both are worth the time. I have been offered both but don't want to waste my time. On the flip side an old boss also said to take whatever schooling they'll give to ya. Thoughts?

I was scheduled to go to the CWPC course a while back, and was not allowed to go by my unit, even though the course was required at the time. I would take every opportunity to go TDY unless you have a family emergency of some kind. The course will either be worthless, which you can help out with a course critique, or you might actually learn something.

[Learjetter]

I'm curious if anybody has been to JAOPC or CWPC in the past few years and if either, or both are worth the time. I have been offered both but don't want to waste my time. On the flip side an old boss also said to take whatever schooling they'll give to ya. Thoughts?

I did JAOP course in 2006. Good course. Since AETC/AU pays, the CC usually doesn't mind sending folks. AU has several courses (funded) like that. Check out their website for more info on them. Normally, every good deal has a sharp edge: AIS gets you a SEI, for example, making you eligible for SEI deployments...

Two schools of thought: don't go TDY anymore than you have to, since you're away from family too much already... Or..

Every course you take makes you smarter/more valuable to the service, and therefore is better for your career choices.

I fall somewhere in the middle: volunteer ONLY for TDYs and take courses interesting to you or that lead to better jobs...YMMV...

[LT4Life]

I did JAOP course in 2006. Good course. Since AETC/AU pays, the CC usually doesn't mind sending folks. AU has several courses (funded) like that. Check out their website for more info on them. Normally, every good deal has a sharp edge: AIS gets you a SEI, for example, making you eligible for SEI deployments...

SEI? I also have AIS in May in addition the other two. Do tell about SEI.

[Learjetter]

SEI? I also have AIS in May in addition the other two. Do tell about SEI.

SEI is "special experience identifier" and on your SURF or DVB it's just a code attached to you. AIS SEI is "OEV". Once in a great while, the big blue TDY machine generates a UTC for a deployment that requires an SEI: a JTF in Uruguay may require a Portugese -speaking female field grade fighter pilot with acquisitions and previous staff experience and who is an AIS grad. So AFPC can generate a list of all the folks who fit that bill and task someone. Just another way of keeping track of "who's done what" in the service...

[JS]

Along the lines of JAOPC/CWPC, has anyone taken the CATS course at St Joe's? From what I have read and heard, it is a 2-week course that sets you up to officially run a mobility tactics shop in a deployed location. It sounds similiar to JAOPC and CWPC, except it focuses on your own tactics shop as opposed to working in a planning cell in the CAOC or on some staff.

[Coasta]

College. Masters. Again if need be. When you're 42-45 and looking for a job, no one will know what those acronyms mean. But then, Delta, American, United, UPS and FedEx don't give a shit.

[LT4Life]

Along the lines of JAOPC/CWPC, has anyone taken the CATS course at St Joe's? From what I have read and heard, it is a 2-week course that sets you up to officially run a mobility tactics shop in a deployed location. It sounds similiar to JAOPC and CWPC, except it focuses on your own tactics shop as opposed to working in a planning cell in the CAOC or on some staff.

I did CATS a few years ago when it was still up at Fort Dix. It was a pretty good course. Death by powerpoint. I've heard that it has been (or about to be) completely redone to the point it is a baby WIC. One of our WIC guys here said the plan is to have there be some workbook that you complete first (about 6 months), then you go to the new CATS, come back and work in/run a Sq tactics shop, then go to WIC. Again, heresay but that was the plan last I heard.

I am fairly confident it has changed because there is not much information floating around anymore calling it CATS.

Anyone confirm or deny?

CATS was very broad though. Not as specific as CWPC (TPFDD) and JAOPC (planning an air war from an AOC perspective). CATS covered all MWS'.

[Guest Scooby]

Did CWPC in Aug 2008 and scheduled to do JOAPC in Feb 2011.

I'm an LRO though and most of CWPC was dominated by fellow LROs or Manpower, etc. Basically, people who would have to use GCCS, JOPES, etc.

I don't ever turn down opportunities to go to school...I get per diem, don't have e-mail access for a week(s) and I might learn something. Plus the Air Force has a hard on for professional education so it can't really hurt your career choices.

Edited December 2, 2010 by Scooby

[Guest Ajax]

I work with the CWPC and JAOP programs. I did CATS at Ft Dix a few years back which was a good course at the Tactical level. These are both Operational level classes. CWPC teaches the entire planning process for deployment, sustainment, & redeployment (creating OPLANS and executing OPORDS). JAOP teaches how to write an Air Operations Plan (employing assets and target selection).

Ideally, taking CWPC then JAOP covers how the Air Force goes to war and employs as a whole. We keep the courses low-threat and try to have fun with it. We get alot of operators to both courses. I think they are really good courses, but if you come out and think otherwise we're always open to changing them.

[Disregard]

Any other good AETC/Majcom funded TDYs that might be floating around out there? Anything else you've had a change to go to? I know AIS had a thread recently, what else is available?

CRM Instructor Class in Little Rock and NVG Instructor Class in San Antonio. Good places to spend your per diem.