How do you feel about your airframe and mission?

[dream big]

2 hours ago, SurelySerious said:

And no one’s sure what a NAF does.

ADCON. NAF/CCs allegedly supervise wing kings while MAJCOM/CCs focus on the enterprise. When some MAJCOMs have 10+ wings - it is also a span of control issue. Much like the army has divisions between Brigades and Corps. However, in the army the Division provides operational and tactical guidance to brigades while in the Air Force NAFs are mostly administrative. 

[hindsight2020]

On 8/15/2023 at 10:56 PM, dream big said:

ADCON. NAF/CCs allegedly supervise wing kings while MAJCOM/CCs focus on the enterprise. 

bold my emphasis. Glad you BLUF'd it, saves me on key punches on my keyboard 😄 

[VFR88]

Some questions for C-17 guys in the guard/reserve...

1. What does the average month look like?

2. How long are most of the trips?

3. What are the most common hotspots for layovers?

4. Do you deploy and how often?

Thanks in advance.

[Oceaneocket]

Just got a pilot slot. I’m looking for any updates in the MAF community specifically with TDY frequency and length, and deployments too. 

[Fly4five]

Just got a pilot slot. I’m looking for any updates in the MAF community specifically with TDY frequency and length, and deployments too. 

Depending on airframe but everyone is gone a lot right now in the MAF community. Cargo and gas are always needed.

Sent from my SM-S918U1 using Baseops Network mobile app

[dream big]

3 hours ago, Oceaneocket said:

Just got a pilot slot. I’m looking for any updates in the MAF community specifically with TDY frequency and length, and deployments too. 

You’ll be gone a lot, but you will love it (family situation dependent). Depending on what airframe you select you’ll start pushing the envelope on the tactical side (aka C-130s). C-130s expect to deploy 3-6 months on 18 months off. C-17s similar with less deployments but you’ll be gone a lot more on global missions. Same with C-5s. Can’t speak to tankers. PM me if you have more questions. 

[Danger41]

2 hours ago, dream big said:

You’ll be gone a lot, but you will love it (family situation dependent). 

Quoted for truth. If you want to be in the MAF, don’t rush into a relationship. Stay single for awhile, do all the prestige worldwide trips you can, and enjoy the life as a young Buck. 

[Polar Bear]

On 11/14/2017 at 7:24 PM, JeremiahWeed said:

Ok, you asked.

Fedex 777.  Mission is to make the company billions and for me grab some of the crumbs to the tune of $250K a year as a co-pilot(First Officer).  Typically work 12-14 days per month either all at once with the rest of the month off or week-on, week-off.  Much of that work time is soft time (i.e. not actual flying hours).  Typically, I'm paid for 80-90 flight hours each month, but it's rare for me to actually have air under my ass for more than 50 hours each month.  Since I'm an FO, many trip are as a relief pilot which involves deadheading around the planet in business or first class to various locations where I will meet up with the crew and act as the "free agent" third or fourth pilot on a long haul flight and then part ways.  For the last 10 years straight, I've made the highest level in American Airline's frequent flyer program annually and have 1.5 million miles to use for family leisure travel.  I can choose how I orchestrate my passenger deadhead flights using the company money available and any extra $$ is available for various travel expenses incurred in conjunction with any trip.

Next month, I will be picked up at my house by a limo (paid for by Fedex) and driven to O'hare to begin my journey to Tokyo.  My trip is due to start on a Thursday but since I'm not going to follow the deadhead schedule, I will stay home on day one getting paid.  Friday, I will fly from O'hare to Tokyo in a lay flat business class seat sipping single malt and maybe catch a movie.  From there, I'll take the bullet train to Osaka and have about 48 hours off before I have to work.  My only flight on this trip is a 4-hour leg from Osaka to Guangzhou, China.  Once I arrive in China, I'm done.  I have a quick 12-hour layover and then I'm scheduled for 3 day deadhead sequence to get back to Memphis.  Since I don't want to go to Memphis, I'm going to stick with the original plan of a private car driving me to Hong Kong which will get me to my first flight out.  Thanks to my frequent flyer status, American has upgraded me from business to first class on my HKG to DFW flight.  Once at DFW, I'll hang in the lounge until my flight back to O'hare.  Once back to Chicago, another limo will take me home, dropping me off on Wednesday, 5 days after I was picked up.  Since I shaved some time off my trip home by deviating, I'll be on the clock for almost 24 hours after I get home.  For my trouble, I'll have about 30K more frequent flyer miles and my paycheck will be about $10K fatter (before taxes).

Now the rest of the story........ About the time I'm landing in China after the 4.0 from Osaka, my family will be doing the Christmas morning routine.  Being an almost empty nester, that's okay and gives someone with little ones a shot at being home.  Hardly as noble as it sounds.  I'm just a lazy MFer.  Getting paid 10-grand to deadhead in style back and forth from Asia so that I can fly a single 4 hour flight is a fair trade off.  That trip plus another for the first 6 days of Dec make up my month.

So, that's one snap-shot of the Fedex 777 thing.  Believe it or not, I've had better months, but this will definitely be a good one.  The bad ones can be tough but with a little seniority, the good far outweighs the bad.  Our bad doesn't hold a candle to the long days those of you still doing the job for big blue deal with.  So, when you decide to bail, come on over - the water's fine.  I usually get a paid commute via private car and first class international deadhead every month.  There's lots of "Q" in the QOL and I definitely recommend it.

Also, WTF is a "stewardess"?

What is life like at FedEx like now?

[LiquidSky]

On 10/18/2022 at 5:55 PM, StoleIt said:

No OPSEC: everywhere we go generally makes the news so kinda hard to be sneaky, regardless.

TDY rates vary drastically based on aircraft availability (down for maintenance or upgrades), your crew position, type of aircraft, the lunar calendar, your astrological sign, and world/domestic politics.

Right now, the C-32 is busy doing lots of work with the midterms. The C-40 has some overlap with midterms and also has been busy ever since Russia vs Ukraine and China vs the world has been heating up. I can't speak as much toward the C-37 since I don't have a lot of overlap with their squadron, but I imagine they are busy, too. November will be very busy for everyone.

At the end of the day, you're an Uber driver...but at least it's an Uber Black.

Is this comment still accurate for the 89th and the typical missions of the various airframes? 

Also can anyone speak to the application/interview process and how competitive is it actually? We get the pdsms and I know a few dudes that didn't get call backs, but there's certainly mystery around the numbers on total applied vs interviewed vs selected.

Edited April 25 by LiquidSky

[StoleIt]

19 hours ago, LiquidSky said:

Is this comment still accurate for the 89th and the typical missions of the various airframes? 

Also can anyone speak to the application/interview process and how competitive is it actually? We get the pdsms and I know a few dudes that didn't get call backs, but there's certainly mystery around the numbers on total applied vs interviewed vs selected.

I separated back at the end of 2023, but it still sounds busy over there. Demand exceeds capacity, so it'll always be busy.

As for hiring, I believe a lot of functionals aren't releasing people. If you actually get the in person interview invite then you have a pretty good chance of getting hired. At that point, it's more timing (provided you don't bomb the interview)...some people have to interview twice just for timing.

[Jay32]

I’ve read this thread and know it’s mission dependent. Are there any F-15 and -35 pilots that can weigh more on the family life in these aircraft as their predecessors divest ex. -35 taking over the -10/-16 mission as well as the 15s as the 15ex comes online. I have 2 kids and a wife that’s active and I’d like for her to stay home as well as the ability for me to be there as well as have time for hobbies.


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[Danger41]

4 hours ago, Jay32 said:

I have 2 kids and a wife that’s active and I’d like for her to stay home as well as the ability for me to be there as well as have time for hobbies.
 

Are you in now? If no, do some soul searching on what you really want out of life because military aviation will absolutely cut into family time and spouses opportunities, etc. If yes, then accelerate that soul searching and talk to IP’s from a variety of sources because there isn’t a flying job out there that won’t take up a ton of your time. And if you just want wings and plan to be a shitty wingman/copilot and not be good so you can spend all your time at home, please don’t pursue this job.

[Danger41]

Any T-38 UPT IP’s out there? Looks like I’m headed to Columbus next summer. I’ve never taught at UPT so I’m excited to try something new. Any gouge on the FBF syllabus and how that’s different? 

[Jay32]

Are you in now? If no, do some soul searching on what you really want out of life because military aviation will absolutely cut into family time and spouses opportunities, etc. If yes, then accelerate that soul searching and talk to IP’s from a variety of sources because there isn’t a flying job out there that won’t take up a ton of your time. And if you just want wings and plan to be a shitty wingman/copilot and not be good so you can spend all your time at home, please don’t pursue this job.

I am in now thank you for the advice. I am doing some soul searching and selecting this path I do understand that there will be a commitment that I’ll have to live up to. To rephrase my question more so on the off time how is it and is it completely sacrificing attending events for my kids or will there be somewhat of a balance. 30/70 split with the 70 being dedicated to flying.


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[Boomer6]

12 hours ago, Danger41 said:

Any T-38 UPT IP’s out there? Looks like I’m headed to Columbus next summer. I’ve never taught at UPT so I’m excited to try something new. Any gouge on the FBF syllabus and how that’s different? 

They took the back cover off of the UPT syllabus and the front cover off of the IFF syllabus and put them together. Expect your non-fighter dudes to do the standard UPT flying, and your fighter dudes to do the IFF sorties primarily. Most likely scenario is that the different IFF sortie types (BFM, BSA, etc.) will be a letter of X's thing.

Edited June 8 by Boomer6

[brabus]

7 hours ago, Jay32 said:

I am in now thank you for the advice. I am doing some soul searching and selecting this path I do understand that there will be a commitment that I’ll have to live up to. To rephrase my question more so on the off time how is it and is it completely sacrificing attending events for my kids or will there be somewhat of a balance. 30/70 split with the 70 being dedicated to flying.


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Averages in the AD fighter world:

- Gone from home 50% of the time (TDY, deployments)

- 60 hrs/week at work (at work time, not counting the hours you’ll sporadically spend at home finishing prep for upgrade rides…first as the student, then in the future as an IP).

- Daily work times all over the place depending on training plan, airspace times, etc. If you have young kids be prep’d for time periods you won’t see them for days at a time since you’ll be gone to work before they wake up and home when they’re back to bed (or at least close to it). But then there’s a night week where you get several hours with them in the morning…just have a good coffee plan since you went to bed at 0230 and they woke you up at 7.

The above are general for CAF fighter squadrons. If you take an assignment at some point to AETC, test (kind of…can actually be worse time-with-family wise sometimes), UPT, etc. you’ll likely get a reprieve from the hustle and have a lot more time with family. Great leadership vs. meh leadership can swing this either direction. The ANG is better QOL.

How I handled the above with wife and kids:  maxed the weekends with them, if I had the ability to get home early enough to have dinner and some post-dinner time with them I’d do that, then finish up whatever prep-for-next-day I had after kids went to bed. I took leave when I could and didn’t feel bad about it. There are less ops tempo times as well…sometimes you have a phase where you can get away earlier. Use those “gifts” to do things with family instead of having that 6th beer in the bar (but definitely have a couple!) 

Edited June 8 by brabus

[Jay32]

Averages in the AD fighter world:
- Gone from home 50% of the time (TDY, deployments)
- 60 hrs/week at work (at work time, not counting the hours you’ll sporadically spend at home finishing prep for upgrade rides…first as the student, then in the future as an IP).
- Daily work times all over the place depending on training plan, airspace times, etc. If you have young kids be prep’d for time periods you won’t see them for days at a time since you’ll be gone to work before they wake up and home when they’re back to bed (or at least close to it). But then there’s a night week where you get several hours with them in the morning…just have a good coffee plan since you went to bed at 0230 and they woke you up at 7.
The above are general for CAF fighter squadrons. If you take an assignment at some point to AETC, test (kind of…can actually be worse time-with-family wise sometimes), UPT, etc. you’ll likely get a reprieve from the hustle and have a lot more time with family. Great leadership vs. meh leadership can swing this either direction. The ANG is better QOL.
How I handled the above with wife and kids:  maxed the weekends with them, if I had the ability to get home early enough to have dinner and some post-dinner time with them I’d do that, then finish up whatever prep-for-next-day I had after kids went to bed. I took leave when I could and didn’t feel bad about it. There are less ops tempo times as well…sometimes you have a phase where you can get away earlier. Use those “gifts” to do things with family instead of having that 6th beer in the bar (but definitely have a couple!) 

Thank you sir this is the realistic advice I was looking for.


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[PlaneFlyGuy]

7 hours ago, brabus said:

The ANG is better QOL.

@brabus Since you're recently active, I want to just shoot you a question here instead of making an entire new thread.

I'm 22 y/o and flying fighter jets in the guard has been a dream for about 10 years now. Everything I've done in my life has been to make myself competitive to be hired right out of college, whether that be the leadership roles I've taken on, maintaining a 3.9 GPA in engineering major, or whatever else to help me stand out.

For some reason, in the past two weeks I've started having significant doubts of the career path and lifestyle it entails for the first time ever. There's various things I can probably attribute to it, but one of them being that I've actually become a little excited about the job I have coming out of school for the first time... not necessarily because of the job itself, but because I'll start making good money and can dive into all the different outdoor adventures and hobbies the state offers.

I recently got an interview with a fighter unit in the guard. However, before I continue down this road and the big commitment, I am thinking that I should try out the 9-5 life first to make sure I really hate that before I keep trying for the guard since I'm now having these thoughts. I know the guard will likely make family life difficult, and I have a gut feeling that I may not enjoy that. My counter to this has always been that I want to live an incredible life and be proud of what I did so I'd have to make sacrifices, but now I am thinking that I can be proud of what I did through some other means (although maybe it will never be as great).

My whole life before this has been structured (go to school and that's it) and now I am faced with this major life decision. I feel like I'm going to burn the bridge by turning down the interview and it's likely now or never for this career, especially with all the cutbacks on UPT slots in the coming years for guard (boards are being cancelled right now).

Just curious if you would agree that if I am having any reservations about the career I should walk away for now, even if that means coming back and applying later on will be more difficult. Maybe it's because I've come so close to the finish line that I'm having these thoughts now, but I don't know if I should ignore it. I feel incredibly naive having not fully experienced being on my own in the world and seeing how it is first. Am I wrong for that? Everyone just seems to be calling me crazy for considering turning down an opportunity that only so few get and especially since they know I've worked so hard to get here.

 

[Sua Sponte]

On 6/8/2024 at 12:11 AM, Danger41 said:

Any T-38 UPT IP’s out there? Looks like I’m headed to Columbus next summer. I’ve never taught at UPT so I’m excited to try something new. Any gouge on the FBF syllabus and how that’s different? 

No, but a buddy is on his way to be the new Wing King (-135 dude). Great bro. 

[HuggyU2]

On 6/7/2024 at 11:11 PM, Danger41 said:

Any T-38 UPT IP’s out there? Looks like I’m headed to Columbus next summer. I’ve never taught at UPT so I’m excited to try something new. Any gouge on the FBF syllabus and how that’s different? 

You'll probably rendezvous with a number of U-2 Drivers heading to PIT next summer. 

[Danger41]

On 6/8/2024 at 4:56 AM, Boomer6 said:

They took the back cover off of the UPT syllabus and the front cover off of the IFF syllabus and put them together. Expect your non-fighter dudes to do the standard UPT flying, and your fighter dudes to do the IFF sorties primarily. Most likely scenario is that the different IFF sortie types (BFM, BSA, etc.) will be a letter of X's thing.

Interesting. Do they branch after assignment similar to IFF tracks with additions for bomber guys or does everyone do some of the IFF stuff?

[Boomer6]

2 hours ago, Danger41 said:

Interesting. Do they branch after assignment similar to IFF tracks with additions for bomber guys or does everyone do some of the IFF stuff?

That's the idea. The strain on the pipeline is already bad enough with the -38 eng issues etc., so there is no benefit in sending a buff bound dude to go do some BFM hacks. Not that there is a lot of benefit for anyone doing "BFM" in a -38.

Edited June 9 by Boomer6

[Polar Bear]

On 6/8/2024 at 7:23 AM, brabus said:

Averages in the AD fighter world:

- Gone from home 50% of the time (TDY, deployments)

- 60 hrs/week at work (at work time, not counting the hours you’ll sporadically spend at home finishing prep for upgrade rides…first as the student, then in the future as an IP).

- Daily work times all over the place depending on training plan, airspace times, etc. If you have young kids be prep’d for time periods you won’t see them for days at a time since you’ll be gone to work before they wake up and home when they’re back to bed (or at least close to it). But then there’s a night week where you get several hours with them in the morning…just have a good coffee plan since you went to bed at 0230 and they woke you up at 7.

The above are general for CAF fighter squadrons. If you take an assignment at some point to AETC, test (kind of…can actually be worse time-with-family wise sometimes), UPT, etc. you’ll likely get a reprieve from the hustle and have a lot more time with family. Great leadership vs. meh leadership can swing this either direction. The ANG is better QOL.

How I handled the above with wife and kids:  maxed the weekends with them, if I had the ability to get home early enough to have dinner and some post-dinner time with them I’d do that, then finish up whatever prep-for-next-day I had after kids went to bed. I took leave when I could and didn’t feel bad about it. There are less ops tempo times as well…sometimes you have a phase where you can get away earlier. Use those “gifts” to do things with family instead of having that 6th beer in the bar (but definitely have a couple!) 

Working 60 hours a week sounds awful. Burnout has to be high.

[dream big]

7 hours ago, Polar Bear said:

Working 60 hours a week sounds awful. Burnout has to be high.

Certain staffs where that’s the norm, and you don’t get to fly. Factor that in to your decision to stay AD. 

[brabus]

13 hours ago, Polar Bear said:

Working 60 hours a week sounds awful. Burnout has to be high.

It helps that you’re doing awesome shit. Tons of people in the civ marketplace working 60+ hr weeks sitting at a desk. But yes, those days are happily behind me and I’m not working that shit unless it’s at war.