Leaderboard

The standard mantra applies here, timing is everything. I left the viper (GLOC->FEB waiver) in 2010 and was offered nearly every AMC type aircraft to choose from; not an ISR platform to speak of. I'm now a C-130 patch. Whatever your circumstances, keep your head up and bloom where you are planted.

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/08/10/us/us-air-force-pilot-shortage/ http://video.foxnews.com/v/5079490464001/air-force-facing-massive-fighter-pilot-shortage/?#sp=show-clips http://www.airforcetimes.com/story/military/2016/07/18/air-force-leaders-plan-incentives-fix-fighter-pilot-shortage/87245740/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2016/08/10/the-air-force-fighter-pilot-shortage-is-already-a-crisis-and-it-could-soon-get-even-worse/ http://www.wnd.com/2016/08/crisis-usaf-warns-of-fighter-pilot-shortage/

Take a gander in the track selects/assignment night page. A lot of 38s are dropping right now, but the tables can always turn, 2 years ago when I tracked we had two 38s for my class. RPAs are only going to T-1s and it looks like that might not be happening anymore for now. The RPA pipeline is more backed up than the line at the DMV. That being said, fighters are guaranteed with a reserve slot if you preform well/graduate from UPT. Nothing is guaranteed on AD except frustration, taxes, and increased alcohol consumption. If time is on your side hold out for that guard/reserve slot.

It (Strike Eagle) doesn't fit in the mix. At least during my time in the FTU, we never had other fighter airframe washouts. I'm fairly confident ACC deems washing out of a fighter as disqualifying for any other fighter, even the two seat variant.

Got it! Well first of all, congratulations on the ETP! Thank you for believing the same thing I said when I saw the verbal score, "I can't be that bad." Anyhow, I did read somewhere about the AFRC unsponsored hiring boards I just don't know how I will be able to get a unit to "like me" besides the unit that I am in now for them to sponsor me. Good to know about the typical verbal score on other pilot candidates because the new test definitely seemed insanely difficult this time around. Fortunately enough, I'll be able to re-test again after the six-month mark. Turns out that my first score became invalid after the test changed in 2015 resetting the counter of the two examinations and allowing me to test once more. Nonetheless, I appreciate the information very much boss! Best of luck to you!

I was thinking this exact thing just the other day, is it better for me to try and Palace Chase and get hired by a Unit of which "we're not hiring" seems a common refrain; or just finish my commitment and make a clean break.

Chang is a fvcking Major working 730-1630 for some nameless manager destined to become another POS GO in the image of those that stratified him the past 6-9 years. When Chang's staff gig is up he'll head back to a nameless base to serve as SARC or IG before he gets ushered out, only to take up a job as a Walmart greeter where he will give side-eye and mumble insults every time he sees someone wearing a flight suit enter through the exit doors. Quit giving him so much credit.

Agree with above. My info may be dated but the API swim (USN) used to be a mile. You could do the crawl or sidestroke. If you can't do it then you will wash back and they will get you through the swim. It is not that difficult...

http://www.flyingsquadron.com/forums/topic/21098-benefits-of-becoming-a-cso/#comment-409716 Make sure you read this thread as well. Choice between CSO and NFO should not be made based on a swim test. Get in the pool and embrace the fact you need to get better and you will. Anyone, in any service, flying over water with the chance of "stepping out" of the aircraft and getting wet needs to know how to swim...or at least survival swim. Cheers ATIS

Exactly. And because SAF/PC is refusing to approve almost all Palace Chase Apps outside of 6 months, many guys I know are saying screw the Guard/Reserves, I am done with this garbage all together. If they would start being reasonable with PC approvals, guys would stay till retirement in the ARC, instead we lose them forever.

I know plenty of patches who are great dudes and either already in leadership positions or definitely heading that way, all without any ballwash jobs on the resume (i.e. exec). Even if a lot of OG/WG CCs hold that #1 strat for the exec, the patch is still going somewhere as #2/3 out of 169, so who cares. It unfortunately sounds like some communities still don't understand how to best utilize their WOs; the CAF does a lot of stupid shit too, but WO utilization is something the MAF, etc. needs to take a page out of the CAF's book on. The fact that I can't even talk to one face-face from a certain community while deployed, and have to email a bro back in the states for questions/discussion is fucking outrageous.

2 If you aren't paying for it you won't appreciate it. On the LAAR, it amazed me how hidebound the leadership of the AF is but perhaps this is reading too much into the background of senior leadership, but as far as I can tell none of them were ever in any low intensity conflicts or COIN actions, their experience and paradigm was Desert Storm, Allied Force, etc... they just couldn't imagine doing things any other way, UAVs slowly took root but even they have a large footprint, considering the reachback and MCE structure. It just wasn't big enough, sts... Always a favorite concept when there was some semi-serious discussion on acquiring a LAAR was the OV-10X

It's not always about kinetics. Actually having intimate familiarity with your AO and knowing the people who operate there actually counts for something. Despite what the PowerPoint warriors claim to be true on the AF side of the Puzzle Palace, ISR is the vast majority of the mission sets for COIN, not CAS. I can't even begin to fathom the number of times I was ordered to log CAS for all of my air requests, even when it was not warranted. Or breaking up a single air request so that we could have a greater number of requests for the same amount of coverage to make sure, and I wish I were kidding, the PowerPoint slides were greened up. The best way for the AF to advocate its existence with the Army during COIN operations is the LAAR and pushing the crews forward to operate with a specific Army unit. But this kind of operations mean something Big Blue would completely abhor. That being decentralized planning and execution. You would actually have to empower a pilot to go forth and conquer within the set bounds. Crazy talk I know, especially in this day and age of micromanagement. Sure, downed aircrews become a big deal, no one will argue that. There are definitely some inherent risk associated with aviation. So losing an aircraft is going to happen regardless. However, if flown properly, the risks will not be as high as the Army rotorywing assets. So are you going to tell them their risks are too high, and that they should go ahead and park their assets? The AF is doing a great job breaking its own aircraft, burning out its people and spending way too much overall. Why else would there be a push for the transition to the laser rocket? Because it is a lot more cost effective than a GBU-54 dropped by a Strike Eagle with a lot less collateral damage. Hell, just look at the success and cost of the recent OV-10 deployment the Afghanistan. Now there is a time and place for a real kick down the door fighter armed with multiple 500/2000#s of hate, like when thing get bad. Therefore the LAAR would be your armed FAC-A, working in concert with JTACs, and be a local pilot with some real knowledge of what is going on/where people are. Now you have someone that can advocate the service while gaining intimate knowledge of a specific AO to aid the local unit in kinetic and mainly non kinetic operations. Fly-Fight-Win or some such thing. This is COIN, so let's fight it that way.

Yep, living in base. If I can get hired, anyone can, especially with upcoming retirements. I didn't get hired by a major right out of the AF. you may have to take the regional pill temporarily...

Happily flying for a major. Worked 8 days this month and made more than I would have as a Major. No regrets...the grass is greener!

You have got lots of good advice about lawyers and money. You mentioned you have two kids. Keep in mind that there will actually be a time when the emotion/anger/frustration towards your wife is gone. It will be gone for her too. You both will move on. When the dust settles, it's the kids that are left with all the emotion and love for both of you. As hard as it is, you need to look past the bullshit and find a solution that benefits your children. It's not about you or her anymore.