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It will be a sad day if we aren’t allowed to wear flight suits; and I get all the “more comfortable” talk. But I’m an Air Force aviator, I didn’t join the Army. I want my green pajamas!

That’s been tanker standard for decades. If we wanted to be tactical we all would have done better in UPT.

That’s because you were probably dealing with WUGs or selected airdrop crews. MG17 we made a conscious effort to not stack the deck and send crews 4 deep on IP/EPs. Only time we picked crews for the most part were when regs drove crew qual positions (formation or package lead qual’d etc). Turns out when you send our line ACs on the road TDY/deployed for 200+ days minimum every year there’s not a lot of chances for them to hone those other skill sets and then GOs act shocked when they go tumbleweed and blow right through a a TACSAM WEZ.

So here’s the spear: both tankers have a bit of a rep for scoffing tactical planning and employment. Typical tanker dude: “Just plan me a track that’s safe from danger and tell me when to be there. Somebody else knows what those threats can do and the AWACS will tell me to scram if I have to. Well maybe, but I honestly don’t even care so I’m not even going to try to load HQ. Make sure you prioritize my receiver timing for me and give me enough fuel. If any of this plan doesn’t go perfectly, I will bitch about it publicly on the AOR freq but not attend any debriefs or further planning sessions. Where’s dinner?” At least it was that way in 2014, maybe things are better now.

Answer to this should be a banner on the front of the forum.

Chief, running for 100ft, breathless and not spilling a drop of coffee from his mug. "Sir, I see you're all about ready to board to do that mission. However I noticed one of the SrA linguists in the back was in a A2CU and the rest of the crew was in bags. You're going to have to get everyone standardized before you can take off. If you crash, and survive, what will the enemy think if you're not all in the same uniform." AC - Logic about how stupid that is. Chief - "Sir, I understand how long it'll take him to get back, get a uniform and then have MX adjust the flight times, and all that. If he hustles like a good Airman you won't even have to get a crew rest waiver. Ground forces will have to wait for your capabilities, because if you're not all in the same approved flight uniform it'll be a detriment execution and upholding standards." "After all, if we can't trust you to make sure everyone is in only one of the two approved flight uniforms what can we trust you with?" Chief notices the AC has left, and the hatch is being pulled closed.

The option should NEVER be taken away. Green pajamas is what we wear.

Definitely scented and pink. I prefer coconut scent.

I'm in the same boat. Just got back from my first fighter interview. Fingers crossed. To answer the question, "Why do I want to fly in the Air Force?" I framed it with the following reasons. 1. First and foremost, to help deliver on the mission of the Air Force in defending the United States (this should be your most explained point, bring up the second core value of the Air Force "Service Before Self") 2. Second, for the opportunity to fly the most technologically advanced planes available and become the best pilot I can be. 3. Lastly and least importantly, it's a very cost effective way to become an airline pilot and after all, this is my goal once I am a Reservist. To answer the question, "Why fighters?" You gotta look at the specific fighter your flying and the specific squadron your flying with. What about the mission excites you and makes you think that you would be a good fit. I interviewed with an A-10 Squadron, and so my answer was along the lines of "I don't see any more gratifying way to serve my country than that of the close air support missions that the A-10 serves. To be able to see good guys and bad guys on the ground and make an impact right then and there is my ultimate dream." Hope this helps.

Conversely, I spent the last two years at Purple flying local Out & Back flights. Memphis to Knoxville was my favorite...45 minutes there, on the ground long enough to eat the catering, then a 45 minute flight back. Widebody FO pay and I didn't even leave the state of TN. I slept in my own bed every night. Didn't even pack a bag...just showed up with my company iPad. I cleared $200K my second year, and that's with dropping about 15-20% of my trips for .mil leave. After two years of that, I decided to change it up and bid Captain. The lines aren't as nice, but the pay is ridiculous. After everyone is through training on this bid cycle, I should be senior enough to hold a reserve line. That way I can get paid to wait at home by the pool/phone.

If you had heard him talk, you might have made the same mistake. He’s got like 6-9 adopted nieces and nephews amongst his “Strikers” that he will talk about any time he meets someone.

That’s General Robin Rand. The AF Global Strike Command CC.

I’m interested to hear about the exercise where the MAF dudes did that bad. My main MAF interactions have been out at WSINT and they’ve done well. The others have been on rotators in and out of theater and they let me put up a hammock so I love them.

I’ve seen it so it’s definitely out. Good read. On another note, how about the dude on the left of the crew in that picture from KRCA. Looks like somebodies drunk uncle (but he’s probably the wing commander?)

Correct, I wasn't there. If my post is off-base then just say so.

I wanted tankers out of UPT. That aside, the tanker community needs to stop using the excuse that most of the dudes weren't the best studs in UPT to not act like professional military aviators.

Well deserved.

I hate you. 😂😫

I hope they published a NOTAM warning everyone else.

Share your recipe for putting together a physical packet to be sent in the mail. What kind of paper did you use, resume binder, envelope etc. How did you build it? Go.