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Yes. Don’t get me wrong I’m all for their interest in getting better at advanced tactics. But they are spending no time studying or understanding the basics that are way more likely to get them into trouble. I was also a few deep when I wrote that. Ive never seen a real issue with 38 guys in the Herk.

Let's pump the brakes. I'd be careful about the nomenclature here. MQT (now MT) is part of school tour funding. I know because I used to be the training guy on the officer side, when filling out the AF 101s for my last CAF unit. That's paid by daddy AFRC. You're not being shorted that. TDART is a different thing. It's a full time ART pipeline grooming program, not a substitution of mission funding for pilots, like it's being portrayed here. As most old guys here know, OPM requires flight time triggers for full time ART positions and seats. In the past, baby ART jobs were requested in order to kill two birds with one stone, since what the unit really wants is meat in the ADCON seat, not airline pilot aspirant fodder. AFRC simply streamlined that constant ask from the units, via TDART. That's it, no conspiracy here. And yes, of course it's a cheaper avenue than paying people title 10 (see my remarks on the AGR-ART flexibility thread), are you new? (don't answer that, I know you are 😉 ) At any rate, straight out of the UFT Guidebook: So everybody pump the brakes on the "they're forcing me to quit my job!" nonsense. You're still getting 140 days of RPA to get local mish qualified after FTU, just like everybody before you. After that, you're no different than any other TR: That's what you signed up to do, be a TR. Now for some tough love: The fact you built decade long seniority and retirement credits in a civilian career before going to UPT is not germane to this. Most people your age would not have had the luxury of acting on a military flying epiphany in their late 30s in the first place, so count your blessings. Like you said, most young guys (the majority in the UFT-board level of things), have no option in this shitbox economy. And in the shitbox economy I got smoked out of grad school 15 years ago with no kidding $1500 to my name, TDART would have been a godsend. Like I told a couple of the TDART applicants who have PM me recently, and I quote myself: I would have scalped them with my bare hands for a TDART guarantee in 2006. So let's redirect fire here. You can trough.... but you rather be an AGR. I hear ya brother, I want a threesome with my wife and Alexis Texas. Wish in one hand and shit on the other. That may not in the cards here, because your unit is ART-centric. But you knew that from day one. You can still trough, just not to the degree you would prior to Corona, since all your senior guys are coming back to roost and you're the low man on the pole. Re-read the 3 rules of military life. BTDT got the Lost Decade T-shirt. If the unit is shorting you the 140 RPA days post FTU, take that UFT guidebook to your DO right now, and escalate from there. That's the only legal foul they would be committing. But I'm 69% sure that's not what's going on here. As to the macro topic of ARTs not being USERRA exempt, just like my threesome ask, that has been a known quantity for decades. This isn't new. Matter of fact, it's stated up front. They're not telling your unit TRs to become ARTs if they want to trough or pull more trips at the unit. They're still using the same mish mash of MPA and RPA allocations they always have. What you're asking (making ART USERRA exempt) is a non-starter. It's federal law brother. By the time they get around to changing that, you'll be of Social Security Age. Pick another hill to die on. The reality is that you are at a fork in the road, career wise. You gotta figure out what you want to be in life. We've already conversed on PM as to what I think you should do based on your current potential avenues (and we counted three distinct paths from this discussion alone). If you want to put your gaining unit on blast for what you think is subversion of the law, that's your prerogative, I have no dog in that fight. I just want to make sure people understand what TDART is and isn't. Good luck to all.

Ummm what? So they traded AD seasoning orders for a technician spot? Let me guess, they want pay you something less than GS-12...even a GS-12 was a sizable pay cut for me when I looked at it way back when. Damn right this is a good deal for the unit and you get the shit end of the stick lol. The reserves hired you to be a part timer and your priorities are family, civilian job (unless you WANT to be full time) and then the Reserves. I'd start with your FLT/CC and explain what you're thinking and see where it can go. That's a tough spot to be in as the new guy in the squadron, but at 38 I'm guessing you'll take less shit than the average 23 year old returning from training. Are any of your commanders part-timers? If so, I'd talk with them about your situation as there has to be some middle ground here.

Don't think I ever once wrote no sids/no stars on a 175. Just assumed it was standard knowledge in ATC that we would never accept one. Until one day bringing a jet back cross country, clearance was "xwy69 SID." I responded with a very purposefully jacked up read-back including "..umm... SID?" Controller asked if I had a copy, umm,... no. He started to read me the SID, then wisely changed his mind and said "on departure, turn right 090, climb and maintain 10K". That read-back was flawless. I think they got the picture.

As a fighter guy, aside from that stupid departure out of Spangdahlem, I've never flown a single published departure or arrival. No SIDs/No Stars is an integral part the few DD175s I've ever filled out.

Last Caliphate check shows that a “Retrofitted commercial aircraft” did pretty okay.

I couldn’t agree more. UPT isn't a good time. If you find yourself thinking “wow this ing sucks and its supposed to be the best time of my career” like I did, just keep pushing on. Because, I don’t believe its anywhere close to the prime of the job. The people who I usually see saying that are a bunch of OFA who cant even remember if they turned in their 781 from yesterday, and definitely don’t remember 20 years ago. Sure, I made some friends that I still talk to, and had my weekends getting hammered by the pool, but I still do stuff like that. I feel like the people who say its “the best time of your career” just don’t remember the actual experience. Its basic stuff that I find incredibly easy, from the view point of a rated pilot for many years, who isn’t graded every time I fly, or competing for something. It is not easy for someone who is learning the basics, and you are always a few flights, and some FAIP who has no idea what ops is actually like, away from a commanders review. The best time of your career is going to be the LPA at your ops squadron while you’re flying around CT, no grade sheet, just your bros and some jets, actually employing an aircraft. My first month in ops I dropped multiple 82s, shot some $150k mavericks, and over 1,000 rounds from the gun, while my heavy bros were traveling around the world. UPT sucks.

More spam! buy some 737 Maxes and name them the T-43B

Of course, I know what taciturnity means, but for those who don’t: - the state or quality of being reserved or reticent in conversation. - Scots Law. the relinquishing of a legal right through an unduly long delay, as by the silence of the creditor. So yeah, you know, being reticent dude. Totally. Which for the dummies out there means: - disposed to be silent or not to speak freely; reserved. - reluctant or restrained. So like when you’re disposed. Which means: - having a certain inclination or disposition; inclined (usually followed by to or an infinitive) Ok fuck I’m lost.