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Bender

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Posts posted by Bender

    UPT Next

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    That’s fantastic man, good look and Godspeed!
    While I’d love to see a TX course, shit, if there was the capacity just waterfall every willing and capable 18Xer through UPT 2.5 and call it a day, that’s fine too. Seems like there would be some redundant skills learned but the end product is the same, other than the significant ADSC incurred under the current model.


    The last RPA stud I saw go through crushed it, PA’d quite a few rides, and tossed a detailed, critically well thought, multi-page critique of the program.

    Might have been a bit of an outlier, but definitely a good thing whenever it happens.


    On the flip side, I watch a lot of good students struggle because the syllabus (read courseware) just simply wasn’t developed to teach students to successfully navigate the increased expectations put on them. Most seem to survive, but it’s their own credit…not the system teaching them (outside of the IPs…which has always been the case). It’s more burden on the IPs to get average students across the line now. The 19th is working updates, but man…we should put a pilot or 2 in the courseware shop.

    If things go they way I think/want them to go, any 18X advantage would become clear in short order leading to a different expectation. That doesn’t mean it would pan out, but that the data would show the reality. Too many people work off anecdotal data…even the programming guys are in no man land right now looking at historical data that is an apple to the current orange.


    ~Bendy


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    • Upvote 1

    UPT Next

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    PA is explicitly allowed. The MASS algorithm accounts for it.
     
    Edit:
    5. Proficiency Advancement The Wg/CC, delegated no lower than the Sq/CC, is the approval authority for Proficiency Advancement (PA). As a minimum, PA may be utilized in cases where overall student performance meets minimum course training standards and Special Syllabus requirements (SSR) prior to completion of a unit/block of training, while demonstrating consistent performance.


    Not only is it a thing, it’s nothing new (PA has been in the syllabus at least for 2 decades). The primary “oddities” of the 2.5 syllabus are actually designed to promote PA/PR, so that they are used in the most advanced “phase” of training possible, or at least where the student needs it the most.

    I don’t believe the MASS does account for PA at this point. A PA event is just absent, so it won’t/can’t hurt, but it won’t/can’t help either. Shouldn’t be a big deal, as the reason the PA occurs is the student is doing well already.

    They like the MASS details to be a black box (beyond what’s in the AFI), but it was opened up during the generation of the 2.5 syllabus…some things have been tweaked, like difficulty grading, but that and other things like the maneuver weightings are not accessible knowledge to the average IP.

    ~Bendy


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    UPT Next

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I don't remember this. Been at Vance since 2018. Musta been a T-6 thing.
    I think Laughlin still needs to give us our T-1s back that we lent them after the hail damage....


    I say you don’t need them back…

    History says Vance will say AMF-S is awesome and ready to go full scale at their base within 0.69 seconds of starting it, so having a T-1 will be moot anyways.

    Two years later, everyone else will start and the MTD and syllabus will have improved 0% and the MAF FTU will become one of the worst assignments in the Air Force.

    Or not, I’m sure it’ll be fine. Things are going great, it’ll be fine.

    ~Bendy


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    UPT Next

    in General Discussion

    Posted



    Vance AFB is conducting UPT 2.5 because “they were just so far ahead of the other bases”...LOL.

    Anyone can sign up for stupid anytime they want, doesn’t make one “farther ahead”...I would NOT want to be dealing with this thing in mass as END right now. This thing is hard enough with a single flight SGTO.

    Grade A way to become so overwhelmed you learn nothing (just wait until we sprinkle on a little timeline pressure), but that’s just one man’s opinion.

    That whole syllabus is going to require a MASSIVE overhaul...not a bad try for writing it in a couple months when no one had any idea what they were doing.

    Good luck to Vance & Randolph,
    Not to mention Columbus & Laughlin,
    ~Bendy


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    After tanking pilot production for years at END, tanking pilot production at CBM last year, working its way through DLF this year…this monstrosity is up for a syllabus conference next month.

    The draft already has a massive overhaul…shocking (for the better though). That syllabus, at this point, is like walking backwards and forwards at the same time.

    Some revisions should help, but until there is real progress in artificial instruction and a learner-centric learning management system, things will only continue to revert back to where it started from (not that many would complain about that).

    This T-6 syllabus has been such a mess and distracting, the actual 2.5 syllabus still isn’t done yet…not even close.

    It took years, as is standard, right up to the wire, but the execution of the T-1 was stayed at the last hour by Congress. We’ll see how that plays out…

    ~Bendy


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    • Like 1

    Air Force is hiring for civilian T-6 IPs

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Do you mean any non former civilian hired to be a T-6 IP or the 141 warm body their targeting?
     
    I could deal with being hazed/knowing my place/working hard to earn the credibility if it meant time in the T-6 with like minded bros...... but being forced to lick shit off the bathroom floors and being treated like some moron I will not, I've worked way too hard at this point. 


    There is no reasonable expectation that you wouldn’t be treated with respect. There may be a large number of skeptics and a few that outright vocalize their disagreement with the program. If you contribute to the mission, fly sorties that others now don’t have to, do it well, help the students succeed…this isn’t a valid data point in anyones decision to do/not do this program.

    I would however consider the training being offered and your actual experience level…UPT students are ing dangerous.

    ~Bendy


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    Russian Ukraine shenanigans

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    So why do you think Biden is not threatening Mexico economically to pressure them to as you suggest?  Also, have you personally stopped purchasing items from Mexico?  Or is it the same with you enjoying buying items from China?  
    You’re talking a big game, but when it comes to you personally making sacrifices, I’m not seeing it.  


    I’d like to second that foreign policy and personal behavior are two distinctly different things. Not sure why we’re grabbing on to the personal jab there…my personal sacrifices aren’t going to slow Russia’s roll down the road to the capital.

    The initial question is pretty legit. So why not…I have my answers, but Lord Ratner is well into it at this point and I’d love to hear it.

    ~Bendy




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    • Upvote 1

    Aviation Continuation Pay (ACP - The Bonus)

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Given they’re doubling down on producing rather than retaining to solve the shortage, I doubt we’ll see any improvements to the bonus. With Afghanistan over, I could also see them adjusting MAF crew ratios again to “help” our manning.


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    Have you seen the new primary pilot training syllabus? Hard to say we’re “doubling down on producing”. Taking a good stab at halving it…

    Should be a good product for the CAF (which maintains their T-38 training), pretty unclear for the MAF…though I’m sure quality will suffice.

    Keep an eye on the primary production numbers. The next few year groups are going to benefit from some Cold War style ops tempos!

    ~Bendy


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    Covid Injection Tyranny - Share and Discuss

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Good to see Col Curry (319 RW/CC) really lead in the most Air Force-way possible.  Set a 28 Sept deadline, in order to come in a full five weeks ahead of the 2 Nov deadline given by the Air Force.  Way to lean forward Colonel.
    Also, have to wonder how strange these letters sound to anyone who hasn't been in the military.  "You are hereby reprimanded!  You are ordered to proceed to transition class, where you will be counseled on how to make you transition to civilian life as smooth as possible.  Also, make sure to get checked out at the clinic."
    I think some people are assuming you'll get marched to the front gate and literally "kicked" out onto the street.


    Is it normal to only see the last 5 assignments in the bio? I feel like they usually list everything. DS to Vice to CC of the same wing in 3 years…also, unusual to me.

    ~Bendy


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    • Upvote 1

    Aviation Continuation Pay (ACP - The Bonus)

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Retention could tank even further.  I think it is a false assumption that those 30% were staying anyway.  The IDE, Staff, DO, SQ/CC, School, Staff hustle to stay Tier 1 and survive until 20 years becomes A LOT less appealing if you pay them $245,000 or more less...


    Retention will tank further; every passing day proves it…I agree. I disagree about the 30%, they were at worst willing to stay. I also disagree it takes any of those thing listed to make it to 20 years.

    That said, we’re in a bad way. Centralized Command, Decentralized Control, and the lower echelons of Command AND the highest levels of Control are both incentivized to just say yes, beyond reason.

    It’s clear to those who can see it, at the highest and lowest levels.

    It’s a great job (calling even) this AF pilot gig…it’s a horrible place to spend a career. Don’t ever think it’s the same for 20 years…be a pilot, serve your country, then choose for yourself if this is what you want. Most of us stay because we think others need help/protection. If no one cared about people, the take rate would round down to zero. IMO.

    Don’t take the bonus unless you love/will love what you’re doing…to each their own.

    ~Bendy


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    • Like 5
    • Confused 1

    Degradation of SUPT

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    The slow roll I’m talking about is after PIQ, not UPT. Going UPT direct to any FTU probably makes a big difference, but all of the new co’s showing up at my base have had months with nothing more than their cockpit poster. If that.
    6 months between UPT and PIQ…good night…


    Enter FTU-Next! That’s been the poster for all of this…not just a cockpit poster anymore! Can’t find the money for a decent F-16 or C-17 model, but still…also keep using crappy Lockheed VR sims, but whatever. Progress today is better than success tomorrow.

    ~Bendy


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    • Like 1
    • Haha 2

    Aviation Continuation Pay (ACP - The Bonus)

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    The simple reality is that the US Government doesn’t view AF pilot manning as a significant issue. Lower level individuals speaking to higher level individuals in this government is severely crippled by toxic behavior…happens in-service and between service leader and civilian appointees. We’ll come to terms with it eventually…as soon as we are denied access or can’t keep aircraft from overhead. Should be fun.

    ~Bendy


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    Aviation Continuation Pay (ACP - The Bonus)

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    So if we just make the pay comparable to the airlines and fix none of the other BS that pilots hate how does that help exactly?  Because if the money is the same and airlines are less BS don't the airlines still win for all of the other reasons mentioned?
    That said I know folks on all sides of the fence who were:
    1. "f'this noise I'm out" as soon as their ADSC was up
    2. Palace chase ASAP to get a line number then pick up AGR orders
    3.  Airline & TR
    4. Stay on AD with no bonus to have free agent status with regard to assignments
    5.  All in bonus takes that are ride or die Air Force.
    The only demographic I see winning/gaining anything under a "pro pay" system is the folks who are all in Air Force already.

    It seems to me like the system has those camps modeled as it is doing what it can to apply the bonuses given the constraints (imposed by congress) they are under.  Also, Springer has life figured out.  I take as much pride in flying the aircraft that I own and/or rent as I do anything the USAF has put me in.  Plus it can be just as much or more fun.  In my case I just married well to a woman that agreed to buy me an airplane with her salary!  But I know plenty of AD guys that can afford to own planes and fly a ton even on the AD salary.  Everything is just a tradeoff.


    While I love almost everything about this post, the intense southern accent I had in my head reading it has to mean something, right?

    ~Bendy


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