olevelo

Yeah, our first few flying qualities flights start mid-month. It'll probably be at least another month, if not two, before we actually start playing with the systems.

You just end up with pretty much the last line number. But you'll promote to O-4 the same day as the rest of the last group, which could be anywhere from 100-500 folks depending how they do it.

No, Advanced Flying Training is post-UPT and FTU. Think instructor school, WIC, TPS, etc. Typically a 3 year ADSC.

It should be based on your Core ID, which you can find on your SURF. It's a 3 digit AFSC that should match "what you got trained as". For instance, TPS grads retain their core id from pre-TPS, with a few exceptions such as guys who get CV-22 qual'd.

I do know, since I fly on them. The U-boat not be as much, but the W definitely is and the J will be.

I have a hard time believing those numbers, considering the amount of plus-ups done between 01-04. I don't think the subsequent rif's/force shaping got rid of as many extra as were brought in, plus the supposed record retention we've had. I could be completely wrong but that doesn't really match what I've seen.

Also of note, platforms like the AC-130U/W/J are highly CSO centric, the pilots really are mostly stick monkeys, and you get to do the bad guy shooting.

We (test in the Eglin area) haven't been flying, mostly because the range was basically shut down due to the civilians on furlough. Now the flying is turned back on, but only for the limited amount of money available...no FY14 money yet. JSF never stopped beating up the pattern though.

According to our OG (again, sat on the last CAF board), the credit option is very board dependent. Officially, you have to score above the lowest person to make the cut for in-res. Even if you don't request credit the board can still give it to you if they notice you're eligible. He said on their board, they artificially elevated every credit eligible person above the cut line so they'd get the credit. All of those were candidates, as the direction was that ALL selects went to school. So the reasoning was that it was no cost to anyone to give the folks what they earned, and with the current direction that only one candidate could go in-res, they knew this was the absolute only chance for any of these guys. It'd be nice if all the DT's did it this way, but I've no insight on those. One point, you still have to make it out if your wing as a recommend to the DT, otherwise they can't do anything for you. So that's a note the CAF DT sent back to the senior raters. The other note they sent back was if the SR thinks this year isn't the right time (apparently a few went up saying "not ready yet"), if they were a select, the DT had to send them...so word back was don't submit them from the SR if they're not ready!

Same info was shared to us from our OG, who sat on the CAF DT. This was at the OG staff meeting to CC's and other staff (I'm OGV), but his intent was for the word and possibly the brief to go out to everyone (although I don't think he's been able to present it with the budget crisis of the week and such).

nsplayer pretty much hit it, but yeah, each year the prospects for Cannon get "brighter". The acceleration of AC-H retirements probably has some effect as well. Folks at the 73rd don't seem to be taken care of very well either, so the dudes see what happen to their bros and say screw it. I have 0 doubt that Cannon is at least 90% of the factor in AFSOC retention (ACP or not). Remember when dudes threw each other under a bus in order to go spec ops? The only ones who do now are the ones who don't know any better.

Are there any flying jobs for navs?

All AF RW test is now under the 413 FLTS at Hurlburt/Duke and its Det at Nellis. There are limited positions, but still need 1-2 folks per year to go to TPS for the various MDS's and locations. If you'd like to get in touch with a rotary type grad, PM me. True statement, after a test tour in the 413th, the path is pretty unclear due to the options, or lack thereof (much the same for C-130 nav grads). Staff and program office jobs are most likely, then you compete with your rotary peers, as well as all of the C-130 grads, for the 413th sq/cc.

Will this affect candidates eligible for in-res credit as well? Since we still have to compete at the board, is the cut line just higher and even if you are eligible for credit you just have to be that much better? Any thought to just allowing people who are eligible for credit just letting us take it instead of taking away a spot and/or wasting board members time reviewing a 3849?

At what point does the push really matter (for O-5)? First O-4 OPR? Last OPR before IPZ? In other words, if you "only" get a MAJCOM push on your first O-4 OPR is that a relative killer?

Just wait till you get your weekly feedback. And you too will be bibliographing everything...

Yes I know that, hence the question about how to get "Yokota tdy's" to count.

Last time I tried to get Yokota tdy's to count as oconus mpf shot me down. How do we get that fixed? I suppose I'd have to dig out travel vouchers from 5 years ago...

Dupe, as I recall, once your TLE period ends, you only get BAH after that. So you can stay wherever you want, because you won't actually get reimbursed anything else.

You probably want to get guidance from your squadron/group/wing. The wings who are used to this will want it routed to them, and they'll forward it to AFPC. Some have no clue what TPS even stands for...in that case you need to do the legwork. Then there are the places that will try to c*ckblock you *cough*AFSOC*cough*, and you'll have to pretty much go VFR direct.

That's a new one. And it makes no sense if going to HC's, because they'd rather have the guys that went through Randolph than Pensacola. I could see it if trying to go to ACC for F-15s.

We setup a briefing to the Pensacola nav students last year, as its a short drive from Eglin/Hurlburt. Hoping to do it again this year. It's a little harder with the pilot schools since none of them are near any test bases. There have also been pushes to roadshow to the ops units but even before the budget cuts that was difficult.

Ignore drewpey...the AFSOC brainwashing does a decent job of turning a lot of good folks into complete douches. As a complete generality they have a "if you're not with us you're against us" mentality. Not a personal attack on anyone in AFSOC, as I have a lot of buddies both who are converts and guys I've met through testing. It's a top down thing that permeates from the leadership. I understand why, as they are focused on getting the mission accomplished, and it's a very different type of mission than what folks from the slick world are used to. But everything is mission, mission, mission, with pretty much zero emphasis on family or anything that gets in the way of the mission (including test). Again, this the perspective of someone only on the fringe of the community. Back on topic, if you like the herk, want to stay employed and avoid Cannon, look into the HC-130J. As a nav that goes back and forth between slicks and J's, I love the J. Right now the HC is exactly the same as the MC (until AFSOC gets TF and other goodies), still get to do LL, airdrop, add air refueling, while being stationed at either DM, Moody or Kirtland. The only guys I know are the operational test and schoolhouse guys, but from what I've seen, they're a lot more laid back and all love doing rescue. Your other option is go to one of the TFI slick units. I don't see those going away anytime soon.

Getting the patch basically just gets you one of the minimum requirements to become an astronaut. Looking at the list the Air Force put forward to NASA, I personally knew at least 60% of them from TPS, and probably half of the rest I had heard their name from TPS. Our senior class's patch night video included "interviews" with the class members, and there's a reason every answer to "Why do you want to come to TPS?" was "I'm gonna be an astronaut!" I'd say the civilian route as an FTE would be about the most difficult way to get in. First of all, I'm pretty sure you have to be a GS...I don't know of any contractors that have gone through (at least not as a contractor! NTPS is an option though.). And there's usually only one civilian slot per class, if that. We didnt have any. At the same time, competition varies among positions. I'd guess that the hardest to easiest positions to get selected are FTE, fighter pilot, RPA, WSO, heavy pilot, nav. I say that based on the combination of number of applicants and quality of applicants. The FTE's frequently have to apply 3-4 times before getting selected, a masters is pretty much a completely hard requirement and PhD is common enough. Rated across the board "require" a masters but I've seen enough get in without one that a strong record and good recommendation can overcome that. Heavy pilots (especially C-130) and navs have the advantage that there are far fewer guys applying/qualified for those slots. But you still have to make cut line...even if you're the only C-130 pilot meeting the board, and we desperately need C-130 test pilots, if you don't stack up, you still don't get selected.

We've already been ordered to implement this NLT 1 April. And report any other ideas like turning computers off at night.