HuggyU2

Kenny, I'll give you my opinion on the matter, but I hope others post theirs, as there are certainly many, many other viewpoints. The U-2 guys that have gone in to the aerospace sector were pretty well networked, for the most part. While some of that was through the U-2 Brotherhood, much of it was also because they built relationships with various the people from those companies while they were on active duty. They would go TDY to conferences, site visits, etc... and made the effort to stay with the entire group, rather than bolt and do the "aircrew only" bar scene once the meetings ended. For example, one friend of mine became a trusted agent and social friend to a couple of Flag Officers, an Under Secretary, and and some other heavy hitters you would know from recent news events. I have very little first hand knowledge, but I assume the same opportunities exist within your community. LinkedIn: I built a profile years ago, but have never used it. I'm sure there are success stories out there, but the positions I were offered were not something that I could imagine happening on LinkedIn. The Executive Director position I had from 2014-2016 was purely a result of meeting some CEO's and entrepreneurs at Oshkosh, and spending many hours engaged with them on a personal level for a couple of years. One interesting "networking" thing that happened was at Oshkosh in 2003 or '04. Two of us flew a Beale T-38 there for static. Met and spent quality time with some people from Virgin. A couple of nights later, I'm at a small, private house party in Oshkosh with about 30 people. It wasn't until we walked out to the pool area that we realized Richard Branson was hosting the party. Too bad I had no aspirations to move to the UK or Mojave. In summary, Kenny, I don't think the positions you would want will easily materialize through job postings. But that's just my opinion, since I have no direct experience with social media job hunting.

I never used a recruiter, but wouldn't rule it out. As with CH, building relationships was the key to any opportunities I've had. In my case, I kept those relationships alive because I liked the people I met... it wasn't to "find a job". But the job offers that came my way were a unintended consequence of those friendships. If you're 12 months from retiring, and expect to start networking now to find a great opportunity, it will be very difficult, in my opinion. Many of the opportunities I've had were developed over relationships that went back many years.

http://abc7.com/community-events/palm-springs-aerial-tramway-to-offer-free-rides-to-military/3598728/ Palm Springs tram deal. Good to know if you're heading that way in July.

Could you clarify: I was told recently that there is still F-16 training going on at Luke. If true, which squadrons still train in the F-16?

"Beer for life if you can land this thing." - Some OSO

SMSgt Siemiet was involved in this... I'm not surprised. He was a SRA and SSgt at Beale "back in the day", and a terrific NCO. Leader, mentor AND innovator. Infectious demeanor, boundless energy. He is what I'd want all of the NCO's in my squadron to be like. I hope CMSgt is his next stop. If you're at Yokota, go shake his hand. Then figure out a way to get him into your squadron.

My recollection is that they weren't... but some people that had them were going to try to manipulate the orders to make them so. I don't know if they succeeded. In my case, I had no need for an exemption from the 5 year clock, so I never paid attention to that aspect.

I was not aware of this. However, I do not understand how there is no USERRA protection. Whether you volunteer or not does not affect your USERRA rights. Not sure which version you mean by "the original version": I took the VRRAD from 2010-2014, and I had USERRA protection. In any case, it doesn't matter for me now that I've looked at the numbers. While I was pleased to see that going for a two-year hitch would increase my retiree pay over $1,000/month, I'm not sure I'd live long enough to make up the difference in the overall pay cut. It is just huge. Massive. At least I can now justify some additional aviation activities I want to get involved in, since I'll still come out way ahead. In addition to losing my retiree pay, it would probably hamper some of the additional income I'm making at my other part time jobs. I still envision a number of scenarios where this VRRAD might appeal to recently-retired pilots. That said... will there be at least 50 people that see it as enticing? I know of one. However, I may be so far off that I'll be buying matmacwc multiple rounds.

I'll take that bet: even if I lose, I win since I get to drink beer with another aviator I haven't met. I'm an hour from Rancho Murrieta.

The irony.

"Sounds like" is one thing. Have you flown either so that you can give us your personal experience... especially in the "black jet with shiny ass tailpipes"? Duster has probably 1000 hours in the T-38N. If you want to speak to him about it, let me know and I'll get you in touch with him.

I was way under impressed... however, it was only 2 sorties (one front, one backseat), and a few sims here and there at Randolph. As for my sequenced/sequined shirt, chicks dig it.

Hindsight, Good perspective and excellent post. I'm glad you like the seat. It's a done deal, so anything I write is meaningless. As it is, I wrote entirely too much, and drew attention away from my point: the new seat was very expensive. And arguably for only a slightly better capability. I think it is an abysmal integration into the T-38, and not done well at all... much of that based on the options of other IP's I know that have flown both the A and C. Some of them have told me that would prefer to be riding on the Northrop seat. They don't like the seating position (more vertical and forward, I'm told), the lack of storage, visibility, etc... Did we meet at Stuck's memorial in Los Angeles? I knew him when he was still in college, and spoke to him about a week before the mishap. I'm familiar with the mishap and firmly believe he would be alive today had it been the Northrop seat he was flying in. In the case of Mark Graziano, a U-2 bud who died in 2009 in a T-38A with the Northrop seat... he might be alive had they had a sequenced seat that would have allowed the guy in the rear cockpit to punch them both out. For me, there's nothing I like about the T-38C, and if given the choice, I'd take the A-model every time.

1. I don't know the real reason they went with the MB seat, but as with any multi-million dollar contract, there were certainly more than a couple of reasons. Personally, I don't believe it was money well spent. And if the people involved in "upgrading" to the C-model were involved... well, that's a whole different story. There was a much better cockpit offered and they went with the lowest bidder... which ended up costing the most and being less capable. But I digress... 2. I've never heard the official cost for the seat upgrade, but simple math means it was big. When the first jets were going to get upgraded at DLF, MB looked at the parts of the system that the AF was responsible for (IIRC, it was the rails) and wouldn't touch it until the corrosion situation was improved. I cannot verify this, but DLF folks told me there was at least 1 MB person at DLF doing very little for over a year while the problem was addressed. 3. Had the AF saved the money for the C-model, PMP mod, and ejection seat... and had a comprehensive plan earlier on for acquiring the T-X, the money and horsepower spent on those individual projects would have gone a long way in getting the T-X procured by now. Yes, I'm sure those with PEM/staff experience will state "that's not how it works"... but maybe it should. Piecemealing improvements to the T-38 during that ~10 year window cost a ton of money, and I don't believe it was money well spent. 4. I did not realize that there were successful ejections on the MB seat that would have been fatal on the Northrop seat. Glad to hear that. But how many were there? Divide the cost of the program by that number and ask yourself if that was worth the expense. I'm not a believer in "if one life was saved, it was worth it". It's a silly justification, and we cannot afford it. 5. You state the MB seat upgrade saved a person/people... but I believe there is one person that died in an MB seat that would have survived had the Northrop seat been the seat he was flying on. 6. As a side note, the T-38 I'm flying now has the original seat. A few of the owners (of private T-38's and F-5's) have asked about going to an MB seat. I believe the huge cost to do so erased that idea, and I'm pretty sure all of them will stick with the old seat... even the ones that could afford it. Going to a cold seat isn't an option like it is on an L-39 and other jet warbirds: I'm happy to fly an L-39 with cold seats (and I do)... but not a T-38 or F-5.

I'm going to say you're wrong on this one, matmacwc. Certainly not 1000... but I think it might get some traction with those retired for under 12 months. Because not everyone retired because of the BS. Because... for those that just retired and went to the airlines recently... they now have a seniority number that is accruing longevity.